Person:James Moss (18)

James Moss was born on 30th November 1862 at Caddington in Hertfordshire, son of a bonnet sewer named Catherine Moss, formerly Warren, and her husband William Moss, an agricultural labourer. James was the fourth of the couple's five children and the only son. In September 1864, when James was still under two years old, his mother Catherine died from consumption, aged 26. James's baby sister Esther was only three or four months old when their mother died and did not long outlive her mother, dying the following month aged five months. In November 1864 James's older sister Mary died aged four. James therefore lost his mother and two of his sisters in the space of less than two months.

Four months after his mother's death, James's father married again. His second wife was a straw plaiter named Bethia King, who thus became James's stepmother. William and Bethia would go on to have another nine children together, who were James's half siblings. The 1871 census finds James living with his father, stepmother and several of his half siblings at Aley Green in Caddington.

In 1872, aged just nine years old, James was prosecuted for theft at the Hertford Juvenile Petty Sessions and summarily convicted. He was back in court in 1879, aged 16 although claiming to be younger, when he was convicted at the St Albans Juvenile Petty Sessions of theft. On this occasion it appears he broke into his paternal grandmother Susan King's house and stole some clothes. (The newspaper article describes her as his aunt. This may be because she was married to his stepmother's uncle, which may have caused confusion as to her relationship to him.) One of the witnesses was a pawnbroker named Mr Duck from Luton, suggesting he tried to pawn the stolen clothes. It was said at this trial that he had "for years been addicted to such practices". He was sent to prison for three months after which he was to be sent to a reformatory school for three years.

Whether he went to the reformatory school or not is unclear. However, he was back in court in January 1880, being convicted at the Bedford Assizes of stealing a coat, for which he served nine months hard labour in Bedford Gaol. His trial record this time tells us that he was 5 feet 6¼ inches tall with dark brown hair. Less than three months after his release from Bedford Gaol he was back in court again for three counts of theft, for which he was sentenced to twelve months in St Albans Gaol. He appears in the jail there in the 1881 census.

James was released from St Albans on New Year's Day 1882 and sent to India.

By 1886 James had returned to Britain. He volunteered for the army in July 1886, enlisting at Hounslow. He was sent back to India later that year, serving with the 7th Hussars there between 1886 and 1894. He returned to Britain in April 1894 and transferred to the army reserve.

On 1st June 1898, James was married at the Register Office in Luton to Ellen Sharp. They had two sons born in Luton in 1898 and 1900. It appears that their marriage was not a happy one and they separated around 1899, whilst Ellen was pregnant with their second son. Ellen secured a maintenance order against James in December 1899, and on a couple of occasions during 1900 she had to go back to court to compel James to continue the payments. After their separation James appears to have briefly lived with his half-brother Walter at 46 Langley Road in Luton before moving about ten miles south to St Albans.

James rejoined the army in July 1901. He was posted to South Africa, where the Boer War was underway, serving there until May 1902, within the last few days of the war. He then returned back to the United Kingdom for a few months before being discharged in July 1902 at the Curragh Camp in County Kildare in Ireland. Later in 1902 he was back in St Albans, living at 23 Chequer Street and working as a groom. He enlisted for the militia (reservists) and served with the 4th Bedford Regiment for a couple of years, being promoted to corporal in 1904, before being found unfit for further service in 1906.

James seems to have set up home with a lady called Jane who described herself as his wife, calling herself Jane Moss. They appear in the 1911 census living at 14 Hatfield Road in St Albans. James was working as a ploughman at the time. Back in Luton, James's father died a few days after the 1911 census. Jane appears to have died in 1917, aged 54.

After Jane's death, James went to live at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in west London, living there for most of the rest of his life. A James Moss is listed in the electoral registers there from 1918 and for most years until the early 1950s.

Back in Luton, James's estranged wife Ellen died in 1945, aged 71. Her probate records make clear that James was still alive at the time.

It would appear that towards the end of his life James was transferred from Royal Hospital Chelsea itself to the hospital's infirmary in Leatherhead in Surrey. He died there on 26th November 1952 following a fall, four days short of his ninetieth birthday.

1. ↑ Births register, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   REGISTRATION DISTRICT Superintendent Registrar's District Luton / Registrar's District Luton
   1862 BIRTHS in the District of Luton in the Counties of Bedford & Hertford
   No.	When and where born	Name, if any	Sex	Name and surname of father	Name, surname and maiden name of mother	Occupation of father	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered	Signature of registrar
   472	Thirtieth November 1862 Caddington Herts	James	Boy	William Moss	Catherine Moss formerly Warren	Farm Laborer	X The mark of Catherine Moss Mother Caddington Herts	Nineteenth December 1862	Charles Maffey, Registrar

2. ↑ Baptisms register, in Church of England. Caddington Parish Registers. (Bedford: Bedfordshire Record Office).

   BAPTISMS solemnized in the Parish of Caddington in the County of Bedford in the Year 1863
   No.	When Baptized	Child's Christian Name	Parent's Name		Abode	Quality, Trade, or Profession	By whom the Ceremony was performed
   			Christian	Surname
   982	Jan[uary] 11	James	William & Catherine	Moss	Tipple Hill	Labourer	Tho[ma]s Prescott, Vicar

3. ↑ England. England and Wales. 1871 Census Schedules. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG10; Piece 1568; Folio 28; Page 15, 2 Apr 1871.

   Address: Aley Green (listed immediately after "The Boot"), Caddington, Hertfordshire
   William Moss, head, married, male, 33 [1837/8], Lab[ourer], b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Bethia Moss, wife, married, female, 34 [1836/7], Sewer, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   James Moss, son, male, 8 [1862/3], Scholar, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Susan Moss, daughter, female, 5 [1865/6], Scholar, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Alberta Moss, daughter, female, 3 [1867/8], Scholar, b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Maude Moss, daughter, female, 1 [1869/70], b. Caddington, Hertfordshire
   Ellen Moss, daughter, female, 8mo [1870], b. Caddington, Hertfordshire

4.   Crime & Punishment (1825-1917), in Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies. Hertfordshire Names Online.

   James Moss
   20 Nov 1872
   Berkhamsted & Caddington
   aged 9
   accused of theft
   Hertford Juvenile Petty Sessions
   Summary conviction

5.   Crime & Punishment (1825-1917), in Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies. Hertfordshire Names Online
   5 Feb 1879.

   James Moss, aged under 14
   Caddington
   accused of Theft at St Albans Juvenile Petty Sessions
   Summary conviction

6.   Bucks Herald, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
   Saturday 8 Feb 1879.

   PETTY SESSION, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 5.
   Present - C.S. Hadden, Esq. (chairman), Major Granville, and J.G. Williams, Esq.
   HOUSEBREAKING. - James Moss, aged 15, and Henry Bunyan, of Caddington, were charged with breaking into the house of Susan King (aunt to Moss) on Jan. 28, and stealing a quantity of clothing. - Mrs. King, P.C. Barber, of the Beds police, and Mr. Duck, a pawnbroker of Luton, gave evidence.-Bunyan was acquitted, and Moss, who it was said had for years been addicted to such practices, was sent to prison for three months, afterwards to be sent to a Reformatory for three years.

7.   Bedfordshire Record Office. Bedfordshire Gaol Register. (Bedford)
   Record ID: 39947.

   Name: James Moss
   Age: 17
   Height: 5 feet 6¼
   Hair: Dark brown
   Occupation: Labourer
   Education: Neither
   Birthplace: Luton
   Offence: Stealing a coat etc.
   Trial / conviction date: 15 Jan 1880
   Place of trial / conviction: Bedford Assizes
   Gaol: Bedford Gaol
   Sentence: 9 calendar months hard labour
   Number of previous convictions: 1 at St Albans
   Discharge date: 14 Oct 1880

8.   England and Wales. Criminal Registers, 1791-1892.

   County of Hertford
   Return of all Persons Committed, or Bailed to appear for Trial, or Indicted at the Quarter Sessions held at Hertford on the 3rd day of January 1881, shewing the nature of their Offences, and the result of the Proceedings.
   No.4
   Name: James Moss
   Offence: Larceny (3 pros[ecutio]ns) twice before convicted of felony
   Convicted:
   1st pros[ecutio]n - 4 Calendar months hard labour
   2nd pros[ecutio]n - 4 Calendar months hard labour to commence at expiration of first sentence
   3rdd pros[ecutio]n - 4 Calendar months hard labour to commence at expiration of second sentence

9. ↑ England. 1881 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands: . (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG11; Piece 1431; Folio 104; Page 65, 3 Apr 1881.

   Address: Her Majesty's Prison Herts, Grimston Road, St Albans (St Peter), Hertfordshire
   ...
   Moss, Ja[me]s, prisoner, single, male, 18 [1862/3], Ag[ricultural] Lab[ourer], b. Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire

   There does not appear to have been a James Moss from Berkhamsted in other records, but when James had been before the Hertfordshire Juvenile Petty Sessions in 1872 he had been described as being of both Caddington and Berkhamsted.

10.   Crime and Punishment (1825-1917), in Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies. Hertfordshire Names Online.

    James Moss, aged 18
    1 Jan 1882, Hertfordshire Reformatory School
    Discharged boy from St Albans Gaol to India

11.   British Army Service Records, 1760-1915 (The National Archives / Findmypast.co.uk).

    Summary of information:
    No. 2974
    Name: James Moss
    Corps: 7 Hussars
    Joined at Hounslow on 28 July 1886
    Born: In the Parish of / near the Town of Luton in the County of Bedford
    Age: 19 Years 11 Months
    Trade: Groom
    Height: 5 feet ¾ inches
    Complexion: Fresh
    Eyes: Hazel
    Hair: Black
    Distinctive Marks: Scar over left eyebrow
    
    Served:
    Home / 26 Jul 1886 to 24 Nov 1886
    India / 25 Nov 1886 to 24 Apr 1894
    Home / 25 Apr 1894 to 27 Apr 1894
    Army Reserve / 28 Apr 1894 to 22 Jul 1901
    Home / 23 Jul 1901 to 20 Aug 1901
    South Africa / 21 Aug 1901 to 21 May 1902
    Home / 22 May 1902 to 25 Jul 1902
    Place of Discharge: Curragh Camp, 25 Jul 1902
    
    Next of Kin: Father William Moss of 36 Chapel Street Luton / Aley Green near Luton Beds
    Wife: Ellen Sharp, married Register Office Luton, 1st June 1898

12.   British Army Service Records, 1760-1915 (The National Archives / Findmypast.co.uk).

    Summary of information:
    Militia Attestation of James Moss, 4th Bedford Regiment
    Date: 29 Nov 1902
    Name: James Moss
    Born: Luton
    Now reside: 23 Chequer Street, St Albans, Hertfordshire
    Age: 36 years 3 months
    Trade: groom
    Married, 2 children under 14
    Previously served 7 Hussars
    Promoted to Corporal 16 May 1904
    "Totally unfit" 14 May 1906

13.   Luton Times and Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 6, 8 Dec 1899.

    MAINTENANCE.
    Ellen Moss, 202 Wellington street, applied for a maintenance order under the Married Women's Act 1895, against her husband, JAMES MOSS, 41 Park street.
    Mr. Lathom appeared for Mrs. Moss.
    Defendant made an offer of 5s. per week, and an order for that amount was made, the mother to have the custody of the child.

14.   Luton Times and Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 3, 2 Feb 1900.

    WIFE MAINTENANCE.
    JAMES MOSS, 46, Langley-road, was summoned for non-payment of arrears amounting to £2 2s. 6d. and costs made under a maintenance order.
    Mrs. Moss said that the order was made of Dec. 6th, but she had only received 4s. from him.
    Defendant, who said he was out of a job, was directed to pay 5s. a week, and an additional 1s. weekly until the arrears were paid off.
    Defendant: I can't afford to pay it.

15.   Luton Times and Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 6, 12 Oct 1900.

    MAINTENANCE ARREARS.
    JAMES MOSS, of St. Albans, was summoned by his wife Ellen, of 202, Wellington-street, for £2 16s. 6d., being the arrears on an order dated 16th December, 1899.
    Detective Smith deposed to arresting Moss.
    Ellen Moss, the wife, said he could well afford to pay 5s. per week. He earned 30s. per week.
    Defendant said he could not pay that amount, and suggested 2s. per week. He said the last time he came out of gaol his wife promised to let him off with 3s. per week.
    The wife admitted this, but said her husband had not even fulfilled that.
    After some advice from the Chairman, the defendant agreed to pay 4s. down and regularly pay 5s. per week, with 2s. added to pay off the arrears.

16. ↑ England. 1911 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom: The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), (formerly the UK General Register Office.))
    Class RG14; Piece 7670; Schedule 336, 2 Apr 1911.

    Address: 14 Hatfield Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire
    2 rooms occupied (living and bedroom)
    James Moss, head, male, 48 [1862/3], married, Farm Labourer (Ploughman), worker, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
    Jane Moss, wife, female, 47 [1863/4], married 9 years, no children born to marriage, b. Newhaven, Sussex

17.   Deaths index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

    d. Jane MOSS, December Quarter 1917, St Albans Registration District, Volume 3a, page 822, aged 54 [1862/3]

    This is presumably the "Jane Moss" who was living with James in 1911 - there was no other Jane Moss living in the St Albans registration district in 1911.

18. ↑ General Register Office. 1939 Register
    Chelsea Metropolitan Borough, 29 Sep 1939.

    Address: Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London
    [Many in-pensioners, including:]
    Moss, James / b. 22 Oct 1862 [a later hand appears to have changed this birth date to 14 Dec 1862, although is very faint] / widower / In pensioner

    This seems likely to be James, but the date of birth does not match with that on his birth certificate.

19. ↑ Death register, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

    Registration District SURREY MID-EASTERN
    1952 DEATHS in the Sub-District of LEATHERHEAD in the County of SURREY
    No.	When and where died	Name and surname	Sex	Age	Occupation	Cause of death	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered	Signature of registrar
    314	Twenty sixth November 1952 The Royal Hospital (Chelsea) Infirmary, Highlands Road, Leatherhead U.D.	James MOSS	Male	89 years	A Pensioner of the Royal Chelsea Hospital	1a. Hypostatic Pneumonia due to b. Fractured Femur from a fall to the floor No P.M. Accidental	Certificate received from J. Murray Robertson, Coroner for Surrey. Inquest held 28th November 1952	Twenty eighth November 1952	F.R. More, Registrar