Sarah Moss

c1784-1861

Sarah Gosling was born in Newbury the daughter of William and Mary Gosling.

 In 1815 Sarah (30) was living on the east side of Bartholomew Street Newbury with her parents, William (60) and Mary (63) and her sister Mary Ann (32) and her brother Robert (24). Her father William was working as a Tailor.

 Sarah married James Moss on the 27^th April 1826 at St Nicolas Church Newbury. James was a widower, (Possible 1^st wife Sarah Morrish married on the 20^th October 1821 at St Nicolas Church Newbury, possible burial for Sarah aged 25 10^th August 1824 St Nicolas Newbury).

James and Sarah had at least one child, Sarah Gosling Moss, baptised on the 25^th December 1828 at St Nicolas Newbury, James was recorded as a Baker on the baptism record. Sadly Sarah died before her 2^nd birthday she was buried on the 1^st September 1830 at St Nicolas Newbury.

In 1841 Sarah (55) was recorded as Independent, living in Smith’s Crescent Speen Newbury. Her husband James (40) was recorded as a Journeyman Baker living in Greenham Street Thatcham Berkshire.

On the 9^th December 1843 Sarah’s husband broke into a property in Northbrook-street Newbury the home/business of Mr James Bowne, his employer and stole about one pound in silver from the till in the shop and one pound from a box. He was tried and convicted at the Berkshire Assizes on the 28^th February 1844 and was sentenced to seven years transportation which was subsequently extended to ten years as an act parliament did not admit a lesser term. He was one of 262 male convicts transported on the Maria Somes (1) which sailed from London on the 25^th April 1844 arriving in Van Diemen’s Land Tasmania on the 30^th July 1844.

The 1851 census records Sarah as a widow living alone in Bartholomew Street Newbury she was recorded as an Annuitant.  In 1861 she was recorded as a Fund Holder, lodging in Bartholomew Street.

Sarah died aged 77 on the 29^th July 1861 she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 2^nd August

 Probate:  Moss Sarah         12^th October 1861          Effects: under £1000             The Will with 2 Codicils of Sarah Moss (Wife of James Moss) late of Newbury in the County of Berks deceased who died 29^th July 1861 at Newbury  aforesaid was proved at Oxford by the oaths of James Brown of Chieveley in the said County Carpenter the Nephew and Mary Goodchild (wife of Philip Goodchild) of North-heath in the Tything of Winterbourn in the parish of Chieveley in the said County the Niece the Executors. Probate of the said Will and Codicils being granted under certain Limitations

(James Brown and Mary Goodchild (nee Brown) were the children of Sarah’s sister Mary Ann who married Abraham Brown in 1818 in Newbury)

Sources:as above and probatesearch.service.gov.uk