Research Forum

Caroline MOSS abt 1823
published by Graham Payne on Sat, 14/01/2012 - 16:52

I am looking for the baptism and parents of Caroline MOSS who married my 3 x great grandfather John KIMMINS 13 May 1845 in Congresbury. According to various census Caroline was born abt 1823 Winscombe. Her father was listed as deceased on her marriage certificate. Witnesses were Henry & Mary Ann MOSS. Any help appreciated.

Graham

Comments ..

Submitted by Pat Hase on Sun, 15/01/2012 - 1:21

An interesting one! Thought she might show up on FreeREG but no luck there. Nothing on Familysearch either.

You say her father was deceased when she married - presumably (as you haven't given it) there was no name on the certificate nor occupation for her father.

Unhelpfully it looks as if she might have been a servant in Cross in 1841 so no family connections there.

On the 1851 census her birth place is given as Congresbury, but as you say on others it is Winscombe.

The witnesses should appear on the 1841 census - The only Henry MOSS of an age to be a witness living in Somerset is in Blagdon with what looks like a father, John and siblings but of course you can't be sure with the 1841 census. There is a baptism of a Henry MOSS in Nempnett Thrubwell which might fit this Henry - this is in 1826 with a sister, Mary Ann being christened in 1821. Their parents are John & Mary Ann MOSS and he is a farmer in Blagdon.

Another of John & Mary's children, John, was christened at Winford (from FreeREG) so it is quite possible that Caroline was born somewhere else - could she have mistaken Winford for Winscombe?

Still can't be sure about this but it is worth looking into again. By the way, who was the Bartholomew MOSS in Congresbury in 1841?

Pat

Submitted by Graham Payne on Sun, 15/01/2012 - 11:31

Thank you Pat for these leads I will research this family in more detail. My only concern is that it appears the father John Moss did not die until 1866 (buried at Windford) and Caroline's marriage entry states her farther was deceased and no name recorded.

Graham

Submitted by Pat Hase on Sun, 15/01/2012 - 15:18

I came to the same conclusion shortly after posting that comment when I found the Probate entry for John MOSS in 1867! I haven't looked at every census entry for Caroline but I don't suppose that she has any other MOSS relations staying with her at any time? It would have been helpful if Caroline had left a will naming a nephew or niece!

All I can tell you definitely about Caroline KIMMINS is that she spent just one day in Axbridge Workhouse, admitted on the 25th April 1881 and discharged by her own request on the 26th April 1881, described as aged 60, from Congresbury.

Those marriage witnesses of Henry and Mary Ann MOSS do seem to be the only firm link you have. If not her uncle and aunt or brother and sister (or sister-in-law) perhaps they were cousins! Still curious about Bartholomew MOSS but I can't find anything more about him either at the moment, not even his death.

There was a MOSS family at Rowberrow but now I'm clutching at straws. According to the National Burial Index, a John MOSS aged 53 was buried at Rowberrow in 1839.

Pat