Moseley – Thomas Moseley (1845 – 1920)

Thomas Moseley was born the 5th and last child of George Moseley, born probably in October we see here his record of Baptism on 9th November 1845 and his then wife Hannah Moseley (nee Field). Unfortunately we are unsure if Thomas was ever to see his father as he died at some time in the same quarter of October to December 1845 that Thomas was born.

After George died his wife and children then lived with William Dyer an Agricultural Labourer and widower, from Didbrook, near Cheltenham, with 3 of his own children. In the 1851 Census, Thomas was the youngest of 5 children in the house, living on the main street of Marston Sicca. By the 1861 Census Thomas was 1 and an Agricultural Labourer himself, living with his mother Hannah and his stepfather William Dyer. Curiously living 3 doors away was a 1 month old Sarah Ann Hands who would later become his second wife.

By the Census of 1871 Thomas had moved out of the family home, got married to Lucy Ledbetter from Pebworth, on 14th December 1867 and already had two children – Sarah Anna (christened Hannah) baptised on 19th April 1868 – clearly they were with child before the marriage, and then Mary Ann baptised on 31st July 1870. Thomas and Lucy were listed as Agricultural Labourer and Gloveress, both the most common roles for husbands and wives in this area. By 1881 they had 5 more children, Charles William in 1871, George Thomas 1875, Joseph 1877, John Albert 1879 and Ellen Elizabeth in 1880. Sadly their first born Sarah Anna, died in 1877 at the age of 11. One year later in 1882 their last child was born Sarah L. Lucy, his first wife died in childbirth in January 1887. A note on the burial record denotes “in childbirth” and as no record of any children occur in that year we have to assume that both mother and child did not survive.

Eighteen months later, on November 15th 1888, Thomas married his earlier, (1861), next door neighbour Sarah Ann Hands, she was 27 and Thomas was 43 at the time. It seems from the dates, that again Thomas and Sarah were with child before they married as Olive Rhoda was born in the quarter of April to June the following year, between 5 and 7 months after their marriage. Curiously there is no record of any of the family in the 1891 Census, but over the ensuing 12 years from their marriage they had 7 children. Olive as above, Thomas 1890, Henry 1891, Francis James Lawson 1893, Ruth Naomi 1895, Phillip James 1899 and finally Phyliss I J in 1900. Below is an article found in the Evesham Standard & West Midland Observer – Saturday 24 September 1892.

AN EXPENSIVE ASSAULT.- -John Sandford, of Redditch, was charged with assaulting and beating William Moseley, of Long Marston, on August 17th. Defendant pleaded not guilty. Complainant said he was coming home from work at Dorsington, about half-past five, and called for some beer at the Masons Arms, drinking it outside. Defendant came out of the house and said “William you had better go home.” Complainant replied, ” I have as much right here, John, as you have.” Defendant replied ” You keep your hens out of my garden.” Witness replied, ” I have no hens.” Defendant then struck witness on the face and knocked him down. He had three tools on his right shoulder and his basket on the other. Defendant then told him to home and tell his father, and he would serve him the same. By defendant : I did not interfere with you in your conversation. We did not have five or six quarts between us. Defendant had to be cautioned by the Bench as to his behaviour. Defendant was further charged with beating and assaulting Thomas Moseley, father the former complainant, on August 18th. Complainant said he was in a plum tree in his orchard, when defendant came over the fence and said, “I’ll pull the ******* fence up.” Defendant struck him flat-handed in the face, and put up his fists in a fighting attitude, saying “Come on you**** and I’ll split your chest for you.” Sarah Moseley, wife of the last witness, corroborated. Sarah Sandford, who did not appear, wife of the previous defendant, was charged with assaulting Sarah Moseley at the same time and place. Mrs. Moseley said defendant caught hold of her back hair and pulled it down and tried to throw her down. Sandford then took hold of his wife and threw her down, telling her to go away as she was the cause of all the row. Defendant came again and caught hold of her and said she would drown her. By the Bench: There was a pool close by. Defendant ‘broke three panes in her parlour window, and threw a skimmer at her. The Bench. then heard another charge against Mrs. Sandford of wilful damage to Thomas Moseley’s window to the extent of 2s. 6d For the assault on William Moseley, Thomas Moseley, and Sarah Moseley, the Sandford’s were fined 2s. 6d. each and costs in each case, and for the damage there was a further fine, and costs, the total amount being £4. 3s. 6d Part of the money was paid, and time allowed to pay the remainder.

By the 1901 Census Thomas and Sarah were living with 9 of their children from George at 25 years old down to Phyllis at just 1 year old. Thomas and his son George were now listed as General hauliers on their own account – which means that they were self employed and in effect running their own business, and still living in the main village street of Marston Sicca.

The 1911 Census shows that Thomas, Sarah and 3 of the boys, Thomas, aged 20, Henry 19, and Francis 18, were now all farmers and living at Pebworth Pastures and working on their “own account” rather than being employed. The only other person living with them was Phyllis aged 11. The other interesting fact is that on the census they declare that they have had 9 children and just 6 are living from their marriage – we know that Phillip James died in 1906 so this means that there were two other children born that we can find no records of but one of those is possibly Frances Mabel as in the attached article from the Gloucester Citizen in 1898 . Clearly in his later years Thomas was finding farming and Carting to be a poor remuneration as he struggled to pay his rates as seen in the second article below from 1913.

Thomas finally died in the October qtr. of 1920, aged 74, having fathered 17 children that we know, plus at least two who died in infancy, and only 10 of them outlived him. Sarah outlived him by just 12 months passing away in the October qtr. of 1921.