Catalogue description Papers relating to James Sharphouse Moss and the Moss family

This collection comprises a short poem entitled "The Parliament" by James Moss 1848; letter from "Grandpa" to "Jinny" which discuses letter writing, family news and encourages the recipient to consider her soul and the necessity for salvation 1861; share certificate of James Moss 1866; bond and appointment 1868; in memoriam card for James Moss 1883; drawing by S Mitchell Bottomley, architect, Middlesbrough of a fireplace commissioned by Mr Moss 1890s; letter from Edmund R Turton to J S Moss enclosing a letter from Lord Ripon 1894; letter from William C Trevor, Deputy Clerk of the Peace, Northallerton, to J S Moss informing him that the Lord Chancellor has appointed him a member of the Commission of the Peace 1894, with copy of reply 1894; calendar of prisoners for trial at the Quarter Sessions held at the Court House, Northallerton, on 18th October 1894 before John Hutton Chairman of the Sessions 1894; letters from James Gray and Daniel McCallum to J S Moss congratulating him on being appointed a Justice of the Peace 1894; invitation from the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of the City of York to J S Moss inviting him to breakfast 1899 with a cutting from the Yorkshire Herald reporting the breakfast 1899; letter from W H St Quinton, High Sheriff of Yorkshire to J S Moss, requesting his service on the Grand Jury meeting at York, with reminder from Edwin Gray, Under-Sheriff of Yorkshire 1899; three letters from "Pater" [James Sharphouse Moss] to "Dear Winnie" [Winifred Moss, wife of Frank Sharphouse Moss] concerning recent letters, seasonal illnesses, the weather, family news, prospects of Frank's next posting following his forthcoming promotion 1903-1904; in memoriam card for J S Moss 1904; letter from Mr C Peck, Provincial Grand Secretary of the Provincial Grand Lodge of the North and East Riding of Yorkshire concerning J S Moss c1904; Whitby Times containing obituary of J S Moss 1904; photocopies of the obituary of J S Moss from the Whitby Gazette 1904; studio photographs of J S Moss and family 1880s-1900s; invitation from Councillor H V Scott and Committee to Mr Moss to attend the opening of an exhibition 1905; notebook containing fragment list of "Books in my Possession Nov 1832", but the remainder of entries are genealogical notes by Frank S Moss on his family, including an account of a dream Moss had while serving in Malta giving portents of his father's death, 1832 and 20th century; genealogical notes on J S Moss and his family nd; genealogical chart showing the Moss family, 18th century-1980s, 1980s.

Moss, Captain Frank Sharphouse, 1870-1954

• Moss, James Sharphouse, 1837-1904, agent of Whitby, North Riding of Yorkshire
• Moss family of Whitby, North Riding of Yorkshire
• Whitby, North Riding of Yorkshire

James Sharphouse Moss was born in York in 1837, the son of James Moss and Jane Sharphouse. He worked in connection with the travelling post office before becoming manager for the Carlton Ironworks Company in Stockton-upon-Tees. From there he was appointed district surveyor to the Scarborough Highways Authority and, in 1868, district surveyor to the Whitby Highway Authority. He became agent to Captain Edmund Turton of Larpool Hall in 1871 and remained agent to various Turton estates until his death.

He was a member of the Town Improvement Committee; the Whitby Local Board, 1880-1889; the Whitby Harbour Board; the Whitby School Board, 1880-1885; and the Committee of the Whitby Cottage Hospital. He was a Commissioner for the Income Tax and appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1894.

He was an active freemason, having joined the "Lion" Lodge (No 312) in 1869, becoming senior warden in 1874 and master in 1876, and was a Provincial Senior Grand Warden. He was the honorary secretary of the Whitby Liberal Association and chairman of the board of the Rowland and Marwood Steamship Company Ltd.

He died at his house, 16 St Hilda's Terrace, Whitby in 1904.

These papers seem to have been preserved, annotated or drawn up by Captain Frank Sharphouse Moss, youngest son of James Sharphouse Moss, and to have passed on to the depositor, who is the grandson of Dr Arthur J Moss, the eldest child of James Sharphouse Moss.

This collection was deposited by Richard Moss of Cambridge in April 1991.

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