Canewdon early 1900s

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I’ve been researching my mother’s family tree and one group of her ancestors (James Moss and family) lived in Canewdon - they ran the Post Office and I understand they may have had other links as well.

This would have been in the late 1800s but mostly I think in the early 1900s.

I have quite a number of pictures and postcards of the area at that time and wondered if they would be of use for your site. I can upload them etc if you can give me some information about how best to do this, and I’d be interested in any other information about the family or the Post Office. An example picture is attached. 

I hope you can help. Ruth Boaden

This page was added by Bob Stephen on 14/08/2017.
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You may already know all this .......

From 1835 to 1838 one James Moss is named as the farm bailiff for Gays Farm in Canewdon working for John Copland of Chelmsford. (ERO document D/DDw/B12).

James Moss is listed as a baker and shopkeeper in Canewdon in the Post Office Directory of Essex for 1874.

A James Percy Moss was born in Canewdon on 7th April 1874. (It was common for children to have the same name as their parents.)

In June 1898 James Moss a baker and grocer in Canewdon was listed as a bankrupt.

There is a grave stone at Canewdon church for James Moss who died on 7th June 1900 age 57 (I will have to check the inscription list as I am sure that there are others of the Moss family on this same grave stone.)

On the 1918 list of electors there is only a Frances Moss (widow of James Moss??) listed at the Canewdon post office. The post office was located in what later became the village stores. (Now closed.)

Eleanor Somerville Moss and Samuel Offord Moss are listed at ‘Mayfair’. This is a house on the High Street that later in about 1939 became the location of the Post Office.

Joseph Moss (b 04.01 1884 in Canewdon) and Lilian Ellen Isabel Moss are listed at Boxes Farm in 1918. (Boxes Farm and Gays farm are adjoining properties and may well have been under the same ownership??) These are Eric Joseph Moss’ (1913 to 1959) parents.

On the 1929 list of electors Frances Moss was still at the Post Office but she had been joined by Sarah Ann Moss and Samuel Offord Moss, (previously at ‘Mayfair’ in 1918) but Samuel’s home was given as ‘Somerville’ Stambridge Road Rochford.

By B. Meldon
On 19/08/2017

Thank's Ruth. It would probably be easiest if you scanned the photos and emailed them to me just as you have already done. Also that way you can add any memories to them and without having to worry about uploading.

I can give you details of how to register on the site and upload material - the details are in fact on the front page. But I'm more than happy to take material by email and put it up myself. Your collection probably suits this approach best.

Regards, Bob Stephen (RDCA-Admin)

By Bob Stephen
On 14/08/2017
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