19th July 1825 son of Thomas Mossop, farmer (or cow doctor), and Jane (nee Irwin), of Black Beck Cottages, Moss Side, Beckermet, Cumberland.
Baptised on 23 July 1825 at St Bridget Beckermet.
Married Elizabeth Agnew, of Ribton Lane, Whitehaven, on 26th November 1850 at Holy Trinity Church, Whitehaven, Cumberland. Both were of full age. Witnesses George Agnew, Mary Agnew.
11 children: Tom Mossop, born September 1851 in Blackbeck Mill, Beckermet, baptised 21st September, married Mary Ellen Drake 28/8/1875, died c 1917 in Australia, (descendents include Leonie Copeland); Elizabeth Mossop, 1853 [or 1859?], baptised 7/5/1853, died 7/10/1871; Robert Mossop, baptised 15/10/1854, married Sarah Davidson 9/5/1879 in Gosforth, died 29/7/1885 in Melbourne, Australia; William Mossop, baptised 24/2/1856 [or1865 on MI?], died 9/3/1870; Wilson (or William) baptised 18/3/1858, died 31/3/1858; John baptised 14/4/1859; George Mossop, baptised 5/8/1860; Jane baptised 14/4/1863; Charles Henry baptised 27/11/1864, joiner's apprentice in 1881; Christian Agnew Mossop, 1867, baptised 9th September 1867; Frances baptised 12/4/1868.
Mason, of Blackbeck Cottage at time of marriage in 1850.
Quarrymaster, stonemason and farmer, living at Gilgrass Quarry Cottage. It is possible that the Mossops lived in Gilgrass Quarry House at some time, although it was later inhabited by the Agnews (Elizabeth Mossop's brothers). One of the rooms in the house was used as a Methodist Chapel and there is a cross on the gable end.
Of Acute appendicitis? (peritonitis), 1884, age 59, in Quarry House, Gosforth. Buried at St. Bridget Beckermet 22nd May 1884 (see photo of grave stone below).
Quarry at Gilgrass since Roman times (e.g. Hardnott fort) . Gilgrass Quarry is approximately at grid reference NY074042, on the right hand side of the road from Wellington towards Boonwood on the way up the hill. (OS 1:50,000 series, sheet 89). The quarry house is set back from the road (about 100 yards) and the quarry has become the garden of the house. There is a small cottage on the same side of the road, where William's widow lived after his death. Perhaps this cottage was White Croft, as mentioned on the gravestone.)
Photo of
grave stone at St Bridget Beckermet.
The old church of St Bridget is not in the village but some way down
towards the sea (grid ref. NY015061, near Middlebank on the OS 1:50,000 series,
sheet 89). However, there is an area on the fells two miles north-east
of Calder Bridge which is marked as the parish of St Bridget Beckermet on
the 1:50,000 Ordnance Survey map, probably because the new church of
St Bridget is at Calder Bridge
The inscription reads:
In affectionate memory of William Mossop of the quarry Gosforth who died
May 19th 1884 aged 59 years. Also of Elizabeth his widow of White Croft,
Gosforth who died Aug. 4th 1910 aged 85 years and 5 months. William the son
of William and Elizabeth Mossop who died March 8th (?) 1879 aged 14 years.
Also of Elizabeth their daughter who died Oct 7 1871 aged 12 [or 18?] years.
Also of Robert their son who died at Melbourne Australia July 29th 1885 aged
30 years.
If you are interested in further Mossop family information I recommend that you contact the experts, Marshall and Jean Mossop or Jill Coulthard. They have done a huge amount of research and have kindly supplied me with most of the information that I have about the Mossops before 1850.
