Moses married Ann Smith on 26 June 1826 at St Leonards church in the parish of Wollaton. The church record tells us that Moses was living in the parish of Trowell whilst Ann was ‘of this parish’. Moses could sign his own name whereas Ann marked the register with a cross.

The church has a lovely  webpage detailing their history which can be accessed on the following link. St Leonards Wollaton

Moses and Ann went on to have a number of children, the first two were baptised at St Leonards although it was noted that the family were living at Bramcote Moor.  Later baptisms were performed in Bramcote. From the baptism records we can see that Moses and Ann went on to have the following eight children:

• 1827  –  John baptised on 24 September 1827 in St Leonards, Wollaton.
• 1829  – William baptised 6 January 1829 in St Leonards, Wollaton.
• 1831  –  Henry baptised on 15 August 1831 at Bramcote.
• 1832  –  Elizabeth baptised 23 February 1833 at Bramcote.
• 1835  –  Richard baptised 15 May 1835
• 1838  –  Joseph baptised 28 January 1838
• 1840  – Aron baptised 17 May 1840
• 1843  –  Thomas born 14 November 1843

On the night of 6th June 1841 the national census was taken Moses and Ann can be found at Bramcote Moor, Moses being described as a Coal Miner. The family consisted of six children ranging from thirteen years (John) down to one (Aron).  The one child that was missing was William who had died following a mining accident in 1835. William Daykin 1829 – 1835.

Although the census returns are immensely helpful they can only give a snapshot of the family every ten years during which time there can be a lot of changes.  In the case of Moses we know that on Saturday 3rd December 1842 he was involved in a pit accident that was reported in the Nottingham Review and General Advertiser for the Midland Counties 9 December 1842.

Less than a year after his accident Moses and Ann, welcomed the birth of their eighth child, Thomas, on 14th November 1843.  Sadly for the family Ann died on 30th November 1843. The death certificate confirmed the cause of death as being phthisis (Tuberculosis) of two years.  The strain of her pregnancy could well have hastened her death. The burial records of St Michael and All Angels detail that she was buried in Grave number 71.