Individual Details

Isaac Moss

(18 Feb 1796 - 15 Oct 1864)

LONGWOOD 1852

The room in which Napoleon died in Longwood House, St Helena contained a thrashing machine Acowshed, a pigsty and a poultry-house were just outside it.
On the restoration of the Napoleonic dynasty attention was again directed to the house in which the founder had died. A French visitor spoke with indignation of the degradation he had witnessed, and an English officer of the Navy, Lieutenant Stack, published a number of water-colour sketches he had made on the spot, showing the thrashing machine, and the farm outbuildings. In 1854 Napoleon III made overtures, through the French Ambassador in London, for the purchase of the house, with 2 acres of land. At that time the Longwood farm was leased to Isaac Moss for twenty-one years from the 29th July, 1852. Moss obtained an entrance fee from every visitor whom he could persuade to give him a shilling for a sight of the thrashing machine at work in the room in which Napoleon died, and the horses and cows in their glory in the rooms in which he lived. As compensation for surrendering the remainder of his lease over the house and 2 acres of land - a small portion of the Longwood farm — Moss demanded and obtained no less a sum than £3500. The transfer was made a deed dated the 20th July, 1857. The property was Bsted? in the Emperor of the French and his heirs by an ordinance of the Governor and Council of St. Helena, on the 18th March, 1858, and this act was ratified by a Privy Council, presided over by the Prince Consort at Buckingham Palace, on the 7th May, 1858.
On the 7th July, 1858, Baron de Rougement arrived and formally took possession of the property on behalf of Napoleon III. It was decided to restore the house as nearly as possible to its former condition, and Captain Massellin, of the Engineers, arrived on the 1st March, 1859, to carry out the work. He did it in the most conscientious manner.

Events

Birth18 Feb 1796Saint Helena
Marriage25 Oct 1826Great Synagogue, London, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom - Sarah Caroline Merchant Britton
Death15 Oct 1864Saint Helena

Families

SpouseSarah Caroline Merchant Britton (1805 - 1855)
ChildFrederick Joseph Moss (1827 - 1904)
ChildEmma Jane Moss (1829 - 1910)
ChildCharles Phillip Moss (1830 - 1895)
ChildRose Adelaide Moss (1834 - 1916)
ChildGeorge William Moss (1835 - 1920)
ChildWalter Britton Moss (1837 - 1891)
ChildValentine Henry Moss (1840 - 1859)
ChildAgnes Georgina Moss (1843 - 1915)
FatherJohn Moss ( - )