Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Moss, Thomas
MOSS, THOMAS (d. 1808), poet, received his education at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1761 (Graduati Cantabr. 1823, p. 332). Taking holy orders he became minister of Trentham, Staffordshire, and he was afterwards for many years minister of Brinley Hill Chapel in Worcestershire, and perpetual curate of Brierley Hill Chapel in the parish of Kingswinford, Staffordshire. He died at Stourbridge, Worcestershire, on 6 Dec. 1808.
He published anonymously 'Poems on several Occasions,' Wolverhampton, 1769, 4to, pp. 61. In an 'advertisement' to this small volume it is stated that most of the poems were written when the author was about twenty. The first piece is the pathetic and popular 'Beggar's Petition,' beginning with the line 'Pity the sorrows of a poor old man.' A Latin translation of this poem, 'Mendici Supplicatio,' was published by William Humphries, 'in schola paterna de Baldock, alumnus,' London, 1790, 8vo, together with a Latin version of Goldsmith's 'Deserted Village.' Moss also published some occasional sermons and 'The Imperfection of Human Enjoyments,' a poem in blank verse, London, 1783, 4to.
[Chambers's Worcestershire Biog. p. 541; Cooper's Memorials of Cambridge, ii. 379; Watt's Bibl. Brit.; Gent. Mag. November 1790, p. 972, September 1791, p. 852, December 1808, p. 1133; Lowndes's Bibl.Man. (Bohn), p. 1622.]