Moss, William

Cleveland Square, Liverpool; cabinet maker (fl.1783)

Moss was employed by Richard Gillow in 1783 to repair the leg of a lady's dressing table which was broken in transit. He was instructed to call on the customer, Mr. James Clegg, attorney-at-law, in Liverpool to repair it. Richard Gillow instructed him: 'If the same leg can be made to do again by gluing the splice & an iron dowel or piece of strong wire to connect 'em also a well formed iron plate to be fit to & screwed to the bottom of the dressing table as well as to the legs behind it may be done at a little expense. But if a new leg be necessary we should be glad you would be so good as do it in the best manner you can to please Mr. Clegg'. After repair Clegg thought the table not strong enough and refused to accept it. Gillow wrote to Clegg suggesting that they would allow half a guinea off the 5½gns charged for it and add brackets and a cross stretcher, all to be done by William Moss, of Cleveland Square, Liverpool. Moss must also have enquired about the prices paid for making gardevines, as Gillows wrote describing them in detail and enclosed their Book of Prices for workmen, but added that gardevines were not listed when the prices were drawn up. 

Source: Stuart, Gillows of Lancaster and London (2008), II, p. 266.