Moffat and Sands of Belfast?

[JohnnyMack1983]

Looking for information on James Moffat and wife Esther. James was a Boot Maker. They lived at 30 Broadbent Street Belfast. They had at least two children. Daughter Mary and son Thomas born around 1846, Thomas was baptized at the Old Presbyterian Church. He married a Rachel Bell also from Belfast. I don't know if they got married in Ireland or the US. They both immagrated to the US in 1871. Mary Moffat married Samuel Sands June 5 1875 at the Donegall Street Congregational Church, in Belfast.They lived at 65 Percy Street Belfast, Ireland ( I have a letter from that address November 4, 1925). Samuel was in the Linen Business, collar cutter, his father, also Samuel was a Farmer and lived at 48 Upper Townsend Street, Belfast.

Any documents like old street maps of area, census, birth, death, marriage records would be appreciated. Also any cemtery records or photos of tomb stones. Would like to know if an relatives still living. As you can see any info would be helpful. I know I'm asking for a lot, but trying to give my aunt informatioin about her family, she is 87 years old.

Thank you in advance,
Johnny Mack

[aghadowey]

Welcome to Rootschat. Details of living people shouldn't be posted here but there are a few sites that should help you find information on the families.

1911 census for Co. Antrim has just been put online (free)- be sure to look at scanned pages with full details.
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search

www.familysearch.org has some, not all, Irish births (1864-c1882) and other extracted and submitted data.

www.proni.gov.uk has databases for 1912 Ulster Covenant and Will Extracts

[Wendl]

Looking for information on James Moffat and wife Esther. James was a Boot Maker. They lived at 30 Broadbent Street Belfast. They had at least two children. Daughter Mary and son Thomas born around 1846, Thomas was baptized at the Old Presbyterian Church. He married a Rachel Bell also from Belfast. I don't know if they got married in Ireland or the US. They both immagrated to the US in 1871. Mary Moffat married Samuel Sands June 5 1875 at the Donegall Street Congregational Church, in Belfast.They lived at 65 Percy Street Belfast, Ireland ( I have a letter from that address November 4, 1925). Samuel was in the Linen Business, collar cutter, his father, also Samuel was a Farmer and lived at 48 Upper Townsend Street, Belfast.

Any documents like old street maps of area, census, birth, death, marriage records would be appreciated. Also any cemtery records or photos of tomb stones. Would like to know if an relatives still living. As you can see any info would be helpful. I know I'm asking for a lot, but trying to give my aunt informatioin about her family, she is 87 years old.

Thank you in advance,
Johnny Mack

Hi Johnny Mack,

I have Moffatt's from Belfast.... in the late 1800's....however they originated in Market Hill, Armagh...Have a James Moffatt b. 8 May 1873 MarketHill Armagh, d.   7 July 1951, in Guelph, Ontario Canada, married Margaret Hedley Close, 19 Jun 1897 at Albertbridge Congregational Church, Belfast....he was the son of Robert Moffatt b. approx 1850 and Agnes Heaney/Hainey...Robert was the son of James Moffett...per his marriage  entry from the 2nd Presbyterian Church, Armagh.....  There are many Moffat(various spellings) entries in the records for the Armagh church, which are online....you might want to have a peek....http://www.markethillpresbyterian.co.uk/genealogy.htm....As well, I have a letter written to my relative by a William Wallace Moffett son of James Moffett and Jane Wallace....was written from 6 Primrose Ave, Bangor Co. Down (which is just outside Belfast) which outlines alot of the Moffat(again various spellings) genealogy....once you have posted 3 times you will be able to send/reciev Pm's....it you would like a copy of the letter...PM me and I'll send it along to you....hope this is of some help to your search.....

All the Best

Wendy

[JohnnyMack1983]

Thank you everyone who replied already. I will take a look at the 1911 census, hopefully I'll find something. I don't think the birth site will be to much help, my Moffat's where born before 1860s I believe. I will also check out Proni, thanks.

Wendy, I have a copy of a baptismal certificate, It reads as follows;
Thomas son of James and Esther Moffat was baptized by me Rev. James Carley on July 31, 1846. I certify that this is correct as taken from the Old Presbyterian Baptismal Register of Antrim.
                                                               
                                                                  George V. Crook
                                                                           Minister
                                                                 The Manse, Antrim
                                                                  21st Oct. 1925

This was sent to my gr.gr.great aunt Mary (Moffat) Sands, who lived at 65 Percy street Belfast. I will take a look at the records from Armagh and would like to hear from you, thanks for all your help.

Gratefully yours,
Johnny Mack

[Wendl]

Johny Mack....

Forgot to add, James was also employed in the Linen mills...he was a foreman in Belfast....my grt Uncle told me bfore he died, that he went to the mill that Jimmy worked in, while on leave in Belfast during the 2nd world war, and was given a Linen Table cloth to bring home to my Grt Granny....my family immigrated from Belfast to Canada in 1928...I Still have "Close" relatives/descendents as well as the Hedley rellies/descendents in Belfast....Just a thot...have you checked www.Pensear.org the pension site for any of your relatives...sometimes can shed light on members of the family?  As well, I know sounds a little off the wall but can produce results for living rellies....I sent a letter outlining who I was looking for and how I was related to all the Hedley's and Close's listed in the Belfast phonebook.....and had excellent results...ended up locating a Hedley cousin who was searching the tree, and have found many "living rellies" all over the world!!!  might be worth the postage.....

Again, all the best
Wendy