Help needed for mysterious Moffats

[mjsmart90]

I have searched everywhere in Scotland looking for the origins of my partner's family, the Moffats.

William John Moffat married Ena Emily Campbell Smith in 1920 in Greenock. According to their marriage record, his parents are Thomas Moffat, blacksmith, and Annie McLaughlin.
Thomas Moffat died in Greenock in 1929 aged 73. His father is listed as John Moffat but the mother's name is illegible.
Annie McLaughlin died in Greenock in 1931 aged 69. Her parents were William McLaughlin and Mary Wilson.

Their son William Moffat died in Greenock in 1943. He must have been born about 1888 or 1889, but I have found no matches for his birth or his parents marriage. Also no matches for the 1891, 1901 or 1911 census records. William must have had a brother Robert as he is the informant for Thomas and Annie's deaths and according to my partner's grandad there were at least two other siblings, David and Thomas.

I can only assume these Moffats did not come to Scotland until 1920 at the latest. I was hoping someone might be able to find a trace of them elsewhere in Britain - I am not sure how to go about finding them - or have better luck finding them in Scotland.

Thanks in advance for any help, advice etc
Michael

[aghadowey]

If this is the correct family I have more details-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Londonderry/Aghadowney/Ballygawley/651793
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Aghadowey/Ballyganley/1515867

[aghadowey]

Yes, it is the correct family. To start with-

4 Oct.1881 Main St. (2nd) Garvagh Presbyterian: Thomas Moffet, blacksmith, Craigmore, son of John Moffet, blacksmith, to Annie McGlaughlin, 20 yrs., Maybuoy, daughter of William McGlaughlin, labourer.
Children (baptised Aghadowey Presbyterian Church):
1. Rebecca born 30 July 1883, bapt. 3 Mar.1885
2. Mary born 16 May 1884, bapt. 3 Mar.1885
3. Elizabeth Archibald
4. Wm John born 2 Oct.1888, bapt. 7 Feb.1889
5. Thomas James born 3 Jan.1891, bapt. 2 Apr.1891
6. Annie?/Janie? born 28 Nov.1893, bapt. 4 Mar.1894
7. Annie born 10 Mar.1896, bapt. 6 Sept.1896
8. Susannah born 4 July 1899, bapt. 5 Nov.1899
9. Alexr. born 20 Dec.1900, bapt. 20 May 1901
10. Robert Wilson born 3 Aug.1903, bapt. 19 Oct.1903
11. Albert born 22 Sept.1904, bapt. 5 Feb.1905.

[aghadowey]

20 Jan.1903 Crossgar Presbyterian Church, David Moffett, soldier, Ballygawley, son of David Moffett, blacksmith, to Lizzie Hemphill, Crivolea, daughter of John Hemphill, labourer.

12 Apr.1910 Coleraine Registry Office, Thomas Macauley, labourer, Ballysally [Coleraine], son of Thomas Macauley, labourer, to Eliza Moffett, domestic servant, Ballygawley, daughter of Thomas Moffett, blacksmith.

Northern Constitution, 12 Jan.1918: DEATH Moffat, at 3, Belville Street, Greenock, on the 1st inst., after a long illness, Annie, fifth and dearly beloved daughter of Thomas and Annie Moffat, formerly of Aghadowey, aged 21 years.

Thomas James Moffett signed Ulster Covenant at Greenock in 1912. See www.proni.gov.uk

[aghadowey]

Annie McLaughlin's middle name was Wilson.

Daughter Lizzie in 1901 census-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Aghadowey/Ballybritain/1515846

David Moffett, wife and family with Hemphills in 1911-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Londonderry/Aghadowney/Crevolea/651865

[mjsmart90]

Yes that is the right family, thank you so much! That is amazing, I had just assumed that Moffat was a Scottish name and they would be there somewhere. Do Moffats also have Irish origins?

Regards
Michael

[aghadowey]

It's quite possible that they were from Scotland before Ireland but you'd need to be able to trace back quite a few generations to be sure.

Do you want more details on the family?

[mjsmart90]

I would love to find out more, I am not familiar with researching family history in Ireland so any help you can give me I would really appreciate it. I would be interested in finding out Thomas Moffat's origins, if his father was also born in Londonderry or came from Scotland?

Thanks so much,
Michael

[Sophymoffat]

Hello,

I'm not sure if this is helpful, but hope it is interesting.

It seems as though I am directly descended from the same family

- Lizzie/Elizabeth Hemphill (1879-1966) was my great-grandmother
- Anne McGlaughlin (1861-?) was my great-great-grandmother
- Anne McGlaughlin was married to my great-great-grandfather Thomas Moffat.
- Lizzie was married to my great-grandfather David Moffat (1881-1953)

My grandad Thomas (Tommy) Moffat was Lizzie Hemphill's son, he died in 2002 and was born in Greenock in 1926.

My father, David, is Tommy's son. My father and the rest of my immediate family moved away to London when I was a young child. But my Dad still has recollections of my great-grandfather. My grandmother is 89 years old and will certainly remember Lizzie Hemphill and David Moffat (my great-great grandparents/her parents-in-law).

I have only recently started tracing my family tree and have been finding the Irish (Moffat) side difficult. The rest of my family have come from Scotland since the 1700s you see, so I'd gotten used to all the Scottish websites and resources. If you have any research you can share about the Moffats pre-1950 my father and I would be really delighted.