Hello,
For reference: The 1871 Census at 5 Hammonds Row, Preston St John (in case there proves to be a familial connection to the Pearsons?)
Head: George Pearson 42, Iron Dresser, b Penrith Cumberland
Wife : Hannah 36, b Carlisle Cumberland
Dau: Isabella Mary 13, b Carlisle (mms Hodgson)
Son. Jno Willm, 12 b Oldham
Dau: Jessie, 10 b Oldham
Son: Thomas 5, b Carlisle (mms Hodgson)
Son: George 3 b Oldham
Boarder: Benjamin Moffatt 13, b Manchester
1881: Benjamin 25 & Ann 26 & children, at 1 Dickson Ct, Preston (Piece 4237/Folio 6, Pg 5)
1882: Benjamin's wife Ann died 1882 Preston
1891: Benjamin is a widower with his children ( and a widow boarder Hannah Laraway & her children) - at 3 Hammonds Row, Preston (Piece 3432 , Folio 12, pg 18)
1901: Allan St Preston
Benjamin Moffatt, widower age 41, General Labourer, b Manchester
With widow Elizabeth Charnley 33 (relationship not declared) and her children:
Charles V Charnley 9, Albert V Charnley 7 (both registered Preston as VASS, mms PLUMB)
Joseph M Charnley 5, Bertha M Charnley 1 mth (both registered Preston middle name Moffatt, mms not recorded.
Note: also a son Walter Moffatt Charnley mms Plumb (1899), and 2 girls Alice Moffatt Charnley mms not stated (1897) and Martha Moffatt Charnley mms not stated (1902) - all died.
Looks like a tangled web ( no marriage to Vass? maybe married John Charnley 1884?)
Seems your Benjamin married Elizabeth Plumb in Preston 1905 - at Preston St Peter according to LancBMD.
If so, would be interesting to see his father's details off that marriage?
Benjamin Moffatt died 1908 Preston ( age recorded as 49). (the other Benjamin, son of William & Jane, married Mary Ann, died 1929)
Cheers,
AMBLY