Handwritten copies of the "Moffett Bible" and "Diary" were made in 1963 by Irene Robinson, a descendant of Jacob MOFFETT. At that time the Bible and diary were in possession of Ethel (Williams) McCrary of Evergreen (Brooklyn Rt) AL. Mrs McCrary died in 1978. Mrs Robinson died in 1997.
Irene Robinson sent copies to Frances Lawrence on 04/23/1979. Typed copies of the documents were prepared under the direction of Mr Grady Williams, a descendant of Thomas Oliver Moffett.
Frances Lawrence sent information from these documents to Family Puzzlers of Sep 29, 1983, No. 832. These documents are also the source, by way of Frances Lawrence, of the MOFFETT information in Georgia Genealogical Gleanings by Emma Barrett Reeves.
It is unfortunate that we do not have a xerox copy of the actually pages in the Bible. Some of the dates and all the commentary in the transcipt below were apparently added well after the fact. Some of it is just plain wrong.
There is no evidence that Thomas Moffett was born in SC. In all probability he was born in Scotland or, perhaps, Northern Ireland. There are also grounds for thinking he was born prior to 1761. Nor is there any reason for believing Abigail was born in SC. All evidence suggests that she was born in North Carolina, probably Chowan Co.
Margaret Moffett and Nathan Jackson were married several years before 1812. In his will written in 1854 he specifically says that he has been with Margaret for 49 years.
Jacob Moffett and Sarah Saunders married in Jul 1822, not Jan.
Nathan Moffett married Ally Carden in 1817, not 1815. The 1813 marriage date for Nathan is correct though. That was to his first wife Elizabeth Blount.
In a Bible known as the "Moffett Family Bible" with the front piece
fly-leaf missing, but with fly-leaf to the New Testament entact,
as follows:
The
New Testament
of our
Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ
Translated
Out of the Original Greek
And
With the Former Translations
Deligently Compared and Revised
By The Special Command of King James I of England
Philadelphia
Printed for Matthew Carey No 118 Market St.
October 27, 1802
The following marriage, birth and death records have been found as set
forth here in:
(1) James Moffett (Moffat) born July 17, 1730 in Scotland - died
September 2, 1809 in Lincoln County Georgia.
Name of first wife not known -
Children:
(a) Elizabeth born 1750 - died 1835 (age 85) mentioned as
being the "eldest and only daughter" married James
Samuel Hunter.
(b) Son - died on voyage to America, "buried in ocean"
(c) Son - died on voyage to America, "buried in ocean"
Name of second wife not known -
Children:
(d) Thomas born February 2, 1761 - died March 18, 1820.
Married Abagail (Jordan) Carpenter
[James Moffett (Moffat) came to America from Scotland,
before the Revolutionary War, settled first in S.C.
later in Ga. He was married five times but only had
children by his 1st & 2nd wives.]
(2) Thomas Moffett (Moffat) born February 2, 1761 in S.C. - died
March 28, 1820 in Jasper County Ga. Married September 10, 1782 -
Abigail (Jordan) Carpenter born February 10, 1751 in S.C. - died
November 4, 1822 in Jasper County Ga.
Children:
(a) James born February 2, 1789 - married Sally Bellamy December 20, 1820
(b) Margaret born June 28, 1783 - married Nathan Jackson February 9, 1812
(c) Jane born June 2, 1786 - married David Hunter (stepson of
Elizabeth Moffat Hunter)
(d) Elizabeth - married Elijah Boynton February 27, 1814
(e) Nathan born August 15, 1791 - married Alba Cardan September 2, 1815
twin
(f) Jacob born August 15, 1791 - married Sarah Hunter Saunders Jan 25, 1822.
Thomas Moffett (Moffat) was a Revolutionary soldier, going in
at about 16 or 17 years of age serving first as a courier, and
afterward as soldier. It is recorded in Knight Roster of Georgia
that he received a certificate of Col. Elijah Clark February 2,
1784 for land in Franklin Co. Ga. for "Rev. Services"
After the war he married Abigail (Jordan) Carpenter whose husband
had been killed in the war leaving her with five (5) children.
(3) Jacob Moffet born August 15, 1791 in Lincoln Co. Ga - died May
29, 1869 in Brooklyn Ala. - married Jan. 25, 1822. Sarah Hunter
Saunder born Oct 10, 1806 died Dec. 21, 1879
Children:
(a) Elizabeth Jane - died March 3, 1891 - married William Carey Bickley.
(b) Josephine Caroline born December 20, 1831 - died January 17, 1898
married Andrew Jackson Robinson
(c) Ellen Hunter - died 1875 - married first to John Freeman
Williamson November 28, 1855. He was killed in civil war.
Married second to Isaac L. Hill
(d) Margaret Ann - died March 1, 1886 - married A. T. Callihan December 14, 1859
(e) Mary Arthur (Molly) - married G. Pitman Jones
(f) Thomas born June 25, 1841 - died January 18, 1864 in the civil war in Tenn.
[ The Jacob Moffetts (Moffat's) lived about 20 miles from Francesville
Ga. a town or village on Flint River. The name "Moffat" later changed
to Moffett but is identical family name - despite the change in the last
syllable (so stated by Josephine Caroline Moffett Robinson in her diary
in 1884). Jacob and Sarah Moffett moved from Ga. to Brooklyn Ala to live
with their daughter and son in law, Josephine C. and Andrew J. Robinson
the latter part of 1865.]
Moffett Family Bible Records MARRIAGES Thomas & Abigail His wife was married September Ye 10th 1782 Nathan Moffett, son to Thomas Moffett was married September ye 2 1813 Nathan Jackson and Margaret Moffett, His wife was married February the ninth 1813 J 6 1842 William C. Bickley was married to Elizabeth J. Moffett February 27th 1814 C. S. Boynton was married to Elizabeth Moffett December 20th 1820 James Moffett was married to Sally Bellamy Jan 25th 1822 Jacob Moffett was married to Sarah Sanders November 28th 1854 Freeman Williams was married to Ellen H. Moffett
Moffett Bible - Family Record
BIRTHS
James Moffett was born July ye 17h 1730
Thomas Moffett, Son of James Moffett Sen
was born February ye 2nd 1761 - Abigail,
his wife, was born February ye 10th 1751
Margaret Moffett was born June ye 28 1783
Jane Moffett was born June ye 2nd 1786
James Moffett Jun. was born February ye 2nd 1789
Nathan & Jacob Moffett was born August ye 15th 1791
Elizabeth Moffett was born December ye 10th 1795
Matildy Moffett was born December ye 25 1815
Williams Moffett was born Mar 27 1818
Alba Cardan wife of N. Moffett was born August 18th day 1795
Elizabeth Moffett, daughter of N. Moffett was born June 10th day
by Moffett was
Sarah Sanders was born in the ye October 10th 1806
Elizabeth Jane Moffett was born June ye 17th 18
Lauison A. Moffett was born January ye
Moffett Bible Family Record DEATHS James Moffett died September 2, 1809 - Age 79 Thomas Moffett died March 28, 1820 - Age 59 Abigail Moffett died November 4, 1822 - Age 71 Louisa A. Moffett died November 17, 18 Elizabeth Hunter died February, 1835 - Age 85