William Moffett1

b. February 1799, d. 21 September 1859
FatherCapt. John Moffett1,2 b. 3 Jan 1771, d. 25 Dec 1845
MotherIsabel Davis2 b. 24 Aug 1775, d. 25 Sep 1835
BirthFeb 1799 William Moffett was born near Abingdon in Washington County, Virginia, in Feb 1799. The exact date, as calculated from his headstone, was the 2nd. However other records report it as the 12th.3,4,5 
Description  Years later his son would note that William stood just over 6 feet tall.6 
Marriage27 Dec 1821 He married Isabella Reed, daughter of John Reid and Elizabeth Orr, on 27 Dec 1821 in Washington County.7,8 
Migration17 Oct 1823 On 17 Oct 1823 William and Isabella and their young son John left Virginia in a covered wagon stocked with supplies for sleeping and eating. About November 10th they reached the home of Thomas Moffett who had been in Indiana since 1810. After resting they continued on to the west bank of the Big Flat Rock River where they built a cabin. Isabella's obituary says they settled abt 2 1/2 miles north east of Rushville on what in 1886 was the Ft. Wayne Rd.9,8 
  William was not a strong man and clearing the forested land was a difficult task. For several years he taught the local children in a cabin on his property. In exchange his neighbors helped clear his land.10 
  In the fall of 1827 a new log house was constructed with tongue and grooved floor, a shaved shingle roof and a brick chimney. Years later a larger residence was built but it burned to the ground within 2 years.9 
  John and Isabel were pioneers of the young community. They were the parents of 8 children including an infant son who died not long after they settled in Rush County. Another son, Thomas, died in 1838. 
ReligionNov 1832 They were also early members of the Rushville Baptist Church, joining in the fall of 1832.8 
Moth-Death25 Sep 1835  In late 1835 William's mother died in Virginia. William's father then moved out to Rushville where he married for a second time a few years later. 
Cens-185010 Sep 1850  William and Isabella were recorded in the fall of 1850 on the first federal census to list all members of a household by name. William (57) was listed as the owner of land worth $7,660. Also present were Isabel (53), and 4 of their 6 surviving children: Theophilus (23), Isabel (19), Mary J. (17) and Estil R. (15).11 
Death21 Sep 1859 William died of consumption on 21 Sep 1859 on his farm in Rush County, Indiana, at age 60.3,12,13 
Burial22 Sep 1859 He was buried on 22 Sep 1859 at East Hill Cemetery in Rushville, Rush County, Indiana.14,15 
Obituary  William's obituary ended with "God bless those kind hearted people who settled as pioneers in Rush County."16 
Probate RecdFeb 1863  William's estate was settled in February 1863 by his administrator [and son] Estil Moffett. The estate was valued at a little over $1,100. There were outstanding debts amounting to $750 including $100 owed to Franklin College. The balance was divided with William's widow Isabel receiving 1/3 and his heirs, who were named as John Moffett, Elizabeth Fouts, T. Moffett, Isabell Maxwell, Mary Harris and Estil Moffett dividing the remainder.17 

Research Comment:

William's cousin of the same name (son of Thomas Moffett) also settled the Wayne County/Rush County area at an early date. There are numerous land records in both counties for "William Moffett"; care needs to be taken to differentiate which record belongs to which man.

Related Links and Images:

Land settled by William and Isabella northeast of Rushville on the Ft. Wayne Rd.
William's obituary16
Moffett monument in East Hill Cemetery (distant view and close up)
William's sister-in-law, Mary Jane (Davis) Moffett left a journal in which she recorded her knowledge of the Moffett family. See Mary Jane's Journal for images and text. In particular see the section titled "The Moffett family"

Family

Isabella Reed b. bet 1795 - 1797, d. 6 Feb 1886
Children
ChartsDescendants of William Moffett and Mary Gardner
Last Edited6 Feb 2013

Citations

  1. [S1936] John Moffett will (recorded 1846), Rush Co., Indiana Will Book 2: 79. The will was dated 8 Apr 1843 and recorded 8 Jan. 1846. It was witnessed by John McMillin and Azel Griffeth.
  2. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 13. Mary J.B. Moffett was the daughter-in-law of John Moffett and Isabella (Davs) Moffett.
  3. [S515] Daughters of the American Revolution - Rushville Chapter, Rush Co., Indiana Cemetery Records Prior to 1886, p. 244.
  4. [S1928] Atlas of Rush County, Indiana, aaa.
  5. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 13. Mary J.B. Moffett was the daughter-in-law of John Moffett and Isabella (Davs) Moffett. She recorded the date as 12 Feb. 1799. Her source of the information may have been William's son John, with whom she is known to have been in contact. John was most likely also the source of the information for the Atlas of Rush County submission.
  6. [S302] Clan Moffat in America Project, "Letter John Moffett, M.D. of Rushville, IN to John Fletcher Moffett of Watertown, NY, dated Nov. 24, 1895."
  7. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 16.
  8. [S2068] "Album" presented to Miss Mary Jane Moffett, 25 Dec. 1856. Collection includes an obituary for Isabel Moffett titled "In Memoriam"; from an unnamed and undated newspaper.
  9. [S2067] Mary Jane (Moffett) Harris, "A Message to Posterity", This story is cited to the diary of Dr. John Moffett "written for his niece, Isabel Harris". There is also the notation that some lines were added by Roberta Harris who obtained the facts from grandmother Moffett.
  10. [S475] History of Rush County, Indiana, p. 809.
  11. [S1991] Wm Moffett household, 1850 U.S. census, Rush Co., Indiana, pop. sched., District 97, p. after 433 stamped, dwelling 858, family 860, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jun 2008, image 119 of 221. Household includes Wm Moffett, 57, farmer, owns land worth $7,660, b. VA; Isabel, 53, b. VA; Theophilus, 22; Isabel 19; Mary J. 17; Estil R., 15; all b. IN.
  12. [S2067] Mary Jane (Moffett) Harris, "A Message to Posterity."
  13. [S1984] Wm Moffatt entry, 1860 Indiana Federal census, Rush County, mortality schedule, p. 192 (added script).
  14. [S518] William Moffett tombstone, section 1, East Hill Cemetery, Rushville, Indiana, photographed Summer 1997 by D. Powell. William's name and date of death is inscribed on a large monument, along with the names of his father and other family members.
  15. [S2068] "Album" presented to Miss Mary Jane Moffett, 25 Dec. 1856. Collection includes funeral notice for "Capt. William Moffett."
  16. [S2068] "Album" presented to Miss Mary Jane Moffett, 25 Dec. 1856. Collection includes undated obituary for "Capt. William Moffett."
  17. [S525] Administration and Settlement papers for William Moffett, (1859-1863), Rush Co, Indiana Probate Records, volume and page not known, papers copied by Ruby Corn, Rushville, IN.
  18. [S301] Clan Moffat in America Project, "William Moffett-Isabella Reed family group sheet". This group sheet was completed in longhand by Roberta Estella Harris, granddaughter of William Moffett and Isabella Reed.
  19. [S518] Sexton Moffett tombstone, section 1, East Hill Cemetery, Rushville, Indiana, photographed Summer 1997 by D. Powell. Sexton's name and date of death is inscribed on the base of a large "Moffett" family monument, along with the name of his brother Thomas. Below their names are the words "children of W. & I. Moffett."
  20. [S518] Thomas G. Moffett tombstone, section 1, East Hill Cemetery, Rushville, Indiana, photographed Summer 1997 by D. Powell. Thomas's name and date of death is inscribed on the base of a large "Moffett" family monument, along with the name of his brother Sexton. Below their names are the words "children of W. & I. Moffett."