William Moffett1

b. circa 1745, d. 10 October 1774
FatherJohn Moffett1 d. bef 17 May 1749
MotherMary Christian b. abt 1712
BirthCircacirca 1745 William Moffett was born in Augusta County, Virginia, probably between 1744 and 1746.2,3 
Childhood  William's father died when he was a small child. Family tradition states that he was killed by Indians while on his way to visit family in North Carolina but this may not be accurate. Sometime in the next few years (before Nov. 15, 1752) William's mother married John Trimble. 
Court Record22 Sep 1752  However a disagreement of some sort ensued between William and his siblings on the one side, and their stepfather John Trimble on the other, which resulted in a court decision regarding the settlement of their father's estate on September 22, 1752.4 
Ward16 Nov 1752  The following month, on November 16, 1752, William and each of his siblings was appointed one of their mother's brothers as his or her guardian. John Christian became guardian of William and his sisters Catherine and Hannah.1 
Ward18 Mar 1760  By March 18, 1760 William was old enough to choose his own guardian [age 14 or older] and on that date his older brother George posted the $100 bond required to assume that role.5 
Marriage He married Mary Gardner, daughter of Thomas Gardner and Ann (?), probably in Augusta County, Virginia.6 
Migration Following their marriage William and Mary migrated down the Valley of Virginia to an area on the waters of the north fork of the Holston River in wilderness territory that was then part of Fincastle County, Virginia and which would later be known as Washington County. This was unsettled territory, subject to frequent Indian incursions. The settlers needed a certain physical and emotional strength to survive on what was then frontier land. 
Description William appears to have been a large man for his day as he was described by his great grandson as being six feet one inch tall.7 
Land-Sell5 Jul 1773 On July 5th, 1773, William sold land on Jennings Creek in Augusta County to his brother George. It was part of 400 acres Mary had inherited from her father, but control of it had passed to William upon their marriage.6 
Court Record William appeared in the Fincastle Court records during the Summer of 1773 thrugh the Spring of 1774. It appears he was the defendant in a case brought by one William Cocke. The details were not recorded but the case was "referred to determination" by a group of men appointed by the court. Ironically one of the men so appointed was Evan Shelby.8,9,10 
Military1774  It was under Captain Evan Shelby that William served in the Fincastle County militia in the late summer and early fall of 1774 and it was under Capt Shelby's command that William left home and traveled across the mountains to the western boundary of present day West. Virginia.11,12 
Death10 Oct 1774 William died on 10 Oct 1774 during what is alternately called the Battle of Pt. Pleasant, Lord Dunmore's War or the Battle of the Kanawha. The fighting took place near the site of present day Pt. Pleasant, W. Virginia at the junction of the Kanawha and Ohio Rivers.12 
  The story of William's death fighting the Shawnee Indians has been passed down through the generations with slight variations. Perhaps the most accurate account came from his great grandson Francis Garner Moffett who wrote:

"My father, Abram Gobble Moffett, has often told me of my great grandfather William having been killed by the Indians in the French and Indian War prior to the war of the Revolution, which occured near the present site of Pittsburg, Penna. His death occurred in the early morning, he being picked off by sharpshooters, I think he was under the command of Lord Dunsmore of Maryland, but belonging to a body of Virginia troops. My father would go into all the details as he had heard them and firmly believed all his statements to be actual facts."13

[Although the Battle was not part of the French Indian War the other points are close to accurate. Evan Shelby's company was part of the first group of militia men to enter battle, encountering the Indians about 7:00 am the morning of the 10th] 
  It is not known exactly what role William played in the battle or in the days leading up to it but the Auditor's Accounts show that William was paid over 8 pounds for sixty-seven days service during this time. This was significantly less than the captain's pay, but it was twice the pay of most of the soldiers, suggesting he served an officer of some sort, possibly a sergeant.14 
  William was not alone during the fighting. His brother, George, who had served as his guardian and who years later would remember William's family in his will, commanded a company of men from Augusta County. William's brother Robert also took part. George and his men also entered the fighting in the early morning hours; one wonders if he knew his younger brother had fallen. 

Research Comment:

It is possible William and Mary had additional children to those listed below. In the late 1800s Dr. John Moffett of Rushville, Indiana corresponded with his aunt Mary Jane Beatty (Davis) Moffett of Carroll County, Illinois. He provided her with a chart listing 6 children for William Moffett and Mary (Gardner) Moffett which included the names George, James and Robert - all followed by the notation "died".

If this is accurate information the 3 children were deceased by the fall of 1774 as Mary later stated in her pension application that she had 3 children at the time of William's death. Numerous documents clearly name her living children as John, Thomas and Mary. This would also mean that Mary had to have married by about age 16 and then given birth to 6 children in a space of 7 or 8 years.

Dr. John Moffett was very interested in the family history and left other writings, not all of which have proved entirely accurate. However, from the age of about 15-23 John lived in close proximity to his grandfather, Capt. John Moffett, who would have been a sibling of the 3 deceased children. Therefore the information should not be discounted.15

Related Links and Images:

Pt. Pleasant, West Virginia where William died on Oct. 10, 1774
Record of William's payment for militia services under Evan Shelby14
Read Anne Watts moving interpretation of William's death at Pt. Pleasant
See Mary Jane's Journal for images and text from Mary Jane (Davis) Moffett's journal. In particular see pages 11 and 15 for mention of William

Family

Mary Gardner b. abt 1749/50, d. 4 Sep 1811
Children
ChartsDescendants of William Moffett and Mary Gardner
Last Edited7 Aug 2013

Citations

  1. [S755] Bond of John Christian as guardian of Catherine, William and Hannah Moffet, orphans of John Moffett, deceased, John Moffett probate file, Augusta County, Virginia. Bond was in the amount of 200 pounds with Francis McGown and Robert Brown providing surety; 16 Nov. 1752.
  2. [S873] George Moffett bond as guardian of William Moffett (1760), Augusta Co., Virginia, Will Book 3: 231. The bond was recorded March 19, 1760. It clearly states that William Moffett chose George Moffett as his guardian.
  3. [S16] William's name does not appear on the Feb. 1739 list of family members "imported" into Virginia with John Moffett. Neither is he listed with his siblings who were baptised in Augusta County in 1741 and 1743. He chose his brother George as his guardian in March 1760 by which time he had to be at least 14 years of age. Therefore he most likely was born between 1744 and 1746.
  4. [S755] Judgement in the "affair" between the orphans of John Moffett, deceased and John Trimble, John Moffett probate file, Augusta County, Virginia. The four men who had been assigned to render an opinion (Silas ____, John ____, Thomas Gordon and John Young) decreed that the remainder of the personal estate be appraised and sold and that the increase of the stock be equally divided between the estate (and then sold) and John Trimble ; 22 Sept. 1752.
  5. [S755] Bond of George Moffat (chosen) guardian of William Moffat, orphan of John Moffat, deceased, John Moffett probate file, Augusta County, Virginia. Bond was in the amount of 100 pounds with William Anderson providing security; 18 [?] March 1760.
  6. [S330] Lyman Chalkley, Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia Extracted From the Original Court Records of Augusta County 1745-1800, 3: 544. This record was abstracted from Deed Book 21: 188, dated 5 July 1773. The abstract reads: William Moffett, farmer, to George Moffett on Jennings Creek, part of 400 acres patented to Daniel McNare and by him conveyed to Thomas Gardner, now deceased and is since become the property of William Moffett by marrying the daughter of said Gardner who was heir-at-law to said land.
  7. [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."
  8. [S748] Michael Cook and Betty Cummings Cook, Fincastle & Kentucky Co., VA-KY, p. 378. This abstract is cited to Fincastle Co. Order Bk 2, p. 2 (book is noted to be in the possession of the county clerk of Montgomery Co. VA) and states: William Cocke v. William Moffett, in case. All matters of difference, by consent, referred to determination by Evan Shelby, James Dorchester, James Thompson and William Campbell, whose award will be the award of the court.
  9. [S748] Michael Cook and Betty Cummings Cook, Fincastle & Kentucky Co., VA-KY, p. 356. This abstract is cited to Fincastle Co. Order Bk, p. 118 (book is noted to be in the possession of the county clerk of Montgomery Co. VA) and states: William Cocke v. William Moffett, on case. Benjamin Logan entered himself as surety for the defendant. Defendant made exception to claim; continued.
  10. [S748] Michael Cook and Betty Cummings Cook, Fincastle & Kentucky Co., VA-KY, p. 346. This abstract is cited to Fincastle Co. Order Bk, p. 100 (book is noted to be in the possession of the county clerk of Montgomery Co. VA) and states: William Cocke v. William Moffett and Benjamin Logan, on case. Dismissed for want of presecution.
  11. [S753] Mary Kegley, Soldiers of Fincastle Co., Virginia 1774, pp. 11, 63. List of soldiers in Captain Evan Shelby's Company includes William Moffet who served for 67 days and was paid 8 pounds, 7 shillings. It was also noted that he was paid for one horse "lost."
  12. [S754] Virginia Revolutionary War State Pensions, viewed on microfilm at the Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. Microfilm #0029861, file 291, William Moffet soldier, applic by Mary Moffett, widow, 1792, based on William's death at the Battle of Point Pleasant. The text reads:
    "At a Court held for Washington County September 1792...Mrs. Mary Moffett made Oath that she is the widow of William Moffet dec. who was killed by the Indians in the Battle at the Point in the year 1774. Whereupon it is Ordered to be certified that the said Mary Moffet was in indigent circumstances at the time of death of her husband, and having three helpless Orphans the oldest being scarce four years old and the youngest was born in the month of September 1774 and that she was under the necessity of leaving this County near two years, after the death of her husband to escape the danger of the Indians (escaping which) she has resided in this County previous to his death.... ... A Copy Test, Andrew Russell."
  13. [S302] Clan Moffat in America Project, "William Moffett, of Washington Co. Virginia. Extract from letter Francis Garner Moffett, to G.W. Moffat, dated at Des Moines, Iowa, Dec. 23, 1908."
  14. [S2755] "Dunmore's War (Virginia Payrolls/Public Service Claims, 1775)", digital images, Library of Virginia Online (http://www.lva.virginia.gov/siteIndex.asp : Sept. 2011), Capt. Evan Shelby Co., entry for William Moffet.
  15. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 15.
  16. [S1937] Washington Co., Virginia Surveyor's records Vol. 1, p. 10.
  17. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 11. Mary J.B. Moffett's husband was the grandson of William and Mary (Gardner) Moffett.