Thomas Moffett

b. 22 October 1773, d. 26 August 1836
White's Mill on old Moffett land
(Washington Co., Virginia)
FatherWilliam Moffett1 b. abt 1745, d. 10 Oct 1774
MotherMary Gardner2 b. abt 1749/50, d. 4 Sep 1811
Birth22 Oct 1773 Thomas Moffett was born on 22 Oct 1773 in Virginia.3,4 
  Thomas's parents sold their land in Augusta County, Virginia in July 1773 so it is likely the family moved down the Valley of Virginia prior to Thomas's birth in late October of that year. Thomas was most likely born in that part of southwest Virginia that later became Washington County. County survey records establish that the family resided in the area by 1773 but are not specific as to the date. 
Fath-Death10 Oct 1774 On October 10th, 1774 Thomas's father William Moffett, along with many other members of the Washington County militia, engaged the Shawnee Indians at the junction of the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers in present day West Virginia. William died in the early morning hours of the ensuing battle, leaving a widow in her early 20s and 3 children under the age of 4, including Thomas. 
  Mary Moffett took her children, including a newborn daughter, and left Washington County for a few years until the Indian uprisings abated. It is likely she spent these years back in Augusta County with her husband's relatives. 
 After a few years Mary and the children returned to Washington County, where in 1782 Thomas's older brother John was formally granted a tract of land containing 330 acres on the North fork of the Holston River in Rich Valley, based on his father's settlement in 1773. John, as the eldest son, had inherited his father's estate, including the right to his land. 
Marriage31 Dec 1795 Thomas and Mary Brown, daughter of Robert Brown, were married by Rev. Charles Cummings on 31 Dec 1795 at Washington County, Virginia.5,6 
Land-Buy19 Jan 1796  On 19 Jan 1796, two weeks after his marriage, Thomas purchased the 330 acre settlement tract from his brother John for 110 pounds.7 
  A deed search confirms that this land is the same parcel in Washington County on which stands the building known as White's Mill. The foundation of the building may date to the period of Thomas's ownership.8 
  John and Mary lived here for about 12 years during which time Mary gave birth to 7 of their 9 children. 
Military1798 During this time Thomas also served in the Washington County Militia where he appeared on the rolls of the 70th Regiment (second Battalion).9 
Tax  He also appears on county tax rolls from 1793 to 1810, being charged annually for himself and 3 or 4 horses.10 
Land-Sell11 Sep 1810  On 11 Sep 1810 Thomas and Mary sold their land in Rich Valley to Valentine Baugh.11 
Migration1810  They then headed west to Wayne (now Union) County in the Indiana territory.12  
Residence  An 1872 history of Wayne County states: "Thomas Moffitt settled 3/4 of a mile south of the town of Abington. By a change in county bounds his farm has been taken into Union County. On it was one of the forts built during the War of 1812, as a means of protection against the Indians."13 
 Thomas's first year in Indiana saw the death of 2 family members back home in Virginia. Thomas's uncle, George Moffett, passed away in the summer of 1811. 
Moth-Death4 Sep 1811 And on 4 Sep 1811 Thomas's mother Mary passed away and was buried on the lands of Thomas's brother in Washington County. Mary had never remarried, but had been widowed for 36 years. 
  Two months earlier Thomas and his wife had added another daughter to their own family and named her Mary. 
Devisee15 Aug 1811  Thomas's mother left her property to be equally divided between her 3 children.14 
Land-Sell5 Jan 1813  Thomas, not having use for the land in Washington County, sold his 1/3 share of his mother's 80 acres to his brother John for $200.15 
Religion In Wayne County Thomas and Mary joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, which was organized in the early days of the county settlement.16 
Land1820 And when acreage in neighorboring Rush County became available with the opening of the government land office at Brookville (abt 1820), Thomas, along with his sons William and Wesley, were among those who purchased tracts.17 
Land  Thomas bought and sold several parcels of land in Wayne and Rush counties. Several of these transactions also involved his adult children. 
Migration Following Mary's death in February 1828, Thomas moved to Rush County where he owned 240 acres on Big Flat Rock.18 
Marriage7 Mar 1833 He married second, following Mary's death, Eleanor Milligan on 7 Mar 1833 in Wayne County, Indiana.19 
Death26 Aug 1836 Thomas died on 26 Aug 1836 at age 62.20 
  Thomas's final resting place remains a mystery. 
Description  The only known description of him comes from a letter written about 1895 by his great nephew, Dr. John Moffett of Rushville, which states that "Thomas was about one hundred and sixty" [pounds].21 

Research Comment:

An entry in Washington Co., Virginia Minute Book 3, dated 1 Dec. 1838, references a Chancery case in which James White was the complainant and Thomas Moffett and Mary his wife and other heirs of Robert Brown, dec'd, were the defendants. The entry noted that James White was deceased and named his heirs as complainants in his place. The court also ordered that John Parks & Mary Ann his wife, and Eliza Brown, daughters of Mathew Brown deceased, be added as defendants. It is curious that both Thomas and Mary continued to be named in this suit since they too were deceased. One can speculate that word of their deaths had not reached Virginia, but Mary had been dead for 10 years.22

Related Links and Images:

Mary Jane (Davis) Moffett, whose husband Garner was Thomas's nephew, left a journal in which she recorded her knowlege of Thomas's parents. See Mary Jane's Journal for links to images from the journal; in particular see p. 11
Deed to Valentine Baugh

Family

Mary Brown b. 16 Feb 1771, d. 17 Feb 1828
Children
ChartsDescendants of William Moffett and Mary Gardner
Last Edited2 Oct 2012

Citations

  1. [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.
  2. [S730] Washington Co., VA Deed Book B: 308-9. Mary Moffett will, dated 15 Aug. 1811, mentions dau Mary Ann Gobble, wife to Abraham Gobble, and sons Thomas and John. It also mentions James Fink whose relationship is not stated. John Moffett was named executor. The will was witnessed by Charles Pennington, and John and Sarah Mazingo. It was proved in court 30 Sept. 1811.
  3. [S26] Wesley Moffett Family Bible. The dates of birth and death for Thomas Moffett and his wife, Mary Brown were recorded in the handwriting of their son, Wesley Moffett.
  4. [S16] The date of birth recorded for Thomas in the family Bible by his son Wesley is only eleven months before the known birthdate for Thomas's younger sister, Mary Ann. The oldest child, John, was born in January 1771. It is more likely that Thomas was born in late 1772, not late 1773, however, the year recorded in the family Bible is used here since no other records have been located to disprove it.
  5. [S149] Washington Co., VA Marriage Register 1 & 2 (transcribed), 311. Transcribed record states: Thomas Moffett and Marry [sic] Brown were married by Charles Cummings on Dec. 31st 1795.
  6. [S26] Wesley Moffett Family Bible. Wesley recorded the following information about his parents: "Thomas Moffett was married to Mary Brown on the 31 of December 1795 and lived together thirty three years and six weeks."
  7. [S726] Lewis Preston Summers, Annals of Southwest Virginia, part 2:1312. John Moffitt to Thomas Moffitt, for 110 pounds, 330 acres on the waters of the N. Fork of the Holston R. in Rich Valley.
  8. [S1250] Jean Neal, "White's Mill," e-mail to D. Powell, 21 Nov. 2001. Ms Neal is head of a foundation established to restore White's Mill. Her email cited a visit by noted millwright and historian, Derek Ogden, who dated the mill to the period 1790-1800 based on the type of construction used.
  9. [S725] Gerald Clark, The Militia of Washington Co., Virginia, p. 126.
  10. [S1249] Washington Co., Virginia Tax Records 1782-1805. Thomas was taxed in the Lower District. He did not own slaves.
  11. [S1248] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book B (District Ct): 281. The deed was dated 11 Sept. 1810 and recorded in court 10 Oct. 1810. Mary was not able to make the trip to court to sign off her dower rights so a representative was sent to her home.
  12. [S453] History of Wayne County, vol. II, page 206.
  13. [S443] Andrew W. Young, History of Wayne County, Indiana, p. 145.
  14. [S730] Washington Co., VA Deed Book B: Mary Moffett will. 1811.
  15. [S1047] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 5: 252. Thomas Moffett of the Co of Wayne in the Indiana Territory, and Abraham Gobble and Maryanne, his wife of the Co. of Washington, state of VA to John Moffett of the Co. of Washington, for $200.00, their 2/3 interest in 80 acres of which Mary Moffett died seized in fee by indenture of bargain and sale bearing the date of 15 March 1796; recorded 20 July 1813.
  16. [S443] Andrew W. Young, History of Wayne County, Indiana, p. 148.
  17. [S444] A. E. Gary and E. B. Thomas, Centennial History of Rush County, Indiana, volume I, p. 62.
  18. [S451] Moffett Richards, "Descendants of Thomas Moffett", 1944, Society of Indiana Pioneers, application of Louise Mae Vanneman.
  19. [S294] Wayne Co., Indiana, Marriage Register B: 211. Thomas Moffett and Eleanor Milligan were married March 7, 1833 as certified by Dillon Bridges, Minister of the Gospel of the Church of the United Bretheran in Christ.
  20. [S26] Wesley Moffett Family Bible. Thomas's date of death was recorded in Wesley's handwriting.
  21. [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."
  22. [S2273] Research of Jack Hockett, Montreal, Canada; Mr. Hockett cites Washington Co. Minute Bk 3: 274.
  23. [S26] Wesley Moffett Family Bible. The names and birth information for Thomas and Mary's children was recorded in the handwriting of their son, Wesley.