Sexton Moffett1

b. circa October 1823, d. circa 1824
FatherWilliam Moffett1 b. Feb 1799, d. 21 Sep 1859
MotherIsabella Reed1 b. bet 1795 - 1797, d. 6 Feb 1886
Birthcirca Oct 1823 Sexton Moffett was born circa Oct 1823.2 
Deathcirca 1824 Sexton died circa 1824.2 

Research Comment:

It is difficult to identify a date of birth and/or death for this child. The Moffett monument in East Hill Cemetery bears his name (and that of an older brother) and says Sexton died September 20, 1824, aged 11 months. However, that computes to a birth date of abt Oct. 20th, 1824. This conflicts with a family diary that states that Sexton's parents left Virginia 17 Oct. 1824 with their only child, John. There is no mention of a child born along the way and furthermore it is highly unlikely they would have headed west if Isabella had been 9 months pregnant.

To further complicate matters, the same family history states that Sexton was buried in the thick of the forest on April 9th [1824] as the family was preparing a log rolling on their land on the west bank of the "Big Flat Rock" [River][north of Rushville, Indiana].

The monument in East Hill Cemetery was erected years after Sexton's death and indeed he may not be buried there at all. The family above mentioned family record was also created years after his death. It is probably safe to say he was born in early 1824 and died in infancy.

In addition to the questions noted above is the interesting fact that about 6 miles north of Rushville and west of the Flat Rock River sits the small community of Sexton. I do not believe Sexton's parents' land was quite this far north of the town, but it is an interesting coincidence.
ChartsDescendants of William Moffett and Mary Gardner
Last Edited30 Jun 2011

Citations

  1. [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."
  2. [S515] Daughters of the American Revolution - Rushville Chapter, Rush Co., Indiana Cemetery Records Prior to 1886, p. 244.