Robert Carruthers Moffat was born in Carlisle, England in 1846. He appears in the census there in 1851 and 1861, but not in 1871. The next record I have of him is his marriage to Rebecca Stanley Creek in St Paul’s Church, Adelaide on 3rd January 1872. Rebecca was born in Adelaide on 18th June 1852, just four weeks after her family had arrived at Port Adelaide on the “Anglia” from London. Rebecca’s family name was originally “Crick”, but this was changed to “Creek” in around 1863.
Robert and Rebecca’s first child was born in Bowden in 1872. They had 10 more children, one at Kadina, one at Paratoo Station, one at Blinman, four at Mount Lyndhurst station (including my grandfather Francis Herbert), two at Mount Nor-West station, and the last in 1892 at Farina. During this time Robert was variously recorded as working as a blacksmith and an engineer.
Robert died on 8th July 1906. His death certificate gives the location as “On road between Farina and Lynda Mine”, and the cause as “Supposed heart failure”. An article in the Broken Hill Barrier Miner on 14th July 1906 gives some details:
Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW) Saturday 14 July 1906, page 3
TRAGEDY OF THE FAR NORTH
– Found Lifeless in a Buggy.
Inspector Clode, of Farina, on July 9 received a message from Mounted constable Smith (says the “Express”), who is stationed at the Lynda mine, to the effect that Robert Moffat had been found dead in his buggy on the previous day. As there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death, a burial certificate was granted.
The deceased was employed on the mine as a blacksmith and engine driver, and was regarded as a most useful man. He drove into Farina, which is about 20 miles distant, on Saturday to post a letter to Mr. A. Dawe, secretary of the Lynda mine, of National Buildings, King William street, and, from the fact that he was found dead in the vehicle, it is surmised that death overtook him on the way back to the mine, and the horses, knowing the route, brought his remains into camp. A son of the deceased is working on the mine, but the remainder of the family reside at Farina.
It is perhaps surprising under the circumstances that no inquest seems to have been held.
Many of Robert and Rebecca’s descendants have added a second “t” to the name, but Robert persisted with Moffat to the end, with his headstone recording him with the extra “t” for the first and only time.
Biography provided by Bob Moffatt, great-grandson of Robert Carruthers Moffatt.
Robert and Rebecca’s first child was born in Bowden in 1872. They had 10 more children, one at Kadina, one at Paratoo Station, one at Blinman, four at Mount Lyndhurst station (including my grandfather Francis Herbert), two at Mount Nor-West station, and the last in 1892 at Farina. During this time Robert was variously recorded as working as a blacksmith and an engineer.
Robert died on 8th July 1906. His death certificate gives the location as “On road between Farina and Lynda Mine”, and the cause as “Supposed heart failure”. An article in the Broken Hill Barrier Miner on 14th July 1906 gives some details:
Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW) Saturday 14 July 1906, page 3
TRAGEDY OF THE FAR NORTH
– Found Lifeless in a Buggy.
Inspector Clode, of Farina, on July 9 received a message from Mounted constable Smith (says the “Express”), who is stationed at the Lynda mine, to the effect that Robert Moffat had been found dead in his buggy on the previous day. As there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death, a burial certificate was granted.
The deceased was employed on the mine as a blacksmith and engine driver, and was regarded as a most useful man. He drove into Farina, which is about 20 miles distant, on Saturday to post a letter to Mr. A. Dawe, secretary of the Lynda mine, of National Buildings, King William street, and, from the fact that he was found dead in the vehicle, it is surmised that death overtook him on the way back to the mine, and the horses, knowing the route, brought his remains into camp. A son of the deceased is working on the mine, but the remainder of the family reside at Farina.
It is perhaps surprising under the circumstances that no inquest seems to have been held.
Many of Robert and Rebecca’s descendants have added a second “t” to the name, but Robert persisted with Moffat to the end, with his headstone recording him with the extra “t” for the first and only time.
Biography provided by Bob Moffatt, great-grandson of Robert Carruthers Moffatt.
- JUN 1846 - Birth - ; Stanwix, Cumberland, England
- 1851 - Census - ; Simpson Court, Caldewgate, Carlisle, Cumberland, England
- 1861 - Census - ; 16 Milburn Street, Caldewgate, Carlisle, Cumberland, England
- 8 JUL 1906 - Death - ; Farina, South Australia
- 1879 - Residence - Sheep station ; Umberatana, South Australia, Australia
- FROM 1880 TO 1886 - Residence - Sheep station ; Mount Lyndhurst, South Australia
- FROM 1897 TO 1905 - Residence - ; Farina, South Australia
- 1879 - Employment - Engineer ; Umberatana, South Australia, Australia
- FROM 1880 TO 1886 - Employment - Engineer ; Mount Lyndhurst, South Australia
- FROM 1897 TO 1905 - Employment - Blacksmith ; Farina, South Australia
- Occupation - Engineer, Blacksmith
- 1879 - Residence - Sheep station ; Umberatana, South Australia, Australia
- FROM 1880 TO 1886 - Residence - Sheep station ; Mount Lyndhurst, South Australia
- FROM 1897 TO 1905 - Residence - ; Farina, South Australia
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PARENT (M) John Moffatt | |||
Birth | 1824 | Kirklinton, Cumberland, England | |
Death | DEC 1876 | Carlisle, Cumberland, England | |
Marriage | SEP 1845 | to Catherine Hewitson at Carlisle, Cumberland, England | |
Father | William Moffatt | ||
Mother | ? | ||
PARENT (F) Catherine Hewitson | |||
Birth | 1826 | Brampton, Cumberland, England | |
Death | |||
Marriage | SEP 1845 | to John Moffatt at Carlisle, Cumberland, England | |
Father | ? | ||
Mother | ? | ||
CHILDREN | |||
M | Robert Carruthers Moffat | ||
Birth | JUN 1846 | Stanwix, Cumberland, England | |
Death | 8 JUL 1906 | Farina, South Australia | |
Marriage | 3 JAN 1872 | to Rebecca Stanley (Creek) Moffat at St Paul''s Church, Adelaide, South Australia | |
F | Mary Moffatt | ||
Birth | MAR 1848 | Carlisle, Cumberland, England | |
Death | |||
F | Abigail Moffatt | ||
Birth | JUN 1850 | Carlisle, Cumberland, England | |
Death | |||
F | Sarah Ann Moffatt | ||
Birth | MAR 1853 | Carlisle, Cumberland, England | |
Death | JUN 1874 | Carlisle, Cumberland, England | |
F | Hannah Elizabeth Moffatt | ||
Birth | JUN 1855 | Carlisle, Cumberland, England | |
Death | |||
Marriage | DEC 1895 | to Edward Ward at Carlisle, Cumberland, England | |
F | Catherine Hodgson Moffatt | ||
Birth | MAR 1858 | Carlisle, Cumberland, England | |
Death | |||
Marriage | DEC 1881 | to John Allen at Carlisle, Cumberland, England | |
M | William Moffatt | ||
Birth | MAR 1862 | Carlisle, Cumberland, England | |
Death | |||
M | John Moffatt | ||
Birth | MAR 1865 | Carlisle, Cumberland, England | |
Death | DEC 1874 | Carlisle, Cumberland, England |
PARENT (M) Robert Carruthers Moffat | |||
Birth | JUN 1846 | Stanwix, Cumberland, England | |
Death | 8 JUL 1906 | Farina, South Australia | |
Marriage | 3 JAN 1872 | to Rebecca Stanley (Creek) Moffat at St Paul''s Church, Adelaide, South Australia | |
Father | John Moffatt | ||
Mother | Catherine Hewitson | ||
PARENT (F) Rebecca Stanley (Creek) Moffat | |||
Birth | 18 JUN 1852 | Adelaide, South Australia | |
Death | 8 OCT 1922 | Farina, South Australia | |
Marriage | 3 JAN 1872 | to Robert Carruthers Moffat at St Paul''s Church, Adelaide, South Australia | |
Father | John Creek | ||
Mother | Lucy Stanley | ||
CHILDREN | |||
M | Morton Oliver Moffatt | ||
Birth | 20 DEC 1882 | Mount Lyndhurst, South Australia | |
Death | 8 DEC 1962 | Kent Town, South Australia | |
F | Ada Mary Moffatt | ||
Birth | 14 APR 1872 | Bowden, South Australia | |
Death | 25 MAY 1873 | Kadina, South Australia | |
F | Alice Maud Moffatt | ||
Birth | 17 FEB 1881 | Mount Lyndhurst, South Australia | |
Death | 22 MAR 1882 | Mount Lyndhurst, South Australia | |
M | Robert Alfred Moffatt | ||
Birth | 17 FEB 1887 | Mount Nor-West Station, South Australia | |
Death | 7 MAY 1971 | Adelaide, South Australia | |
Marriage | 4 AUG 1913 | to Bertha Ruby (Gill) Moffatt at All Saints Anglican Church, Farina, South Australia | |
F | Ruby May (Moffat) Wise | ||
Birth | 28 APR 1892 | Farina, South Australia | |
Death | |||
Marriage | 6 SEP 1910 | to George Robert Wise at Residence of Mrs Moffat, Farina, South Australia | |
F | Sarah Ann (Moffatt) Rollens | ||
Birth | 7 NOV 1873 | North Kadina, South Australia | |
Death | 8 AUG 1959 | Victor Harbor, South Australia | |
Marriage | 22 NOV 1888 | to Francis William Rollens at Residence of groom, Farina, South Australia | |
M | William Albert Moffatt | ||
Birth | 21 DEC 1888 | Mount Nor-West Station, South Australia | |
Death | 23 DEC 1962 | Springbank, South Australia | |
Marriage | 8 NOV 1920 | to Mabel Idina (Frost) Moffatt at St Aidans, Saddleworth, South Australia | |
M | John Charles Moffatt | ||
Birth | 18 SEP 1877 | Blinman, South Australia | |
Death | |||
M | Francis Herbert Moffatt | ||
Birth | 4 APR 1885 | Mount Lyndhurst, South Australia | |
Death | 3 SEP 1964 | Adelaide, South Australia | |
Marriage | 10 MAY 1916 | to Beatrice Anne Sophia (Butler) Moffatt at All Saints Anglican Church, Farina, South Australia | |
F | Catherine Ellen (Moffatt) Smith | ||
Birth | 4 AUG 1875 | Paratoo Station, South Australia | |
Death | 29 DEC 1935 | North Adelaide, South Australia | |
Marriage | 5 FEB 1893 | to John Henry Smith at All Saints Anglican Church, Farina, South Australia | |
F | Mary (Moffatt) Lennon | ||
Birth | 8 JUL 1879 | Mount Lyndhurst, South Australia | |
Death | |||
Marriage | 1 AUG 1899 | to Herbert Francis Lennon at All Saints Anglican Church, Farina, South Australia |
1 Robert Carruthers Moffat b: JUN 1846 d: 8 JUL 1906
+ Rebecca Stanley (Creek) Moffat b: 18 JUN 1852 d: 8 OCT 1922
2 Morton Oliver Moffatt b: 20 DEC 1882 d: 8 DEC 1962
2 Ada Mary Moffatt b: 14 APR 1872 d: 25 MAY 1873
2 Alice Maud Moffatt b: 17 FEB 1881 d: 22 MAR 1882
2 Robert Alfred Moffatt b: 17 FEB 1887 d: 7 MAY 1971
+ Bertha Ruby (Gill) Moffatt b: 12 AUG 1891 d: 9 MAR 1966
3 Albert Francis Moffatt b: 19 AUG 1915 d: 11 JAN 1997
3 Harold George Moffatt b: 17 MAY 1919
3 Lorna May Moffatt b: 5 JUN 1922
3 Robert Arthur Moffatt b: 22 JUN 1914 d: 10 SEP 1990
+ Beryl Doreen McDonald b: 14 FEB 1914
3 Ronald Henry Moffatt b: 25 MAY 1928
2 Ruby May (Moffat) Wise b: 28 APR 1892
+ George Robert Wise b: CA 1888
2 Sarah Ann (Moffatt) Rollens b: 7 NOV 1873 d: 8 AUG 1959
+ Francis William Rollens b: CA 1857 d: 29 JAN 1914
2 William Albert Moffatt b: 21 DEC 1888 d: 23 DEC 1962
+ Mabel Idina (Frost) Moffatt b: CA 1889
2 John Charles Moffatt b: 18 SEP 1877
2 Francis Herbert Moffatt b: 4 APR 1885 d: 3 SEP 1964
+ Beatrice Anne Sophia (Butler) Moffatt b: 9 AUG 1895 d: 5 MAR 1956
2 Catherine Ellen (Moffatt) Smith b: 4 AUG 1875 d: 29 DEC 1935
+ John Henry Smith b: CA 1868
2 Mary (Moffatt) Lennon b: 8 JUL 1879
+ Herbert Francis Lennon b: CA 1874 d: 14 MAR 1942