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Moffatt, Robert Carruthers

Robert Carruthers Moffat
b: JUN 1846
d: 8 JUL 1906
Biography
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.
Facts
  • 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
Ancestors
   
 
 
John Moffatt
1824 - DEC 1876
  
  
  
?
 
Robert Carruthers Moffat
JUN 1846 - 8 JUL 1906
  
 
  
?
 
   
  
  
?
 
Family Group Sheet - Child
PARENT (M) John Moffatt
Birth1824Kirklinton, Cumberland, England
DeathDEC 1876Carlisle, Cumberland, England
MarriageSEP 1845to Catherine Hewitson at Carlisle, Cumberland, England
FatherWilliam Moffatt
Mother?
PARENT (F) Catherine Hewitson
Birth1826Brampton, Cumberland, England
Death
MarriageSEP 1845to John Moffatt at Carlisle, Cumberland, England
Father?
Mother?
CHILDREN
MRobert Carruthers Moffat
BirthJUN 1846Stanwix, Cumberland, England
Death8 JUL 1906Farina, South Australia
Marriage3 JAN 1872to Rebecca Stanley (Creek) Moffat at St Paul''s Church, Adelaide, South Australia
FMary Moffatt
BirthMAR 1848Carlisle, Cumberland, England
Death
FAbigail Moffatt
BirthJUN 1850Carlisle, Cumberland, England
Death
FSarah Ann Moffatt
BirthMAR 1853Carlisle, Cumberland, England
DeathJUN 1874Carlisle, Cumberland, England
FHannah Elizabeth Moffatt
BirthJUN 1855Carlisle, Cumberland, England
Death
MarriageDEC 1895to Edward Ward at Carlisle, Cumberland, England
FCatherine Hodgson Moffatt
BirthMAR 1858Carlisle, Cumberland, England
Death
MarriageDEC 1881to John Allen at Carlisle, Cumberland, England
MWilliam Moffatt
BirthMAR 1862Carlisle, Cumberland, England
Death
MJohn Moffatt
BirthMAR 1865Carlisle, Cumberland, England
DeathDEC 1874Carlisle, Cumberland, England
Family Group Sheet - Spouse
PARENT (M) Robert Carruthers Moffat
BirthJUN 1846Stanwix, Cumberland, England
Death8 JUL 1906Farina, South Australia
Marriage3 JAN 1872to Rebecca Stanley (Creek) Moffat at St Paul''s Church, Adelaide, South Australia
FatherJohn Moffatt
MotherCatherine Hewitson
PARENT (F) Rebecca Stanley (Creek) Moffat
Birth18 JUN 1852Adelaide, South Australia
Death8 OCT 1922Farina, South Australia
Marriage3 JAN 1872to Robert Carruthers Moffat at St Paul''s Church, Adelaide, South Australia
FatherJohn Creek
MotherLucy Stanley
CHILDREN
MMorton Oliver Moffatt
Birth20 DEC 1882Mount Lyndhurst, South Australia
Death8 DEC 1962Kent Town, South Australia
FAda Mary Moffatt
Birth14 APR 1872Bowden, South Australia
Death25 MAY 1873Kadina, South Australia
FAlice Maud Moffatt
Birth17 FEB 1881Mount Lyndhurst, South Australia
Death22 MAR 1882Mount Lyndhurst, South Australia
MRobert Alfred Moffatt
Birth17 FEB 1887Mount Nor-West Station, South Australia
Death7 MAY 1971Adelaide, South Australia
Marriage4 AUG 1913to Bertha Ruby (Gill) Moffatt at All Saints Anglican Church, Farina, South Australia
FRuby May (Moffat) Wise
Birth28 APR 1892Farina, South Australia
Death
Marriage6 SEP 1910to George Robert Wise at Residence of Mrs Moffat, Farina, South Australia
FSarah Ann (Moffatt) Rollens
Birth7 NOV 1873North Kadina, South Australia
Death8 AUG 1959Victor Harbor, South Australia
Marriage22 NOV 1888to Francis William Rollens at Residence of groom, Farina, South Australia
MWilliam Albert Moffatt
Birth21 DEC 1888Mount Nor-West Station, South Australia
Death23 DEC 1962Springbank, South Australia
Marriage8 NOV 1920to Mabel Idina (Frost) Moffatt at St Aidans, Saddleworth, South Australia
MJohn Charles Moffatt
Birth18 SEP 1877Blinman, South Australia
Death
MFrancis Herbert Moffatt
Birth4 APR 1885Mount Lyndhurst, South Australia
Death3 SEP 1964Adelaide, South Australia
Marriage10 MAY 1916to Beatrice Anne Sophia (Butler) Moffatt at All Saints Anglican Church, Farina, South Australia
FCatherine Ellen (Moffatt) Smith
Birth4 AUG 1875Paratoo Station, South Australia
Death29 DEC 1935North Adelaide, South Australia
Marriage5 FEB 1893to John Henry Smith at All Saints Anglican Church, Farina, South Australia
FMary (Moffatt) Lennon
Birth8 JUL 1879Mount Lyndhurst, South Australia
Death
Marriage1 AUG 1899to Herbert Francis Lennon at All Saints Anglican Church, Farina, South Australia
Picture Gallery
 
Robert Carruthers Moffat grave
 
 
 
Evidence
[S11]Farina Cemetery
[S12](genealogy.clanmoffat.org)
[S15]Death Certificate
[S16]The Register (Adelaide, SA)
[S21]Sands and McDougall yearbook
[S2]Biographical Index of South Australians 1836-1885
Descendancy Chart
Robert Carruthers Moffat b: JUN 1846 d: 8 JUL 1906
Rebecca Stanley (Creek) Moffat b: 18 JUN 1852 d: 8 OCT 1922
Morton Oliver Moffatt b: 20 DEC 1882 d: 8 DEC 1962
Ada Mary Moffatt b: 14 APR 1872 d: 25 MAY 1873
Alice Maud Moffatt b: 17 FEB 1881 d: 22 MAR 1882
Robert Alfred Moffatt b: 17 FEB 1887 d: 7 MAY 1971
Bertha Ruby (Gill) Moffatt b: 12 AUG 1891 d: 9 MAR 1966
Albert Francis Moffatt b: 19 AUG 1915 d: 11 JAN 1997
Harold George Moffatt b: 17 MAY 1919
Lorna May Moffatt b: 5 JUN 1922
Robert Arthur Moffatt b: 22 JUN 1914 d: 10 SEP 1990
Beryl Doreen McDonald b: 14 FEB 1914
Ronald Henry Moffatt b: 25 MAY 1928
Ruby May (Moffat) Wise b: 28 APR 1892
George Robert Wise b: CA 1888
Sarah Ann (Moffatt) Rollens b: 7 NOV 1873 d: 8 AUG 1959
Francis William Rollens b: CA 1857 d: 29 JAN 1914
William Albert Moffatt b: 21 DEC 1888 d: 23 DEC 1962
John Charles Moffatt b: 18 SEP 1877
Francis Herbert Moffatt b: 4 APR 1885 d: 3 SEP 1964
Beatrice Anne Sophia (Butler) Moffatt b: 9 AUG 1895 d: 5 MAR 1956
Catherine Ellen (Moffatt) Smith b: 4 AUG 1875 d: 29 DEC 1935
John Henry Smith b: CA 1868
Mary (Moffatt) Lennon b: 8 JUL 1879
Herbert Francis Lennon b: CA 1874 d: 14 MAR 1942