Margaret MOFFETT (~1848 - 1888)

My first introduction to Margaret was through correspondence with her grand-daughter, Joyce JAMES, many years ago. The information given was that maiden name was REFRAIN, that she married James MOFFET, a farmer who died about 1874, and that she was the mother of 3 children; Henry- born about 1866. Frances- born about 1867, and Alice- born about1874. Joyce was the daughter of Margaret's youngest daughter Alice.

She also sent me this early type photocopy of a portrait.

Further research lead me to Margaret's death certificate and burial record. According to information on her death certificate she was born in Scotland about 1849,  her family name was DEAN, she emigrated to New Zealand about 1864, married James MOFFET at age 16 in Invercargill, New Zealand, had 3 living children at the time of her death, and died of uterine cancer on 15 November 1888 aged only 39 years, relict of the late James MOFFET. 

Despite much research in the Dunedin and  Invercargill areas I have not been able to locate a  marriage registration or any other documentation that confirms Margaret was married, when, or to whom. Correspondence with The Hocken Library, Dunedin also confirms there are no recordings of a marriage for Margaret and James or John Moffet (and all varied spellings) in Anglican, Catholic or Presbyterian indexes for Otago and Southland.

I have been unable to locate the birth registrations of the three children indicated on her death certificate, however, I did happen across the birth and death registrations of a previously unknown baby girl.  https://corrinne-kiwicolleen.blogspot.com/2018/12/baby-girl-moffatt-june-19-july-02-1871.html 
John MOFFATT is named as the father and Margaret nee RAFFEIN/RAFFEEN the mother. This is phonetically very close to the original name given to me.

Upon examination of Margaret's daughters' marriage registrations records:
John MOFFAT is named as the father  and Margaret RHYDANE the mother of Frances,
James MOFFET is named as the father and Margaret REFRAIN as mother of Alice.

Oral history says that Henry was a sailor and died as a young man, probably overseas, consequently no further records have been found for him.

The only other record I have been able to find is Stones Otago/Southland Street Directory 1886,  for  Mrs. Margaret MOFFETT, charwoman, York Place, Dunedin which indicates she was probably a widow at that point.

Margaret's early demise is marked by A death notice is published in the Evening Star on 15 November 1888 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD18881115.2.7

and an entry in The Northern Cemetery Burial Register Vol 2 

This plot was purchased by her son-in-law Henry GREENFIELD (husband of Margaret's daughter Frances), and she shares it with her son-in-laws sister Evelyn, (daughter of John and Mary Jane GREENFIELD), and Evelyn's cousin Jane, (daughter of Joseph and Augusta GREENFIELD).

Margaret is an enigma... such a short life but full of riddles.

What was her maiden name? Dean? Refrain? Reffeen/Reffein? Rhydane?

Was she married? When? Where? and to whom?
Was her husband John? James? Moffett? Moffet? Moffatt? Moffat?
|How old was she when she emigrated to New Zealand? 15? 16? 
What were her parents names?
Why did she emigrate to New Zealand?

What region did she come from in Scotland?

 

Baby girl MOFFATT June 19- July 02 1871

Another serendipitous little angel... 

I first found her birth notice at New Zealand BDM records, registered simply as a female born to John and Margaret MOFFATT, 1871. I took a gamble to order the certificate. Further information recorded her birth in Dunedin, her mother as ‘formally RAFFEEN/REFFEIN’. 

                                 

For the following reasons I believe it is reasonable to conclude she is the child of my MOFFET ancestors:
1. This is the closest match to the mysterious REFRAIN family name I was originally given for Margaret when I first started researching the family history about 45 years ago. ***excited***
2. Names match, Year, and Place of birth is Dunedin the known residential area of parents at the time.
3. This birth date fits nicely into the ‘gap’ in the birthdates of known siblings Frances 1868 and Alice about 1873.

Noting the informant was an undertaker, a further search located her death certificate registered on the same date and by the same undertaker - Baby girl died due to 'low vitality' aged 2 weeks- (19 June- 02 July 1871). 



God Bless her, this very short existence on the earthly plane would explain why she was previously unknown.

No more little angel... you are now included in our family history from this day forward.



To date, I am still unable to locate the burial site.

Father is noted as John MOFFATT, shepherd, Dunedin.