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Moffat

 

Moffat was accepted by CDSNA as an allied family in July 2012.

Clan Moffat has a standing chief and is recognized by The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs.  Individuals with this surname should be welcomed at Douglas tents and encouraged to become Clan Douglas members.

The modern town of Moffat is located in the eastern part of Dumfries and Galloway Region, in the south-west of Scotland. The town has been famous for its past connections with border reivers and the wool trade. Moffat is considered the seat of Clan Moffat.  A Moffat History web-published by CelticStudio.com states…

Although there were Moffats in Moffat before 1300, the names of the earliest lairds are not known. They were granted the feu of Granton (not to be confused with the port on the River Forth) and Reddings in 1342 by Sir John Douglas Lord of Annandale These remained the principal holdings of the family until 1628, when the lands passed to the Johnstones as a result of overwhelming debt.

In her book Upper Annandale: Its History and Traditions (1901), Agnes Marchbank claims…

[Moffat] is also described as "lying within the lordship and regality of Dalkeith." This is explained by the fact that the Douglases of Lothian had, in early times, a baronial jurisdiction over certain lands in several shires which were in the" regality of Dalkeith," of which Moffat was one. Moffat, however, must have been a burgh before this; in fact, must have been one about the time of Robert the Bruce. For in Home old charters vassals are bound to pay "at the Courts of the Burgh." [p 39, 40]

A Short History of the Clan Moffat found on the web at http://www.dalbeattie.com/moffat/clan-moffat/index.html claims...

The principal Houses of the [Moffat] Family were:

Auldton (Alton House): Home of the Clan Chief

Grantoun (Granton House)

Wauchope

Knock

Gillesbie

Polmoodie (Poldean)

That Moffat was a part of Douglas lands is confirmed by Scot’s Connection on its Moffat Clan page:

In 1342, the Moffats received the feu of the Grandtoun or Granton from Sir John Douglas, who owned the feudal superiority. This was held by the family until 1628, when it was humiliatingly sold to the Johnstones to cover debts.

A historical perspective, drawn from the Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland: A Survey of Scottish Topography, Statistical, Biographical and Historical, edited by Francis H. Groome and originally published in parts by Thomas C. Jack, Grange Publishing Works, Edinburgh between 1882 and 1885 titled Moffat states...

In l448, while William, seventh Earl of Douglas, warden of the West Marches, was absent, the burgh of Dumfries was burned. As a consequence, he convened 'a meeting of the whole lords, freeholders, and heads of Border families within the Wardency,' in order that steps might be taken to prevent a surprise occurring again. One way, proposed and carried out, was that 'balefires' should be kindled on suitable hills in Annandale and Nithsdale. The Gallow Hill at Moffat was chosen as one of these hills, as is recorded in the Acts of the Scottish Parliament, vol. i., 'Ane baill sall be brynt on Gallowhill in Moffat Parochin.' In this connection, the war-cry of the inhabitants of Moffat-'Aye ready, aye ready'-may be mentioned.

Anyone who has seen the Moffat tartan will note its similarity to the grey Douglas tartan.  This is not a coincidence.  As Tartans of Scotland says,

When Major Francis Moffat of that Ilk M.C. was recognized as Chief of the Name and House of Moffat, by Lord Lyon in 1983, after the family had been without a chief for 420 years, a family tartan based on the Douglas was introduced to commemorate early family connections.  The source of tartan 1129 was: Major Francis Moffat of that Ilk.

 

Moffat members can learn more about the Moffat surname and clan from the Clan Moffat website.

 

Sources:

 

Clan Moffat: http://www.clanmoffat.org/

Marchbank, Agnes. Upper Annandale: Its History and Traditions. Paisley [Scotland: J. and R. Parlane,             1901. Print.

Moffat History. http://www.celticstudio.com/celticstudio/DATABASE/clans/110C.htm

Scot’s Connection: Moffat Clanhttp://www.scotsconnection.com/clan_crests/Moffat.htm

ScottishPlaces Info: Moffat. http://www.scottish-places.info/towns/townhistory358.html

Tartans of Scotland. http://www.tartans.scotland.net/tartan_info.cfm@tartan_id=146.htm