
HISTORY OF THE CLAN MOFFAT
From 900 A.D. to the present day
C.1095
William de Mont Alto (later Mowat, sometimes Moffat) married the youngest daughter of Andlaw of Norway
1268
Nicholas de Moffat was Bishop of Glasgow
1296
Robert and Thomas de Moffat paid homage to Edward 1st in "Ragmans Roll"
1297
Moffats helped William Wallace construct his 'big ditch deep enough to hide a man on horseback and paved with stones on the edge' between the Rivers Tweed and Yarrow
1300
Robert the Bruce, Lord of Annandale, granted four land charters in the Barony of Westkirk to the Moffats. One of these was Adam Moffat of Knock
1314
Adam Moffat and his brother fought at the Battle of Bannockburn alongside many other members of Clan Moffat: One fifth of the army was reputed to from our Clan
1336
Edward III, King of England, granted safe conduct to William de Moffete as ambassador of David the Bruce, son of Robert the Bruce
1337
Walter de Moffat, Archdeacon of Midlothian appointed ambassador to France
1342
Sir John Douglas, Lord Annandale, granted the feu of Granton and Reddings to Moffat
1347
Walter de Moffat was appointed Kings Messenger to England, France and the Marches
1569
'Ane of the Moffats of Powbudy to ly as pledge for the rest aye that gang on Sunday next at Dumfries under pane of two thowsand marks'
1570
Quhick Day: 'of the Moffetis of Bludewuse in Dumfries on Sunday next, under pane of two thousand marks, David Moffat of Hewykis interit pledge for himself, William Sym, Christie and his brother, their bairnes, tenents and servandis and also for the hail gang of Powbudy to be interghasit with Ane of the twa brother of the said David and James Moffat of Powbudy'
1578
18th October: 'William Moffat, sone fo James Moffat of Powbudy to lye as pledge for guid order and quietness of the Borders' - Stirling Castle
1582
28th June: Johne Moffat and Robert Moffat fined £500 and bound over not to 'hold intercourse with declarit trators'
1583
8th May: David Moffat of Sybellsyde, Math Moffat of Woodend (called Daveschaw) charged and found guilty of fire raising, slaying and hocking of hors and oxin' - Holyrood
1583
27th August: Gilbert Hay of Monkstown complained that 'William Moffat of Arriestanes, Robert Moffat and his son their James Moffat of Meikleimside, James Moffat of Meikleholme, James Moffat of Carigholme, John Moffat and his sone William Moffat, James Moffet of the town of Moffet, Thomas Moffet, Gilbert Moffet his breather, James Moffat called "Scald James" and David Moffat of Altown came on 1st April to the town and lands of Nether Mynyeane owned by Gilbert Hay, and chaisit the haill holt & scheip and drownyng the maist part of thame in the waters of the Tweide, and took away guid and hail insichts'. The Court denounced them as rebels
1583
25th November: Act of Forfeiture made against David Moffat of Sibbiehelfied and Mathew Moffat of Woodend and others for High Treason
1587
Moneypenny's Chronicle said there were 65 Lairds and Gentlemen living in Dumfrieshire and the stewartry of Kirkudbright and these included the Laird of Knock and the Gudemen of Granton and Beidesbek: three Moffats
1587
July: Scottish Parliament declared the Moffets to by 'an unruly clan of the Western Marches'
1590
10th June: 'Laird of Knock to find caution for the good behaviour of the Moffatts' - Holyrood
1593
William Moffat elected one of the Bailies of St. Andrew's - confirmed by the King
1594
Scottish Parliament states: 'Measures to be taken to suppress the lawless Moffats and other Border Clans'
1609
King James VI's Commission, looking into the lawlessness of the Borders, dispersed the main culprits: the Moffats, and sold their lands to the Johnstones. After the Dispersement, only a few members of the family survived in Scotland and from these descended the principal families of Sundaywell, Lochurr and Stroqhan (about 15 miles NW of Dumfries) and the two at Edenhall and Harpertoun near Kelso in Roxburghshire
1628
Granton and Reddings (near Moffat) sold to the Johnstones to relieve overwhelming debts
1658
James and David Moffat moved from Granton to Crofthead
1744
Garwald in Eskdalemuir leased by Moffats
1759
The last of the Moffats in Gardenholm (near Moffat) died
1817
Craick in Borthwick Water leased by Moffats
1906
End of the 600 years of tenancy of Midknock by Moffats
1911
William Moffat (son of Francis Moffat) bought Hawkshaw in Tweedsmuir
1920
Francis Moffat bought Craigbeck and Garrowgill
1935
William Moffat bought Fingland
1937
Francis Moffat died
1948
William Moffat died
1950
Garwald lease given up
1983
Francis Moffat confirmed as Clan Chief by Lord Lyon, King of Arms
1992
Francis Moffat died. Daughter assumed position as Clan Chief: Madam Jean Moffat of that Ilk