Author: MOFFATT, John Marks
Biography:
MOFFATT, John Marks (1750-1802: ODNB)
He was baptised on 21 Mar. 1749 (OS) at Paul Street Independent, Taunton, Somerset, the son of James Moffatt and his wife Sarah Marks, who had married the previous year at Saint Sidwell, Exeter, Devon. He was probably educated and trained for the ministry at Taunton Dissenting Academy. He married Susannah Payne or Paine (1753-1837) on 19 Dec. 1776 at Stroud, Gloucestershire. He was successively minister at Forest Green, Avening, and Nailsworth (all in Gloucestershire) before taking up the ministry at Malmesbury, Wiltshire, where he spent many years in antiquarian research. He died at Malmesbury on 25 Dec. 1802, leaving a widow and seven children. After his death, his widow, Susannah, seems to have returned to Stroud, where she died, aged 84, in 1837. The History of the Town of Malmesbury and its Ancient Abbey (1805) was edited after his death by his son, John Marks Moffatt jun. (q.v.) for the benefit of the family. He had earlier published the religious works, The Duty and Interest of Every Private Person and the Kingdom at Large (1778) and The Protestant’s Prayer-Book (1783) listed here. (ODNB 29 Oct. 2024; GM Feb. 1803, 193; Monthly Magazine Feb. 1803, 96 and Mar. 1803, 197; Salisbury and Winchester Journal 10 Jan. 1803; OUCH 9 Dec. 1837) AA