Berwick Nab? My line of Moffats were mostly Freemen of Berwick-upon-Tweed, so I searched the records of the Freemen and found out that Alexander Moffat, my great-great grandfather, was made free on 12th February 1816. I was amazed to find how easy it is to follow a line backwards, as the records show the date on which each man’s father was made free. Unfortunately Alexander’s record does not give any information about his father, only stating that he (Alexander) was apprenticed to John Knox, carpenter. However, the Berwick Enrolments 1778-1851 show “09/12/1809 Alexander son of Robert Moffat of Berwick Nab, co. Durham, apprenticed to John Knox, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Burg. and Carpenter”. I've previously enquired on another forum, trying to find where "Berwick Nab" was, but with no luck. I've looked on maps old and new but can't find it, so I'm hoping someone may have some local knowledge.
I cannot see Alexander for 1809 on the Inland Revenue list of Apprentices for 1809 although there are a number of that name, and Robert, between 1710 and 1811 for Berwick. Is this an original document of 1809? If so could you put a copy on here?
I don't have any documents for this. I found Alexander’s record in the Berwick Enrolments 1778-1851 when I visited Berwick-upon-Tweed some years ago. It's definitely him as the records show each man and his father, so very easy to follow and confirm. Unfortunately I didn't have time to try to trace Robert. It's the place or address Berwick Nab that puzzles me at the moment.
Seeing as I notice a Robert in the Apprenticeship Indentures as a mason, and other earlier Alexanders as masons, has this record mistranscribed mason or its shortening? Does this show occupation, and if not do others alongside show occupations?
Bearing in mind that Berwick on Tweed played hopscotch between being Scottish and English, I wonder if the word 'Nab' is from the Scottish vernacular. Although 'nab' can be an alternative word for a nail on which to hang things, 'nabb' can mean hillock. As spelling was a bit free and easy back then, could it mean Berwick Hillock? Just a thought... Edited to add: If memory serves me right, Berwick's main street is a hill....
That's interesting, as in a previous thread (I think I've found more generations of Moffats…) I mentioned that I'd found the wills of Robert and Alexander Moffat, both masons, and believe from their content that they are the father (Robert) and uncle (Alexander) of my g-g-grandfather Alexander, the one who was apprenticed in 1809. He was apprenticed as a carpenter but later joined the Inland Revenue so there's no chance of a mistranscribed mason in his record. Do you have dates for when Robert and Alexander that you found in the Apprenticeship Indentures were apprenticed?
Sorry - didn't mean to post 3 times! I'd read about posts going on twice, but I don't know what happened here
The Robert a mason was from some place I don't know but now reckon to be near Glasgow. 1742 Alexander Moffatt son of George is apprenticed to Caleb Buglass of Berwick, mason. 1765 Alexander Moffitt is apprenticed to Robert Dodds of Berwick, mason. 1782 Alexander Moffatt of Berwick, mason takes apprentice Joseph Craik.1797 Alexander Moffatt of Berwick, mason takes apprentice Robert Snailes. The John Knox is apprenticed as a Carpenter to Jordan Steel in 1785 and takes an apprentice himself in 1798. But the Alexander a Supervisor of Inland Revenue I see in the 1841 Census at Morpeth and in the 1851 Census at South Shields is there said to be born North Shields circa 1793! There is a Baptism there in the Scottish Congregational Church for Alexander son of Peter, and further children of Peter at least to 1812. How certain are you that your Alexander became a Tax Collector?
I am 100% certain that my Alexander is the one who became a Supervisor of Inland Revenue. I have traced my family back to his father Robert. My family of Moffats were mostly Freemen of Berwick-upon-Tweed and the Berwick Enrolments confirm Alexander and a couple of others in the family including my grandfather, also an Alexander. G-g-grandfather Alexander was originally a carpenter but changed career. I've followed him and the family through the censuses and every detail "ties up". Alexander son of Peter is not the same person. My Alexander's father is Robert. Please, everyone, don't waste time and energy on looking for info on him, as I'm pretty sure I've found all there is to be found. When I posted I was only hoping for some local knowledge as to the whereabouts of Berwick Nab.
Ancestry have put new Non conformist records on today. They include an Alexander Moffat son of Robert and Anne 1793, a mason.
