17 Facts About Mary Moffat

Mary Moffat born Mary Smith was a British missionary who became a role model for women involved in missionary work.

Mary Moffat was the wife of Robert Moffat, the mother of Mary Moffat Livingstone and David Livingstone was her son-in-law.

Mary Moffat was seen by Victorian Britain as an ideal missionary wife and role model for Tswana women, but it is unproven whether Africans saw her in this role.

Mary Moffat came from a Christian family and she met Robert Moffat whilst he was a prospective missionary working as a gardener for her father.

Mary Moffat went out to join him in 1819 and they were married on 27 December at St Georges Church.

Robert and Mary Moffat's first child, Mary Moffat, was born in a grass hut in Griquatown in 1821.

Robert, Mary and little Mary moved to Kuruman in 1824 where the mission became known as the Moffat Mission.

Mary Moffat had lost an infant son who died at only five days old in 1825.

Mary Moffat was led to a hillside, carefully removed the rocks, and found the five-week-old infant crying.

Mary Moffat added, "and Roby", after the woman who had informed Mary Moffat of the infant's plight.

In 1859 her son John Smith Mary Moffat began working at the mission at Inyathi where he would stay for six years.

Mary Moffat and his wife had survived what they believed was a mass poisoning at their mission.

Mary Moffat's wife died and the following year Moffat's daughter Elizabeth agreed to become Price's new wife.

In 1862 her eldest daughter Mary, who was married to David Livingstone, died of fever and Mrs Moffat blamed Livingstone for her death.

Mary Moffat was held by the British as the ideal woman Protestant evangelist.

Mary Moffat was thought to have spent her time teaching needlework and as a model for Tswana girls to follow.

Mary Moffat did keep the mission running and she brought up her children to donate their time to good works.