MOWAT, Alexander
- Born: About 1637
- Marriage (1): CANNY, Margaret before 28 April 1672 1
Another name for Alexander was MOWAT, Alexr.1
User ID: R221
Research Notes:
MOWAT IN PRESTONPANS
There is a famous connection between the Mowat surname and Prestonpans itself as this excerpt outlines:
"WHO OR WHAT WAS JOHNNIE MOAT?
When the section of the coastal walkway, which covers Prestonpans was being formed, the contractors undertook to retrieve Johnnie Moat from his watery grave and reinstall him on his perch on the Girdle Rocks from which he was toppled during a violent storm in the 1950's. He can be found just below the tide line, directly behind the new East Lothian Council Offices on the High Street at Aldhammer. So who, what, is Johnnie Moat? As he exists now, Johnnie Moat is a huge whinstone boulder over six feet tall, nine feet long and six feet wide. Local legend has it that he was brought to Prestonpans during the ice age by a glacier, or even blown out of Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh when that volcano was active and erupting. Another piece of local lore claims that so long as Johnnie sits on the Girdle Rocks, Prestonpans will enjoy prosperity. If he falls, dark days are to come. The original Johnnie Moat, was either harbour master or customs man at Acheson's haven during the 16th century. The girth of the man and that of the great boulder were considered to be so similar, that the stone was given his name."
from Morrison's Haven 2
Noted events in his life were:
• Witness: at the baptism of Gilbert, son of Gilbert Smith and Jean Canny, 1 September 1672, Prestonpans parish, East Lothian, Scotland.
Alexander married Margaret CANNY, daughter of James CANNIE and Vyolat SIBBET, before 28 April 1672.1 (Margaret CANNY was born about 1640.)
Marriage Notes:
No marriage record has been found for this couple in the Church of Scotland parish registers. There are significant gaps in marriage records of Prestonpans, also known as Preston and Salt Preston, in the period when their marriage would most likely have taken place.
The first known record of baptism of one of their children, Alexander, gives no indication of anything irregular, or that the couple were not wed.
"Old Parish Registers
Prestonpans parish East Lothian
Baptisms
"1672
Aprile
28 Alexander Mowat and Margaret Canny had a daughter baptized named Bessie witnesses Gilbert Smith John Canny Wm Mowat" 1
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