Dr. John Moffat

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-1694

Notes:

On another occasion more serious results occurred. The men had just finished answering to their names, when someone from near Ayr* tossed up a football about the middle of the field. This cunning device took like magic. First one stepped from the ranks and gave the ball a kick, then another followed suit, until, in less than five minutes, the annual muster assumed the appearance of a gigantic foot-ball match! This bouleversement was supremely ridiculous, and naturally caused great annoyance to the officers. In the midst of the excitement, one of those then in command, Dr. John Moffat, who had been


*Strenuous offorts were made at the time to find out the person who brought this foot-ball on the ground. The secret, however, was well kept at the time. The names now known to a select circle, and the identical football is now, or at least was until very recently, preserved in a house not a a hundred miles from Ayr, as a sort of trophy of the occasion.


in the regular service, and was of a rather excitable temperament, put spurs to his horse, galloped after the football, and struck two or three times at it with his sword One Dowswell, at one time a tinsmith in Galt, picked up the ball in his hands, when Moffatt, who was much excited, struck another blow at it, which, either accidentally or intentionally, struck Dowswell on the head, causing an ugly wound. Believing the blow had been aimed intentionally, very bitter threats were made against the Doctor, who shortly afterwards galloped from the ground amidst a rattling shower of stones.

Reminiscences of the Early History of Galt and the Settlement of Dumfries in the Province of Ontario, by James Young pg 236-237

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Galt celebrated the Queen's birthday in 1848, with unusual enthusiasm. The village was beautifully decorated for the occasion. Every shop and dwelling house, every tavern, every wall, every nook and corner was covered with ever-greens festooned and interwoven, upright, across and in every fanciful attitude, until the village seemed hidden in the umbrageous foliage of the forest, and decked in sylvan pride.

Punctually at 2 p. m. the inhabitants issued from their dwellings and assembled about the township hall and were marshalled into line. When all was in order the procession moved off under the direction of Dr. Moffat, attired in the gay uniform of a lancer and mounted on a prancing grey charger. Then followed in order the Galt band, a large Union Jack, the Artillery company with mounted ordnance drawn by six horses and with postilions gaily decked with ribbons; the Fire company, the Hook and Ladder company, the Odd-fellows adorned with sashes, jewels and ornaments, the St. George's band, gentry, tradesmen and farmers, mounted and unmounted, and bringing up the rear the school children bearing numerous banners

R.S. Hamilton, The Early History of Galt, p. 49