Exciting things have happened this week in the “history knowledge base.” We’ve linked up with the grandchildren of Alexander “Sandy” Moffat. Now, he and his wife Sally are as real as David and I. Up until now, they were was just “out there” as the original owner and his wife. Now, he’s the “Skipper” and she’s “Lally.” They had romance and adventure! And, a LOT of kids!
Some of the things we’ve learned: He was an early and active member of the Cruising Club of America (CCA).
His granddaughter, Tracy, in Massachusetts told me about the CCA adventures with groups of 20 or so boats sailing to little-explored waters with limited opportunity for provisioning. In my mind’s eye, I can see Skipper “the explorer.” And, I understand more about why Mahdee had the capacity for 800 lbs of ice in the icebox, 500 lbs of coal in the hopper, and 2 large propane cylinders for her original duel-fuel galley stove. Then, I catch an email from a grandson, Tom, in Hawaii with so many beautiful words…I learn that my newfound hero was a man I’d have wanted to know: “He was a gentleman, a fine host, loved his cocktails, played the accordion after dinner, and had the devotion of his friends and most of the east coast yachting establishment (not to mention his grandchildren).” Now, I’m imagining Skipper and Lolly as host and hostess of elegant dinner parties at home in NYC as well as festive family times on board Mahdee in the summers.
I know a few of the grandchildren have logged into the blog—I invite them to please post their comments here for our family and friends to share. We would love to hear more about your memories of the Skipper and Lally.
A teaser for my next History Topic posting: They (the grandkids) know where the name “Mahdee” came from! I’ll share in a later posting.
The following image is of the (now public) 1930 US census record page with the Moffat family listed.
Hello-my name is Lili Moffat Ellison.Skipper was my “Uncle Sandy.” “Skipper” was for his grandchildren. Sandy and his brother Don Moffat (my father) married 2 daughters of Joseph R. DeCamp, who was a well-known portrait painter. The daughters were Sally (“Lally”) and Polly (my mother). The resulting children of these 2 marriages, nine of them, were therefore double cousins. One remaining child of Sally and Sandy is my double cousin Lydia Moffat Mulligan, but she has no email.
Joseph DeCamp married Edith Baker (and painted her many times – you can probably find a picture of Mahdee on the internet). The name Mahdee came from shortening Mother D. The Indian story is Uncle Sandy’s romantic flourish.
Mahdee lived with my family after Papa Joe died and she was a wonderful grandmother. For pictures of Mahdee as a young woman you can find them in a book by Lorene Buckley entitled Joseph DeCamp published by Prestel. ISBN 3-7913-1604-4. Mahdee is on the cover in a hammock with her two first babies, Sally and Ted.
I think my cousin Evan Welch may have an ancient video of the launching of the Mahdee. I’m just not sure if it was the Mahdee. Skipper had many boats. Evan Welch is Tom Welch’s brother, the youngest son of Skipper and Lal’s oldest daughter.
Did I gather that you are in San Diego? Skipper’s grandson and namesake, Alexander White Moffat III lives in LA and is himself an accomplished sailor. Nickname, Banner.
All of us are lovers of sailing, all raised in small boats. I was thrilled to see the Mahdee which I have heard about all my life. Thanks for saving her.
Lili Ellison