Hi Kirsty,
So is that death your William??
I would have thought that the wife of the deceased William was still alive if he is recorded as married. Of course there could have been an error made... Normally on most Scottish death certs it would read something like-
William Moffat
husband (widower) of
Elizabeth Stewart
but 1857 is early in the compulsory registration system and things may gave been recorded a bit different.
His age is only slightly out
and his occupation of Engineer could be railway connected.
Ezekiel Hewie or probably Howie could have been a friend/workmate or what I was hoping for a relative.
There is an Ezekiel and Rose Ann Howie on the 1861 Census in Kilmarnock , they are both Irish.
I couldn't find them in 1851 under Howie but I have found an Ezekiel and Rosana Hay in Kilmarnock, again both Irish. I was hoping to find a family relationship between this couple and your Moffats but no joy so far. It would be interesting to see if the Howies were living close to the Moffat sisters on the 1861 Census.
I think those sisters , found by JMStrachan- Elizabeth, Hannah and Margaret - are sisters of Esther and at that period of time could well have been living alone with the two working sisters financially supporting them.
Will have a look at the family again later when I have more time,
Looby