[1][2][3] She was a linguist, an experienced traveller, and managed the household affairs including missionary stations and infant school.

Her linguistic abilities and her experience of working in remote outposts in Southern Africa made it possible for the couple to survive.

Her father, Robert Moffat, was a Scottish Congregationalist missionary who worked among the Bechuana people at Kuruman.

[7] When the family returned to South Africa and were on the long ox-cart trek to Kuruman, Livingstone rode out to meet them in January 1844 when they reached the Vaal River.

While he mostly talked to her father as they sat in the cart during the seventeen or eighteen days journey to the mission, this was the first time he and Mary became acquainted.

[13] She returned to Africa as one of the passengers, along with the wife and daughter of Bishop MacKenzie, on HMS Gorgon taking the replacement river steamer Lady Nyassa (in sections) out to the expedition.

Gales stopped the ship from returning until the end of the month, Livingstone and Mary were at last reunited on the morning of 1 February.

[16] After her death, Mary's husband David wrote the following: We have not the proper chemicals to make it back - I placed a cross over her tomb a sacred symbol in these regions and have sent for a grave stone with the inscription on one side English and on the other Portuguese "Here repose the mortal remains of Mary Moffat Livingstone in hope of a joyful resurrection by our Saviour Jesus Christ - died 27th April 1862 aged 41 years"[17][not specific enough to verify]Mary's story is featured as part of the David Livingstone Birthplace Museum, in Blantyre, Scotland, which was renovated and reopened in 2021.