Notes:

In the family history written by descendant Thomas Sims, the early years of this Robert are quite mixed up. He mentions Catherine Dean as the mother of these earliest children. However, her name never appears in the naming of the children. I believe Thomas Sims mixed up names, and the Catherine who is a widow of Joseph McFarland in Cumberland Co. PA in 1750, and a neighbor to this Robert and Esther when they moved there in 1752 is who he was remembering.

The naming of the two eldest children does reflect the names of Robert's parents, Robert and Jennet McFarland of Lancaster Co. PA.

First married Robert McFarland, RoM02 about 1738 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA. Robert (son of Robert McFarland, BY3019 RoM02 and Jennet) was born in 1717 in Northern Ireland; died on 25 Dec 1797 in Rockbridge Co., VA; was buried in FallingSpring Ch, Rockbridge, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Jean McFarland was born about 1739 in Donegal Twn., Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died between 1773 and 1834.
2. Robert McFarland was born about 1741 in Pennsylvania; died between 1782 and 1832; was buried in Peters Township, Pennsylvania.
3. Martha McFarland was born about 1743 in Donegal Twn., Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died between 1744 and 1837.
4. James McFarland was born about 1745 in PA; died on 2 May 1798 in Hamilton twn., Franklin Co., Pennsylvania.
5. Benjamin McFarlin, BY3019, FT85966 was born in 1747 in Donegal Twn., Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; died in 1823 in Rutherford County, Tennessee, USA.