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Alexander McFarland

Alexander McFarland

Male Abt 1715 - 1775  (60 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    All

  • Name Alexander McFarland  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15] 
    Birth Abt 1715  Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 13] 
    • The Massachusetts colonial avg age for men to marry was around 25-27, though the min legal age was 14 under English law. Factors like inheritance and a person's ability to be financially self-sufficient influenced the exact age of marriage.
    Gender Male 
    Possessions 1742  Oakham, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [13] 
    Bought 200 acres in Lot Not 10 for 20pounds. 
    Residence 1742  [13] 
    • Brought land, married Jean Harper, and had son Alexander Jr.
    Residence 1 Oct 1750  Oakham, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    Residence Abt 1775  Oakham, Worcester, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location  [9] 
    Death 1775  Oakham, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 12] 
    Probate 3 Jun 1775  Worcester, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Probate 1 Jan 1776  Oakham, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [9] 
    • Written, and signed by Alexander June 5, 1775. Will submitted Jan 1, 1776, attested as his last will and testament by Silas Bellows, Jonathan Henderson, and James Henderson. Oaths sworn by Silar Bellows, and James Henderson. Wife Jean executor.
    Residence Oakham Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    Person ID I18741  CMW Most Recent 2026_0429
    Last Modified 30 Apr 2026 

    Father Duncan McFarland, DuM08,   b. 1690, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 4 Sep 1747, Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 57 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Mother Christian McFarland   d. Aft 1746 
    Relationship natural 
    Family ID F494  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Jane Harper,   b. Abt 1716, Rutland, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1775, New York Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 59 years) 
    Marriage 16 Apr 1737  Oakham, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [12] 
    • date of marriage contract
    Children 
     1. Christian McFarland,   b. 18 May 1738   d. Bef Jun 1775, Oakham, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age < 37 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     2. Rachel Mcfarland,   b. 4 Sep 1739, Oakham, Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States of America Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 16 Nov 1791, Salem, Washington, New York, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 52 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     3. Sarah McFarland,   b. 1743, Oakham, Worcester, Colony of Massachusetts, Herefordshire and Worcester, England, United Kingdom Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1 Sep 1811, New York, United States of America Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 68 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     4. Rebecca McFarland,   b. Abt Oct 1751, Oakham, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 28 Oct 1848, Oakham, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 97 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     5. Susannah McFarland,   b. 25 Feb 1753, Oakham, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 8 Oct 1805, Williamstown, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 52 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     6. Alexander McFarland,   b. Abt 1757, Oakham, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     7. Reuben McFarland,   b. 4 Dec 1759, Oakham, Worcester, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1850 (Age 90 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     8. Rebecca McFarland  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     9. Susannah McFarland  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
    Family ID F648  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 30 Apr 2026 

  • Notes 

    • Alexander McFarland purchased land in what became the town of Oakham in 1742 and built on the land in 1749. His land was next to George Harper, the brother of his wife Jean Harper. Their land was on the county road to Spencer.

      The Harpers, Bells, Hendersons, Bothwells, and Alexander McFarland were among the founders of this town. They also were identified with the Presbyterian church and the part of the town where they lived was called "Dublin." Alexander's daughters all married men from these families. They built a community Presbyterian church and finally was able to hire a full-time minister, but that only lasted about 10 years, and ended in 1772.

      It is interesting that in his father Duncan's will, he did not call Alexander his son, but he did leave him a small behest. It appears there was a religious falling out between Alexander and his father. It has something to do with the Harper family because of the Duncan stipulation that son Daniel not marry Betsey Harper, who I assume is the sister of Alexander's wife Jean.

      Before it was incorporated in 1762 as Oakham, it was called Rutland West Wing. After incorporation, Alexander McFarland served in many official positions, such as Constable in 1764. His son Reuben can also be found in the rolls as an officer, and in 1818 a Daniel McFarland is listed as a town officer. I assume he is a son of Reuben.

      Information can be found in The Settlement and Story of Oakham Massachusetts, by H.B. Wright and E.D. Harvey, 1947.

  • Sources 
    1. [S341] Ancestry Family Trees, (Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.;;;;;), Ancestry Family Tree.

    2. [S443] Ancestry.com, Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, (Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;;;;;).

    3. [S453] Ancestry.com, U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970, (Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;;;;;), Volume: 229.

    4. [S476] Ancestry.com, Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991, (Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;;;;;), Probate Records (Worcester County, Massachusetts); Index 1731-1881; Author: Massachusetts. Probate Court (Worcester County); Probate Place: Worcester, Massachusetts.

    5. [S871] Flint, James, comp., Worcester County, Massachusetts, Probate Index, Vol. 1 & 2 A - Z, July 1731-1881, (Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc;;;;;).

    6. [S872] Ancestry.com, North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000, (Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2016;;;;;;), Book Title: Lineage Book : NSDAR : Volume 165 : 1921.
      Record for Alexander Mcfarland

    7. [S2907] Ancestry.com, U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;), Volume: 229.

    8. [S2908] Ancestry.com, North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;), Book Title: Lineage Book : NSDAR : Volume 165 : 1921.

    9. [S2909] Ancestry.com, Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;), Probate Records (Worcester County, Massachusetts); Index 1731-1881; Author: Massachusetts. Probate Court (Worcester County).

    10. [S2910] Ancestry.com, Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;).

    11. [S2911] Ancestry.com, Massachusetts, U.S., Death Records, 1841-1915, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;), New England Historic Genealogical Society; Boston, Massachusetts; Massachusetts Vital Records, 1840–1911.

    12. [S2918] Ancestry.com, Geneanet Community Trees Index, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;).

    13. [S1699] Ancestry.com, Pennsylvania, Land Warrants and Applications, 1733-1952, (Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;;;;;;).

    14. [S2919] Ancestry.com, An address commemorative of the part taken by the inhabitants of the original town of Leicester in the events of the revolution, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc;).

    15. [S2921] Ancestry Family Tree, Ancestry Family Tree.


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