| Notes |
- Mary Helen Haines notes:
This first paragraph contains unproven speculation meant to stir up further research:
Too little is known about this Robert McFarland. He must have had several children, but the only two we really know about is Robert Jr. and Benjamin because their descendants kept records that made the connections. I feel sure that Robert had a son named James, probably the eldest son, because he appears in the Montgomery records with him. He also probably had a son named John, because the Washington Co. VA 1782 tax list puts a John near Robert and James. (However, that John maybe John Stewart MacFarlane.) I think there is a good chance that he has a daughter named Mary, and it probably is the Mary that marries Samuel Montgomery. There is an unexplained William in the Jefferson Co. records that may belong to this family. Also, it is possible that the Joseph in Jefferson Co. is another son, or at least a cousin. Lastly, while I am speculating, I think that Robert's wife could be a Crockett. I don't know how, but why would Samuel Crockett leave Robert the 85 acres on Cedar Run?
Now for the facts:
Robert moved with his father John to Augusta County in 1747 and was enrolled in the militia in 1752. He purchased land with his father (1020 acres at Black Buffalo Lick, in 1747, and then separately, in 1749, 248 acres on Stony Fork, at Laurel Run. This he sold to John Downing in 1754. This land is in present day Wythe County, in the foothills east of the Appalachian Mts. and the Jefferson National Forest.
In Lancaster Co. PA Deed Book D, pp. 415-417, Microfilm #21383, there is a very convoluted deed that basically states that the original patent from 1739 to Robert McFarland (grandfather of this Robert who died in 1751) for 286 acres, went first to Robert Sr's son James, who died in 1752 leaving behind a wife Margaret. James' will left 1/2 of the estate to his nephew James (son of his elder brother John). Widow Margaret McF. then married Thomas Clingan shortly after and they lived on the 1/2 estate that she inherited from her dead husband James McFarland, brother to John, Robert, Joseph. The nephew James (son of John) was killed by Indians in Virginia in 1755 and died without heirs or a will, so his inheritance passed to his oldest brother Robert (also son of John). So, this Robert, now living in Bedford County, sells the land to his aunt's husband Thomas Clingan for 143 pounds. Robert McFarland came to Lancaster County and entered the deed June 22, 1757.
He moved with father John to Bedford Co. Va. in 1755/6 during the French and Indian War, probably shortly after the death of James.
In 1756 John and Robert McFarland are present in Bedford County serving in a jury (p. 178). In 1757 Robert McFarland is a plaintiff ag. Jason Meadows (p. 193), issue resolved, in the Sept. court 1757, Robert McFarland is a juror along with Wm. Boyd, Joseph and Walter Crockett, and Andrew Evans (p. 138) Source: Bedford County Virginia Order Book 1, 1754-1761, by TLC Genealogy, 929.37556 B411 2000, Dallas Public Library This shows that all the Reed Creek neighbors moved to Bedford Co. from their patents.
Then Robert married and moved to Orange Co. North Carolina, which we know because of his son Robert's birth there in 1759 (Robert Jr.'s 1832 pension statement). He could have already been married, and Margaret is his second wife-we know nothing about his wife's full name.)
While still in Orange Co. NC Robert and Margaret sold the Black Lick land along with with his father John and Mary Montgomery McFarland in 1766 to the Doak family. It is through this sale that we know his wife's first name and that he was living in Orange Co. NC in 1766.
So, Robert and Margaret were living in Orange County North Carolina from at least 1758/9 to 1766/7.
However, the records for Robert McFarland in Orange County NC in the 1760s are not clearly his as far as I can tell, considering there is another Robert McFarland present at this time it seems. The other Robert in Orange Co. is the Robert who wrote a will in 1780 and died the next year in Caswell County, with wife Margaret (unfortunately the same name). DNA testing on a descendant of this other Robert puts that family in the Cadet lineage, but there is one different marker that makes this lineage not a part of our descendants from Robert and Jennet.
In 1766 Robert purchased land on the Great Otter River in Bedford Co. VA, (Deed Book 2, p. 312, 254 acres on the Otter River) while he still was in Orange Co. NC according to the Bedford Co. records.
Also, he must have moved back to the Black Lick area in 1766 because Kegley records in Vol. 3 of Early Adventurers on the Western Waters: "Gasper (Kinder) may have been living on Reed Creek as early as 1766 as he was in company with Robert McFarland (McFarlin) for a tract of land on the north side of Pine Ridge at that time. This fact is recorded in an unusual document filed in 1785 in the will book of Montgomery County (Will Book B. p. 78)."
Robert sold the land in Bedford Co. in 1771 (Book 4, p. 131 and 144) and by 1772 he was back in the Reed Creek area. In the 1771 deed his wife is named Jane.
In 1772 he received 85 acres of land on Cedar Run, a branch of Reed Creek from the will of Samuel Crockett. He moved to this land, and lived here for 10 years. In 1772 this land was in Botetourt Co, but it is the same area that they first settled in. This land was never recorded as a deed, but is recorded in the Augusta County Will Book 3, p. 506, when Joseph Crockett willed it to his son Samuel, and then Samuel willed it to Robert in 1772. No deed was ever recorded, but the title transferred to Christopher Simmerman in 1791, who then donated it to create the town of Evansham, which was renamed Wytheville. (Kegley, Vol. IV, Early Adventurers in the Town of Evansham, 1998)
In 1774 a Robert McFarland served 108 days in the militia under Captain Walter Crockat as part of the call-up of men who were to travel to Point Pleasant as part of Governor Dunmore's war. Also in this company was James Mcfarland, serving 108 days. This is most likely Robert Sr. (b. 1730) and his son James. Source: Soldiers of Fincastle Co. Virginia 1774, Mary B. Kegley, R929.37558 K26S 1974, p. 30.
In 1776 Robert was living at the Cedar Run acreage, and his son Robert Jr. (age 17) enlisted in Capt. Russell's company in the Rev. War. at his father's house, which is described as being at the present location of the Wytheville court house, Source: Robert Jr.'s 1832 Pension statement. The acreage of future Wytheville was transferred to Christopher Simmerman and recorded in 1791 in the Wythe Deed Book 1, p. 35. In the 1782 tax list for Montgomery Co. there are no Robert McFarlands present, however, a John McFarlane is living next to Christopher Simmerman. It seems that Robert Sr. and Jr. are now living in Washington Co. VA, where they appear on that tax list, and John is living in their place in what becomes the town. (What is unknown at this time is who is this John McFarlane in 1782. Is it a son of Robert's or is it Robert's brother John who was married to Mary Kinder.)
All of this is verified by various tax and militia lists:
From New River Tithables 1770-1773 by Mary Kegley, p. 14 and 15, includes Captain Doacks and Walter Crockett's list of tax payers and lists McFarland, John, and Mackfarland, Robert and his son James. (This would indicate John McFarland jr., his brother, had also moved back)
From Early Adventurers on the Western Waters, Vol III, Mary B. Kegley: p. 258, In 1774, a list of Captain Walter Crockat's Co. of men who served 108 days included Robert Mcfarland and James Mcfarland.
So, Robert had an older son named James who was old enough to pay taxes in 1771, and serve in the militia in 1774. What happened to him? Is he the James who purchased 1/2 of Joseph McFarland's land grant in Greene Co. in 1792? Is he the same James who moved to Christian Co. KY where he died in 1811?
I now believe that the Mary McFarland, who married Samuel Montgomery, a neighbor in the Cedar Run area of Reed Creek, was the daughter of this Robert McFarland. I have no absolute proof, but the time and place is right for this to be the case.
(There are no Roberts or James of the right age in the Duncan line to have served in the militia or paid these taxes, so these records must be attributed to the correct family)
Regarding Robert's wife's name. There are two deeds a couple of years apart where Robert is selling his land and his wife is signing. In the first deed, the wife is named Margaret. In the second deed 2 years later, the wife is named Jane. Ramsey mistakenly wrote her name as Martha, which is why so many trees have that name listed, but the original deed image is quite clearly Margaret.
The following are notes from the McFarland genealogy website of Gary Morris: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hollow/8143/genealogy/mcfarland/rbtlanc.txt --
***** 8 ***** Robert McFARLAND, son of John McFARLAND and Mary MONTGOMERY, was
born 7 Apr 1730 in Donegal Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, died 1798
in Kentucky. Married about 1758 in Virginia to Martha _____ born about 1734 in
Orange(?) County, N.Carolina(?).
----- NOTES FOR Robert McFARLAND:
QUESTION-COMMENT: From the Annuals of Bath County "Families of Greater Bath";
page 187 Colonels Robert and John McFarland, early pioneers of Jefferson County,
TN, are descendants of Duncan McFarland. (See Duncan McFarland Records).
MILITARY: 1752 Augusta County. Robert McFarland qualified a Lieutenant on
November 16, 1752 (Abstracts from the Records of Augusta County, VA, Lyman
Chalkley, Vol. II page 55).
MILITARY: "Virginia Colonial Soldiers" by Lloyd D. Bockstruck 1988;
Genealogical Publishing Co, Baltimore, MD; page 4 Augusta County 16 Nov 1752 John
McFarland, ensign, and Robert McFarland, Lieutenant.
RESIDENCE: Soon after marriage, in 1758 had gone south to Orange County, North
Carolina.
RESIDENCE: From Abstracts of Revolutionary War Applications of son, Robert;
Lived in Orange County, North Carolina, and about 1768 moved to Bedford County
until about 1771 to Botetourt County, Virginia. Moved 1779 to Washington county,
Virginia, and then later to Jefferson County, Tennessee.
LAND: Robert inherited one-half of a farm from his uncle James. Jame's wife,
Margret inherited the other one-half. Later Robert sold his one-half to Margaret
and her new husband, Thomas Clingan. Source: James A. McFarland.
LAND: 1757 Thomas Clingan (husband of Margaret, who first married uncle James
McFarland) bought land from Robert McFarland, who was living in Bedford Co, VA
at time of transaction, 20 June 1757. From Mary Haines@Juno.com Bedford Co, VA
Queeries Aug 1998.
RESEARCHER-EMAIL: Mary Haines Maryhaines@juno.com.
LAND: 1754. 6 Aug 1754 Robert McFarland sold 248 acres on Stoney Fork of Reed
Creek for 20.14 pounds to John Downing. Teste: Abraham Dunkleberry, Nathaniel
Wilshire. (Chalkley Vol 3:330; Augusta County Will page 442).
QUESTION: Last transaction mentions John Downing, who was related to James
McFarland. However, James McFarland, brother of this Robert, died in 1750's. Do
I have James McFarlands mixed up?
LAND: 1766 Although Robert was still in Orange County, NC, he bought property
in Bedford County. In 1766 he bought 254 acres on the Otter River in Bedford
County from Giles Williams, property that was near to his father, John. Mentioned
in THE MYTH OF SIR JOHN MACFARLANE 1997,1998 by James A. McFarland (C)ole Creek
Productions, Inc. Tulsa, OK, copy at Houston Public Library (Clayton Branch).
LAND: 1768 Botetourt County: John and Mary McFarland of Bedford county,
Virginia and Robert and Martha McFarland of County of Orange, North Carolina, to
David Doak for L156, 1,020 acres at Black Buffalo Lick on water of Wood (New)
River. Annals of Southwest Virginia 1769-1800, by Lewis C. Summers, Kingsport
Press, Kingsport, Tn, 1927 Vol 2, page 531.
RESIDENCE: In 1768 or 1769 Robert returned from Orange County with his family,
but sold his land in 1771.
LAND: Oct 30, 1772 VIRGINIA, Montgomery County. Robert McFarland received 85
acres on Cedar Run, a branch of Reed Creek, from the will of Samuel Crockett
dated this date. This tract was approximately two miles southeast of Fort
Chiswell. Will Book B, page 3.
LAND: 1773. VIRGINIA, Fincastle County. Robert McFarland received 166 acres
in Fincastle County, on Reed Creek, 16 Dec 1773 (Reed Creek now in Montgomery
County). (VA State Library, Record of Plotts, reel 33, Book A, page 79).
LAND: 1776 lived on a tract located in the present town of Wytheville, Wythe
County.
RESIDENCE: Moved 1779 to Washington County, Virginia (mentioned in personal
records of son Robert).
COURT: 1780 TENNESSEE, Greene County. Alexander Outlaw, 1780, complains of
Robert McFarland Sr. and Robert McFarland Jr., that they on ... at Green County
took away fifty head of cattle belonging to said Outlaw. SOURCE: Morgan
District Court Civil Action Papers Found in Bulletin of Genealogical Society of
Old Tyrone County, North Carolina 10:3:135 1982.
TAXLIST: 1785 VIRGINIA, Washington County: Robert Sr. (NOTE: Robert Jr. would
have been Robert Henry McFarlane of Russell County).
PLACE: Russell County formed 1785 from Washington County.
NOTE: Not listed in Russell County, VA Taxlists (1787-on). Must have lived
1786-1788 in that part now Washington County.
LAND: 1788
HISTORY: "Families of Jefferson Conty, Tennessee" 1992 found at Seattle
Genealogical Society. Robert McFarland moved from Virginia to Kentucky in 1788
and to the Watauga Settlement in 1799.
DEATH: Last record of Robert McFarland is in Montgomery County on Sept 7,
1779.
DEATH: According to the Morristown Bible record, Robert Sr. is suppossed to
have gone to Kentucky circa 1788. See "The Myth of Sir John McFarlane" by James
A. McFarlane.
===CHILDREN of Robert McFARLAND and Martha _____
+ 33 Robert McFARLAND b 15 Mar 1759 Orange County, North
Carolina. M (1) Margaret McNUTT. M (2) Mary NEAL. M
(3) Mary WEAVER.
+ 34 Benjamin McFARLAND b abt Oct 1769 Bedford County,
Virginia. M (1) Martha STINSON. M (2) Mary RATCLIFFE.
Robert moved with his father John to Augusta County in 1747 and was enrolled in the militia in 1752. He moved with father John to Bedford Co. Va. in 1757. Then he married and moved to Orange Co. North Carolina. In 1768 Robert moved back to Virginia to Bedford Co. and then four years later to Botetourt Co. for 10 years, where in 1772 he received 85 acres on Reed Creek from will of Samuel Crockett (two miles southeast of Fort Chiswell). In 1776 Robert is living in what is the present town of Wytheville, and his son Robert Jr. enlists in Capt. Russell's company in the Rev. Wa
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1730 - 1798 (67 years)
