| Notes |
Mary Helen Haines notes:
In 1775 Pennsylvania was ordered to form local militias in each township. For the County of Bucks, Tinicum Co. Robert McFarling (p. 395), and Joseph McFarland (p. 396) were listed. Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Vol. 5.
By 1778, Robert had moved to Peters township, Cumberland Co. PA. He brought with him a letter of recommendation to the Presbyterian Church in Mercersburg which stated he was of "unblemished Character, free from Scandal or Church Censure"...
What follows is part of the article "Mount Delight", 1910, by John M. McDowell, p. 78-81
Robert McFarland, Jr., son of Joseph and Jean McFar-
land, was born in Tinnicum Township, Bucks County, Pa.,
January 12th, 1740, and died at Mount Delight, June 22nd,
1823. He married Jane Cochran, a daughter of Stephen and
Jane Cochran, of Faggs Manor, Chester County, in 1770.
Jane Cochran was born February l0th, 1743, and died April
2nd, 1827. The bodies of both Robert and Jane were buried
in the old White Church graveyard, in Peters Township,
Franklin County, Pa., about two miles east of Mount Delight.
Robert McFarland, Jr., removed with his wife and four
children, from Bucks County, to this county, then part of
Cumberland, in the spring of 1778. He had purchased of his
uncle, Robert McFarland, Sr., brother of John and Joseph,
'McFarland's Delight," as we learn from a deed dated Sep-
79
tember 1st, 1777, and recorded in Deed Book E, Vol. I., page
168, of the Recorder's Office of Cumberland County, Pa. By
this deed "Robert McFarland, Sr., of Peters Township, in
Cumberland County, Province and Commonwealth of Penn-
sylvania, and Esther, his wife, of one part," conveyed to
Robert McFarland, Jr., of Tinnicum Township, County of
Bucks, in said province of Pennsylvania, of the second part,
for a consideration of fourteen hundred pounds, the tract of
land mentioned and described in the patent dated 4th Decem-
ber, 1769. For his patent in 1769 Robert, Sr., paid 38 pounds
9 shillings. Eight years later he sold the same tract to his
nephew for 1400 pounds, an advance of near $7,000. Robert,
Sr., had. however, cleared and improved the land, erected
buildings, etc. Whilst in Bucks County, Robert McFarland,
Jr., took the oath of allegiance to the State and received a
certificate, of which the following is a true copy : "I do
hereby certify that Robert McFarland, of Bucks County, hath
voluntarily taken and subscribed the Oath of Allegiance and
Fidelity, as directed by an Act of General Assembly of Penn-
sylvania, passed the 13th day of June, A. D., 1777.
Witness my hand and seal, the 28th day of August, A. D.,
1777.
L. S. THOMAS DYER."
Robert, as well as his father, Joseph, was a member, in
good standing, of the Presbyterian Church. He and his wife
brought with them from Bucks County, in 1778, a certificate
of good character and membership, of which the following
is a copy :
"That Robert McFarland and Jane, his wife, were born oi
christian Parents of the Presbyterian Denomination. Mr. Mc-
Farland has lived, in this Congregation since his Infantcy &
hath conducted himself in a sober, decent & Regular manner
at all Times since capable of understanding, as becomes his
Christian Profession, made in his Baptismal Covenant ; and
Mrs. McFarland has been received into this congregation by
virtue of a certificate produced, a copy of which is given ; and
80
both are of an unblemished Character, free from Scandal or
Church Censure known to us. And now being about to re-
move from us, are committed to God's holy Protection &
recommended to the Care & Notice of any Christian Congre-
gation where divine Providence may order their Lot, as
worthy Members of Society both civil & religious. All which
is certified at Tinnicum in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, May
15th, 1778, by
WILLIAM McINTYRE,
DANIEL SAMEEL,
DAVID WILSON,
JOHN McKEE,
ROBT. SMITH,
ROBT. PATTERSON,
Elders.
A. MITCHEL, V. D. M.
In 1779 Robert McFarland was elected and ordained an
Elder of the Presbyterian Church of Mercersburg, and served
as Elder until his death. Robert and Jane McFarland had
eight children, named and born as follows :
Joseph McFarland - born Feb 22, 1771, died Nov. 20, 1782.
Stephen McFarland - born Aug. 15, 1773, died Nov. 1832.
Prudence McFarland - born April 17, 1775, died Dec. 2, 1804.
Robert C. McFarland - born Dec. 19, 1776, died June 15, 1850
Anna McFarland - born April 8, 1779, died April 26, 1816.
John McFarland - born Feb. 2, 1782, died Dec. 18, 1856.
Jane C. McFarland - born Dec. 17, 1783, died Aug. 31, 1857.
Mary (Polly) McFarland- born Apr. 8, 1786, died Sept."], 1837.
Of these Joseph, Stephen, Prudence and Robert C. McFar-
land were born in Bucks County, the others in this county.
When Robert McFarland, Jr., came to this county, he
brought with him quite a small trunk, partly filled with
Continental money. The trunk is still in the old house in a
good state of preservation, but minus all money. He also
brought with him some seed of the honey-locust, which he
sowed on the hill-side in front of the old house. The seed
8i
sprouted and a number of honey-locusts grew to full size and
were much admired until a few years since. One of them is
still living, but showing its age. Robert McFarland, Jr., and
his wife were buried in the old White Church graveyard, in
Peters Township.
By his will probated and recorded in this county, Robert
McFarland, Jr., devised MacFarland's Delight (about that
time changed to Mount Delight) to his two sons, Robert C.
and John McFarland.
In 1779 he "was elected and ordained an Elder of the Presbyterian Church of Mercersburg, and served as Elder until his death."
PLACE: Peters Township that part which was in Cumberland County, and later
became part of Franklin County after 1784.
MILITARY: Revolutionary War. Private. From DAR Patriotic Index: Robert
McFarland born 12 Jan 1740 died 22 Jan 1823. Married Jean Cochran. Private
Pennsylvania. Was a member of Captain Pettersons' Bucks County Company in
1777 (From DAR Records, at Ancestry.com on Internet).
HISTORY: "Bard Family" by G. O. Seilham 1908 found at the Seattle Public
Library. Includes a lot of information on most descendants in his family.
Robert was a member of Captain Nicholas Patterson's company of Tinicum township
militia in 1775, and is recorded as taking the oath of allegiance to the state
in Bucks County, August 28, 1777. A church certificate, granted to Robert and
Jean McFarland, of Tinicum Township, Bucks County, May 18, 1778, and signed by
Alexander Mitchell, V.B.M., says he had lived in the congregation since
infancy. He removed with his family to Cumberland, now Franklin County, in
1778, and lived in Peters Township until his death.
BAPTISMS: 1768-1772 PENNSYLVANIA, Bucks County, Tinicum Township, Red Hill
Presbyterian Church. List of Church members March 26, 1768: Robert McFarland.
Baptisms: Joseph March 31, 1771, son of Robert. Stephen Sept 13 [19?], 1772,
son of Robert. SOURCE: FHC microfilm #0192631. Also "Birth Index: Southeast
PA 1680-1800" (Family Tree Maker CD on Comupeter). Microfilm has Stephen bpt
Sep 13, and FTM has Sep 19.
LAND: Cumberland County, PA Deeds, Vol 1, Book #, page 168 (LDS Microfilm
0022049): Date of Instrument: 1 Sep 1777. Robert McFarland Senior and Esther
his wife, of Peter's Township, Cumberland County to Robert McFarland, Jr. of
Tinicum Township in the County of Bucks. Patent by Thomas Penn and Richard
Penns dated the fifth day of Dec 1769, granted to Robert McFarland a "certain
Tract or Parcel of Land Called mcFarlands Delight, situated lying and being in
Peters Town in Cumberland County". Adjactent to James Wilkins, adjacent
Conococheague Creek, adjacent Col. Benjamin Chambers, adjacent James McFarlands
Claim vs Francis Patterson land. 1,400 pounds for 248 acres. Witnesses:
James McConnel, Thomas McFarland, William Hunter. Recorded 20 May 1778.
BAPTISMS: From "Pennsylvania Vital Records" Vol 2 1983 (R929.3748 Penn at
Bellingham Library). Records of Upper West Conococheague Presbyterian Church,
Mercersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania page 125. Robert McFarland died 22
Jan 1823 (elder in church for 24 years, since 1798/1799). Baptisms:
1777 Oct 25 Martha, dau of Robert McFarland [Robert, son of Robert]
1779 Jun 20 Anne, dau of Robert McFarland
1779 Sep __ (-----), child of Robert Jr. [Robert, son of Robert]
1782 Apr 7 John, son of Robert McFarlane
1784 Apr 25 Jenny, dau of Robert McFarland
LINKS-PROBATE: 1776 PENNSYLVANIA, Cumberland County, Peters Township. WIll of
Joseph Watson, Aug 21, 1776 - 11 May 1778. Mother. Thomas Dunwoody's wife and
her 4 children. Exec: Friends Wm Dunwoody and Thomas Dunwoody. Witn: John
Davis, Robert McFarland.
TAXLIST: 1778-1779 PENNSYLVANIA, Cumberland County, Peters Township.
Cumberland County PA Tax Lists 1750-1780. FHC microfilm # 21087, 21088, 21089.
(Robert of 1771 and 1774 must be Robert, son of Robert). 1778 (owned 150 acres
- 21 cleared, 2 horses, 3 cows, 12 sheep). 1779 (owned 240 acres, 1 negro, 4
horses, 6 cows). 1780 (owned 4 horses, 6 cows, 3 negros).
CENSUS: 1790 PENNSYLVANIA, Franklin County, Peters Township, page 114 Robert
McFarlen 2/2/5/2slaves. Lived next to James Means, James Irwin, John Torrence,
Christopher Lear, James Diven, James Dunwoody, Richard Harris, James Robbison,
William Middleton, and John Brownson.
CENSUS: 1800 PENNSYLVANIA, Franklin County, Peters Township. Robert McFarland
01201-02201. Page 287 (868).
CENSUS: 1820 PENNSYLVANIA, Franklin County, Peters Township.
Robert McFarland 2M 0-10, 3M 26-45, 1M 45-up, 3F 0-10, 1F 26-45, 1F 45-up
William McFarland 1M 18-26, 1M 26-45, 2F 0-10, 1F 26-45.
PROBATE: Franklin Co, PA Wills Book C. 1811-1826. Page 636 15 Aug 1806-9 Apr
1823 Robert McFarland of Peters Township, Franklin County. Wife Jane.
Children: Stephen, Ann (married), Jane, Polly, Robert, and John. Grandson
Robert McFarland (under 25). Neighbor William Findley. Witnesses Joseph
Dunwoody and John Findley.
DEATH: "Vital records from the National Intelligencer" Found at
GenealogyLibrary, FamilyTreemaker.com. McFarland, Robert, died 22 Jan 1823, in
his 85th year. He lived near Chambersburg,PA. (6 March 1823).
CEMETERY: Church Hill Presbyterian Graveyard, Peters Township, Franklin
County, PA. On Computer Internet, USGenWeb Archives, contributed by Susan E.
Watts (Wattsnew@juno.com). Robt. McFarland 1740-1823. His wife Jean Cochran
1743-1827.
RESEARCHER-EMAIL: (1998) Found on Internet, GENDEX (Genealogy Index). Stewart
Tarkington at tarkingt@mindspring.com. Includes children and their birth and
death dates.
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1740 - 1823 (83 years)
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