| Notes |
- Mary Helen Haines research notes:
This John moved with his father and brothers to Augusta County, the Reed Creek area, in what is today Wythe County as early as 1747, when the first survey is made on the land at Reed Creek. They lived at Reed Creek until the Indian attacks of 1756 drove them from the area and they moved to Bedford County. John Jr. purchased land in Bedford in 1764, which he sold in 1778.John Jr. purchased one of the patents from his father and moved with his wife, Mary Kinder, and children back to the Reed Creek area, along with brothers Robert and Joseph. Around 1783 or 84, the family moved to the area that ends up being Cocke Co. Tennessee around the Nolachucky River. The records there are located in Greene and Jefferson County Tennessee, as Cocke County came into being in 1797, and those records were lost in a courthouse fire in the late 1800s. Around 1799 the family moved again, this time just a short distance up the Big Pigeon River, over the border into what was Buncombe County NC, but today is Haywood County. The last records that we know are his date to 1803, but there is no known death date.
Virginia Records:
Because of new counties being created as population increased, land and other records can be found in various counties. Augusta County was formed in 1737 from Orange Co. VA. In 1770 Botetourt County was formed from Augusta Co. The county seat was Fincastle, which existed as a county from 1772 to 1777 when it was dissolved and divided into Montgomery Co. and Washington Co. The Reed Creek area was then part of Montgomery Co. This area becomes Wyeth County in 1790, but our McFarlands were in Tennessee by this time.
1750s:
Augusta Co.
"Virginia's Colonial Soldiers" by Lloyd DeWitt Bockstruck, 1988, 975.5 M2b1 at Dallas Public Library:
On p. 4, on Nov. 16, 1752, John McFarland, Ensign. and Robert McFarland Lieutenant, took their oath of allegience to the crown for their service with the Augusta County Militia. I assume this is for father John, as this John was only 13 at the time.
p. 97. In the 7th Co. of Virginia Regiment commanded by Capt. Joshua Lewis, July 1757, John McFarlin was listed. On p. 95 is found this description: "John McFarling, drafted, 18, 5'6", planter, Virginia, Richmond, fair complexion. p. 112, return of necessaries belongs to 7th Co. Sept, 1757, John McFarlinn. This fits in age to this John McFarland. However, there are indications that this does not belong to our John. His place of birth is given as Virginia, and that would be incorrect for our John. Also, he enlisted in Richmond, which is quite a distance from Bedford, where the family had moved to.
1760s:
Bedford Co.
John McFarland Jr. is found in the records in Bedford county serving on a jury in 1761.
1764: Deed Book 2, p. 433-434, Aug. 28. John McFarland (this would be John McFarland Jr.) purchased 212.5 acres from Joshua Early, both of the Parish of Russell, for 50 pounds current money. It is described as being at the head of Medoes's Creek. When this plat is sold May 25, 1778 in Deed Book 6, p. 48, John McFarland Jr. of County of Montgomery is selling it to Lyonell Brown for 100 pounds current money and the land is described as being at the head of Medow's Creek. In researching this plot of land further back in time, it was originally a patent belonging to Richard Randolph in Aug. 30, 1744, part of 3233 acres on the north side of the Otter River, at head of branches of Buffalo Creek and Elk Creek. The name Medoes's Creek, or any variation, has not been discovered so far. The estate of Richard Randolph of Henrico Co. sold this 212.5 plot to Joshua Early on July 24, 1764 for 50 pounds before Joshua sold it to John McFarland shortly after for the same amount. (FHL #1940776)
1770s:
Montgomery Co.
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 in 1772, and then in Captain Crockett's list in 1773, again John McFarland, and Robert McFarland and his son James. This would seem to indicate John Jr. and brother Robert, and a son of Robert's.
In 1776 there are two payables to John McFarland serving in Capt. Robert Doak's company, one for 3 days, one for 6 days. Also serving in this company was Wm. Ward, Samuel Ewing, John Gullion, George Kinder and Jacob Kinder.
In 1777 with the Revolution in progress and order was issued that all men over 16 take an oath of loyalty to the Virginia government, as opposed to the English crown.
There are two John McFarlands that took an oath of allegience in Montgomery County a day apart from one another in November 1777; one spelled John McFarland and the other spelled John McFarlan. Source: Montgomery County Virginia, The First 100 Years, by Judge C.W. Crush, 1982, 929.37557 C957M 1982, Dallas Public Library, p. 49. We can know that one of these is John married to Mary Kinder, because they were living in Montgomery Co. at this time.
The DAR has accepted John Jr. born 2-4-1739 d. 10-17-1803 NC m. Mary Kinder, as a Pvt. Patriotic Service in VA. I don't know where that death date came from. His number is DAR #A 070328.
Did run across a record for a John McFarlin from the NARA (Footnotes.com), that says he was on the payroll of Captain Thomas Thweatt, part of the 14th Virginia Regiment in 1777-1778. He received 4 pounds, 25 in pay. The 14th Regiment was composed of soldiers that included Bedford County in the Regiment. It was commanded by Col. Charles Lewis. Do not know who this John McFarlin is, because in this time period our John McFarland was living in Montgomery County, but that doesn't mean he didn't serve here.
There are some extra McFarlands in the area that are unaccounted for. The John above, then a Robert McFarland who marries Mary Jones in 1778 in Bedford Co. VA., and a James McFarland who marries Margaret Downing in 1763 in Bedford Co. Also the extra John who signed the Oath of Allegience in Montgomery Co.
James A. McFarland, a descendant of John's grandson Arthur McFarland (1803 North Carolina to 1852 Missouri) has found evidence that John was on an expedition in 1776 in William Christian's Company against the Cherokees, while he was residing in Montgomery County, Virginia. application #725169 for DAR. I have not seen the proof of him being on the expedition in 1776. Must do more research.
In 1778, John seems to have taken the money received from the sale of the Bedford land to Lyonell Brown for 100 pounds, and then purchased the 367 acres patent that belonged to his father. (1749 Survey to John McFarland, 367 acres on Meadow Run, a branch of Reed Creek, granted in Augusta Co. Patent Book 32, p. 149 on June 20, 1753. Sold to John McFareland, Jr. for 55 pounds lawful money in 1778 from John McFareland, Sr. of Russell Parish, Bedford Co.) Montgomery Co. Deed Book A, p. 234.
This same land is sold in 1786 to Jacob Brooner (Pruner) from John McFarland, Jr. of County Casewell, State of Frankland (Montgomery Co. Deed Book A, p. 386-387).
1780s:
Militia of Montgomery County, Virginia by Mary Kegley, R929.37557 K26M 1990, at the Dallas Public Library:
p. -- lists the members of Capt. William Doack's company from August 30, 1780 and includes Peter, Joseph, and George Kinder, and John McFarland. (This would be the Black Lick area)
p. 15 lists James Finley's company of militia, no year (but after 1781), and includes John McFarland Sr., John McFarland , Robert Love, William Love, Duncan Gullion, Earhart Simmerman and Stophel Simmerman, George McNutt and John McNutt, etc. None of the men from one militia are duplicated in the other, so it seems we are talking about two different parts of the county and therefore possibly two different John McFarland families. (this would be men from the area close to present day Wytheville)
p. 39 lists Jehu Stephens Co. and it has James Finley as lieutenant under Capt. Jehu Stephens, Robert Love, lieutenant, and John McFarlan as ensign. This also includes many of the same people in the previous Finley militia, so I assume it is the same one. Also, in this one Joseph McFarland as an outlier. I assume this is brother Joseph who married a Gullion and was living on abandoned property. (Kegley, Vol 5 of Adventurers of the Western Waters, p. 67, 560, 561)
From Kegley, Vol 5 of Adventurers of the Western Waters, pub. 2004, she makes clear that Finley took over from Jehu Stephens Co., so the date for Finley's Company had to be no earlier than 1782. Since it has John McFarland Sr. and then John McFarland, we must be talking about John married to Mary Kinder, and then possibly his son John born 1764, which he would be 18 years old.
John McFarelane is on the Montgomery County tax list of 1782 and it is clear from the other people on the list that he is living on the Meadow Run property of 367 acres. There is no other John McFarland on this list.
In Jan. 6, 1783 a John McFarland sells 100 acres on North side of Pine Ridge, on John McFarland's branch to John Cypher. Not sure when this 100 acres was acquired. (In the 1793 tax list for Wythe Co., John Cypher is paying tax on that land, which lets us know exactly where this land was located.)
Montgomery Deed Book A, p. 386-387, On August 22, 1786 John came in person to the courthouse in Christianberg and sold 367 acres on a north branch of Reed Creek to Jacob Brooner for 250 pounds in hand, and it states John is living in "County of Casewell and State of Frankland". In maps of the temporary state of Franklin, Caswell county is located where Jefferson County/Hamblen county is today. This is the link between John of Montgomery Co., VA being the same as the John of Greene/Jefferson County, TN.)
Since Mary Kinder McFarland is not signing this deed or giving up her dower rights, I assume she died before the move to Tennessese, but not positive.
Tennessee Records:
Greene Co.
There are two lineages of McFarlands present in this area at the same time. Besides our sons of John and Mary Montgomery McFarland (Robert, John, pos. Joseph, Benjamin), there are descendants Alexander and Robert McFarland from the Duncan line. Then there is also a William McFarland who is closely associated with our group, but unidentified as far as the connection. The Alexander and Robert familes end up selling their land and moving back to Virginia to Russell Co. where Alexander dies in 1804.
About the State of Franklin: In 1776 the settlers of the area of Watauga and Nolachucky asked for protection from North Carolina. This became the Washington District was represented by John Sevier. This became Washington County in 1776 and was essentially all of the future Tennessee. During the Rev. War various campaigns against the Indians were fought by Virginia and Carolina troops into the Holston and Tennessee Valleys. After the war North Carolina fixed the upper line of the Cherokee hunting grounds at the French Broad River, which opened up the land north for settlement. Land was granted by North Carolina to veterans of the war in lieu of pay. Greene county was established by North Carolina in 1783, but in 1784 three districts within the former territory, Washington Co., Sullivan Co., and Greene Co. formed an association and declared themselves the separate state of Franklin. The State of Franklin was organized, with John Sevier as the Governor, and the following year Greeneville became the capital. Four years later, the State of Franklin collapsed, and Greene County once again became a part of North Carolina in 1788. In 1787, citizens signed a petition to get the State of Franklin recognized. However, no McFarlands signed this petition, nor any of the known neighbors, so they must have lived outside the area, or did not want to be a separate state. The following year, 1789, North Carolina again ceded western lands, and in 1790 Greene County became a part of the Territory of the United States South of the Ohio River. The state of Tennessee was formed in 1796.
John McFarland was not present for taxes in 1783 in Greene Co. TN, His move must have been around 1784. We know he sold his VA land in 1786 and was living in the State of Franklin at that time. Greene County (what became Tennessee) was formed in April 1783 by North Carolina out of the Washington District which had been formed in 1777. However, we know from the Petitions below that he was living south of the French Broad River.
In the Petitions to the North Carolina General Assembly from Inhabitants South of the French Broad, we can see where our John McFarland located. In 1784 he signed a petition with the inhabitants who were living around the Little Pigeon and Boid's Creek, south of the French Broad. They were asking for North Carolina to recognize their land settlements, even though they had been prohibited from settling in this Cherokee hunting ground. The inhabitants from this area included John McFarland Senr (married to Mary Kinder), John Mcfarland (married to Rebecca Bell), Samuel Jack, William Boyd, lots of Montgomerys, lots of Evins (Evans).
Then in 1788 they were trying again and now we have Alex. Ward, George McNutt, Wm. Bell, George McFarland, Benjamin McFarland, added to the above list.
In 1789 there is now John Ward Junr. next to John Mcfarland. then the other Mcfarland; Benjamin and George and then Alex Ward, Samuel Jack Jr. and Andrew Neely.
It becomes clear from the petitions above that the John McFarlin listed below is not the same person as this John McFarland or his son.
Source for above: Henderson, Cherel Bolin, transcriber. "Petitions to the North Carolina General Assembly from Inhabitants South of the Franch Broad-1784-1789". Tennessee Ancestors, Vol. 17, No. 3, East Tennessee Historical Society, Dec. 2001.
In 1787 Greene Co. tax list, John McFarlin appears for the first time, with no acres. He is in Abraham McKay's list., same as Thomas Love. He does not appear in that same list in 1796 with Thomas Love; however the purchase from Alex. Outlaw below would be in Jefferson Co. after 1792. No more McFarlands show up on the Greene Co. tax list until 1798 when James McFarland, who has purchased 114 acres from Joseph McFarland appears on their list.
Note about the Love family. Robert Love, born 1760, and brother Thomas Love, born 1766, were the childen of Samuel Love and Dorcas Bell. They were living in what became Wythe Co. VA and in 1782 moved away. Thomas was living in Greene Co. as you see above. He then moved on to Buncombe Co. by 1790--that part that became Haywood Co. NC, along with brother Robert. Their arrival must have inspired the move by John McFarland's family.
1788: March 25, Deed Book 4, p. 107 Green Co. Abstracts Indenture bet Alex. Outlaw and John McFarland. Outlaw selling 200 acres on North side of Nolichucky R. for 150 pounds, part of John Heritage (of New River in Dobbs Co. NC) patent of 640 acres. Witnesses are David Campbell, Elizabeth Campbell, and William McFarland (p. 47, Greene County Tennessee Deed Abstracts 1785-1810, by Murray) {John Heritage received 640 acres on North side of Nolachucky including the mouth of Flatt Creek, Warrant #8 from State of N.C. on July 13, 1786 as Rev. War grant} (No way to know for certain if this is John McFarland, married to Mary Kinder, or John McFarland who married Jenny Moore)
1788 Greene County, Tennessee. 1788, Oct 15, Tn. Greene County,
Ewen Morgan married Abigail Netherton; bond by William McFarland and John
McFarland.
1789: Oct. 30, John McFarland purchased 120 acres Greene Co. from Thomas Lee for 135 pounds, patent #725 from NC to Lee on head of Flat Creek (#8 on map) including a Limestone Creek, with Archibald Roden-Jurat, Andrew Kerr, Deed Book 4, p. 93 (Greene Co. TN Deed Abstracts, Murray, p. 46){Thomas Lee received this 120 acres on July 11, 1788, Warrant 1309, surveyed by Robert McFarlin, on head of flat creek including a limestone spring running up the valley, from State of N.C. as Rev. War grant Roll 5, Book C, p. 56}
1790: Order Book, p. 176, "Ordered that the road known by the name of Bulls Gap Road be altered thus to turn of the road below John McFarlands along a valley leading to Richard Lees and continue along said valley to the head of Long Creek….." (Greene Co. TN Minutes of Court of Common Pleas 1783-1795, p. 82)
I now believe that the John McFarland in these Greene Co. records above is not my John McFarland. This John is somehow more closely related to Robert McFarland, born 1759. Prehaps a brother. Because of the signatures on the petitions we know that the are that our John McFarlands, and the Wards, and Samuel Jack lived, was not part of Greene Co. at the time. North Carolina must have given in to all the petitions and incorporated the areas that are today Cocke and Sevier Counties in 1790.
The orders below belong to this John McFarland and his son and their relatives.
1791: "Ordered that a road be laid off from Neilys Ferry on French Broad River to ___Mill on Big Pigeon River and that Samuel Jack, John McFarland, Jno. Casey, Alex Rodgers, Alex ward, John Ward, Henry Nave, Thomas Keeny, Charles Adkins, Thomas Anderson, William Bell, and Robert Miller being first duly sworn, view and mark the same and report next court. (Greene Co. TN Minutes of Court of Common Pleas 1783-1795, p. 117) This area would be in present day Cocke Co. and indicates that John was living there with the above men as neighbors. This would explain John being witness to the Ward wills, and his sons marrying Jack daughters. This would seem to be referring to this John McFarland due to the reference to the Wards, the Bell and location on French Broad.
1792 Jefferson County carved out of Greene County.
These below in italics are not our John.
1792: June 30, Jefferson Co. Vol. C. John McFarland selling to John McDonald 190 acres for 150 pounds, on Flat Creek, the waters of Nolachucky. Witnesses: Alex. Outlaw, Baldwin Harle, James Menasco. Signed John McFarland
1792: July, Jefferson Co., Vol. C. p. 66, John McFarland sold to James Menasco 150 acres for 150 pounds land on Flat Creek, the waters of Nolachuckey R. including the plantation where Menasco now lives. Witness: Robert McFarland, Charles Hodges, Signed John McFarland
1792: July 17, Jefferson Co. Vol. C, p. 299. John McFarland deed to Daniel Williams, 100 acres for 100 pounds, on Flat Creek, waters of Nolachucky adj. Scott, John McFarland, Daniel Williams, ___Hodges. Witness: Robert McFarland and Charles Hodges. Signed John McFarland.
These below are our John McFarland.
1793: John McFarland witness to will of Alexander Ward, who lived on claim south of French Broad. Alexander Ward has wife Mary, son David, daughters Phoebe, and Rachael (wife Mary is considered by many to be John's daughter Mary, born 1764)
1795: Jefferson Co. Deed Book 6, p. 162 John McFarland a witness to William Bell selling his patent to Thomas Hill, Jr. 150 acres for 150 lbs. Also witnesses, Arch'd Campbell, James Bell, Wm. George (Are these Bells related to Rebecca Bell, wife of John McFarland, born 1764?)
1796: Alex. Ward's inventory file Feb. 1797 , Jefferson Co. filed, purchasers include Wm. George, Benjamin McFarland, George McFarland.
1796: John Ward, Co. of Jefferson, land on Big Pigeon, sons Cyrus, John, daug. Mary. John McFarland appt. executor, witness John McFarland, Jr., Matthew Bell. Inventory, Feb. 20th 1796. ( The wife of John Ward is considered to be Rachel McFarland, daughter of John Sr. John Ward is probably the brother of Alexander Ward. The Wards were neighbors in the Reed Creek area, and the two girls Rachel and Mary probably married there before the move. However the Ward family also moved to the same area in Jefferson Co. as the McFarlands.)
1799: deed to Robert McFarland for 250 acres on Bent Creek, Vol. D, p. 304, wit. John McFarland.
1799: John McF. Jr. and Matthew Bell witness to will of Samuel Jack in Jefferson Co. Two of John Sr.'s sons married Jack girls. Benjamin McFarland married Ruth Buchanan Jack, July 31, 1788 in Greene Co. records, and George married Sally Jack in Jan. 5, 1793 in Greene Co. records.
1799: John McFarland witness to Samuel Jack deed to Richard Morgan, July 15. Vol. D, p. 335 Jefferson Co.
1797 Cocke Co. created out of Jefferson County. Some records were still recorded in Jefferson Co. as we see above, but if there are land sale records when John and family moves up the Pigeon River to Buncombe Co. (Haywood Co.) they were lost in a courthouse fire in the 1800s.)
Cocke county TN is adjacent to Haywood Co. NC. Buncombe County had been formed in 1792 from Burke County NC after the inhabitants of that Appalachian community petitioned for their own government. John McFarland must have moved into the area around 1797 judging from the birth date of his granddaughter Rebecca McFarland, daughter of John McFarland, Jr. and Rebecca Bell. However, there are documents as late as 1799 that seem to be referring to one of the John's presence in TN till 1799.
There are no McFarlands present in the earlier Burke Co. or Rutherford Co. North Carolina records, so we know this family was not already present. Also, John's name is not on the petition to form Buncombe County in 1792. All other McFarland families are accounted for in Virginia and North Carolina, so even though there is no land document tying the Buncombe County McFarlands to the Tennessee McFarlands, this has to be the correct John McFarland family.
One of the interesting items I ran across was the Love family. It seems that Robert Love was a young man in the area in the 1760s that became Montgomery County VA in the 1770s, and is in the same militia company with John McFarland. He also moved to Buncombe Co. and he and John McFarland, Jr. served in the state legislature for North Carolina from Haywood County at the same time.
Official North Carolina Records:
Buncombe Co., NC:
1799, Oct. 15. Deed Book 4, p. 481, John McFarland of Buncombe Co. purchases 640 acres on both sides of Jonathan's Creek for $300, paid in hand, from John Strother of Beaufort Co. NC. (This land he "sells" to his sons James, Reuben, William, and David in 1803.)
1799, Oct. 22. Deed Book 4, p. 472. John McFarlin purchases 122 acres on the waters of the Pigeon River, the "flowery garden" for $62. from John Strother of Beaufort Co. NC. (The Flowery Garden area is north of present day Canton, on east side of Pigeon River, south of the fork between east and west Pigeon.)
1799, Nov. 15. Deed Book 3, p. 191-192. John McFarland of Buncombe Co. NC purchases three tracts of land from John Strother of Beaufort Co., NC.
1st tract of 150 acres on south side of Richland Creek by side of Rutherford's War Path. (This would be referring to Rutherford Trace, the path taken by Gen. Griffith Rutherford in 1776 in his expedition from Cathey's Fort to the Cherokee Villages south of this area, which were burned down. Today it is probably Main St. in Waynesville, Hwy. 23 where it crosses Richland Creek.)
2nd tract of 350 acres on east side of Pigeon River-adjoining his own and the flower garden line.
3rd tract is 130 acres on east side of Pigeon River, adjoining his own tract on the north, the flower garden on the east, and the Locust Old Field on the south side. This land was a part of a NC land grant to David Allison. Signed by John McFarland and Nathan Dever. (Image)
1800, July 22. Deed Book 3, pp. 308, 309. John McFarland buys a parcel of land from Robert Gillaspy, on the waters of the Pigeon River for $50. next to the flowery garden and George Cathey's land.
1801, Feb. 23. Deed Book 5, pp. 211-213. John McFarland of Buncombe purchases from Seth Moore of Buncombe 118 acres at the mouth of Beaverdam Creek, beginning at the bank of Pigeon River on line of McDowell's survey, for $75, paid in hand. Witness, Nathan Dever and Sam'l Rutherford. Signed Seth Moore.
1802, April 20. Deed Book 7, p. 160. John McFarland, Jr. sells George McFarlin 100 acres. Deed Records for Buncombe Co., NC show a purchase of 100 acres by George McFarlin in 1802 from John McFarland, Jr (husband of Rebecca Bell), and in Deed Book 9, p. 320, George McFarlin is selling the same land back to John Jr. on Nov. 18, 1804.
1802, Dec. 17. Deed Book 6, p. 357. A grant from the State of N.C. #1065 for 200 acres on the Pigeon River to John McFarland Sr.
1803, Jan. 18. Deed Book 7, p. 245. John Sr. buys 150 more acres on the Pigeon River from John Dobson.
1803, June 18. Deed Book 3, p. 270. John McFarland sells to Jacob Shook 265 acres for $265. 1st tract is from McDowell's flowery garden to a cove of a mountain, on Defedellar's and McFarland's line. The second tract is 15 acres on the west side of the Pounding Mill branch. Both were purchased from John Strother. (These would be purchases made in 1799).
1803, Oct. 1. Deed Book 9, p. 94. Jacob Biffle to Elijah Dever, 40 acres on the east side of the mean fork of Pigeon River beginning on one corner of John McFarland Sr's field, and the corner of Devers old survey….
1803, Oct. 17. Deed Book 9, pp. 31, 32, 34, 36. John Sr. is deeding land to James (253 acres on Jonathan Cr.), to Reuben (175 acres on Jonathan Cr.) William (196 acres on Jonathan Cr.) and David (116 acres Jonathan's Cr.) (740 acres total) Jonathan Creek runs along Hwy. 276 today.
1803 seems to be the last official record belonging to John McFarland, Sr.
In records of Elijah Henson of Buncombe County, NC, it notes that he was married by John McFarlin, Esq. in August 1803. (found in on-line record posted by a descendant of Henson, however this could be the record belonging to son John married to Rebecca Bell)
I am of the opinion that John is buried in the Locust Old Field Cemetery. That burying ground was on land belonging to McFarlands, and in 1826, the heirs of John McFarland, son of this John McFarland, gave 3 acres of land to the Baptist Church with the Old Locust Field burying ground. That land must have belonged to John McFarland Jr., prehaps inherited from this John. Today this is the First Baptist Church of Canton, and the present building is about a mile from the original log cabin that housed the first meeting church. They date their beginning to 1803, the year that it is believed that John died.
The following are notes from the McFarland genealogy website of Gary Morris: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hollow/8143/genealogy/mcfarland/rbtlanc.txt --
***** 12 ***** John McFARLAND, son of John McFARLAND and Mary MONTGOMERY, was
born 4 Feb 1739 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, died 1809 in Haywood County,
North Carolina. Married about 1762/1763 in Bedford County, Virginia to Mary
KINDER born about 1742 in Virginia(?).
----- NOTES FOR John McFARLAND:
MILITARY: Colonial War. "Colonial Soldiers of the South 1732 - 1774" by
Murtie June Clark 1983 R929.373 Clark at Bellingham Public Library. Virginia
Militia. July 1757 John McFarlin 7th Company, Virginia Regiment, commanded by
Capt Joshua Lewis. John McFarlin age 18 (5'6" height), of Virginia, a planter,
drafted in Richmond.
LAND: 1773 Montgomery County, VA Deed Book 1:142. John McFarland sold 327
acres on Sally Run in Montgomery County to John Finley, Nov 1773.
MILITARY: John served in the Montgomery County VA Militia in the Revolutionary
WAR.
LAND: 1778 Sale, 20 Oct 1778 from John McFarland Sr. of Russell Parish,
Bedford County to John McFarland Jr. of Montgomery County, 367 acres on Reedy
Creek (Montgomery County Deed Book A:234).
TAXLIST: 1782-1787 VIRGINIA, Montgomery County
LAND: 1786. On 22 August 1786 he sold this (Land on Reedy Creek, Montgomery
County) to Jacob Brooner for 250 pounds (Summers Page 917). Home listed as
"County of Caswell, State of Franklin". On 24 May 1787 Jacob "Pruner" sold this
back to John McFarland for 63.5.11 pounds (Summers page 919).
LINKS-TAXLIST: 1778 TENNESSEE, Washington County John McFarling. Next to
Nathaniel Clark, Francis Hughes, Samuel Williams, John Stuart, James Crawford,
John Clarke, James Howard, Benjamin Cobb, Solomon Smith, William Ashurst, and
Amos Bird. in "History of Washington County, TN" 1988 page 18 in Bellingham
Library R976.8 History. ****** PERHAPS THIS INDIVIDUAL IS FROM ANOTHER FAMILY??
PLACE: Lived in Washington County, Tennessee, that part which later became
Greene County, TN after 1783.
LINKS-LAND: 1784, Jan. 16, Tenn., Greene County John McFarlan entered 228
acres on south side Nolachucky River, opposite mouth of Little Chucky River;
warrant 25 June 1784; granted to Joseph McFarland. (Book 1, page 199)
LINKS-LAND: 1788, March 25 Greene County, TN Deed, Alexander Outlaw, to John
McFarland, for 200 acres on north side of Nolachucky...Witness, William
McFarland. (Book 3, page 107).
LINKS-LAND: 1788, April 8, Tn, Greene County, deed, Alexander Outlaw to John
Gordon, for 212 acres on north side of Nolachucky River, in the Long Bottom, at
mouth of a grain on river bank on line of John McFarlands (Book 2, page 55.).
LINKS-RESIDENCE: 1788 Greene County, Tennessee. 1788, Oct 15, Tn. Greene
County, Ewen Morgan married Abigail Netherton; bond by William McFarland and John
McFarland.
PLACE: State of Franklin existed only from 1784 through 1787 and was dissolved
into NC and later Tennessee. That part of Tennesse in which John lived became
Greene County, and then Jefferson County.
RESIDENCE: Lived before 1790 in Greene County, Tn, before his nephew Robert,
son of Robert moved there. Robert lived in the Bend of the Nolichucky River, a
short distance west of John McFarland, his uncle.
CENSUS: 1800 NORTH CAROLINA, Buncombe County 00201-01101. P. 180.
SOURCE: WFT Disk #1, contains in depth notes on family.
PLACE: Haywood County, NC was formed from Buncombe County in 1809.
LINKS: _____ McFarlin, born about 1770 VA or NC, married David Ward and had
dau Rachel Leanal Ward, born 22 Dec 1792 Tn and married 11 Nov 1809 Haywood Co,
NC to James W. Reed. SOURCE: "Ancestors of Michael Norman Swanson" User Home
Pages, Family Treemaker.com INTERNET.
----- NOTES FOR Mary KINDER:
LINKS: Father was possibly named Peter Kinder (Gunder/Guenter).
===CHILDREN of John McFARLAND and Mary KINDER
+ 41 John McFARLAND b 28 Feb 1764 Bedford County, Virgini
M Rebecca BELL.
+ 42 Mary (Polly) McFARLAND b 28 Feb 1764 Bedford County,
Virginia. M Samuel MONTGOMERY.
+ 43 Rachel McFARLAND b 10 Mar 1766 Bedford County, Virginia.
M John WARD.
+ 44 Benjamin McFARLAND b 21 Dec 1767 Bedford County,
Virginia. M Ruth Buchanan JACK.
+ 45 George McFARLAND b 7 Dec 1769 Bedford County, Virgini
M (1) Sarah (Sally) JACK. M (2) Nancy GOLDEN.
+ 46 Jacob McFARLAND b 21 Feb 1772 Bedford County, Virgini
M (1) Elizabeth (Betsey) WEBB. M (2) Nancy CATHEY.
+ 47 James McFARLAND b 20 Dec 1773 Bedford County, Virgini
M Frances WEBB.
+ 48 William McFARLAND b 10 Nov 1775/1776 Bedford County,
Virginia. M Susannah GEORGE.
+ 49 Reuben A. McFARLAND b 19 Feb 1778 Bedford County,
Virginia. M Martha CAMPBELL.
+ 50 David McFARLAND b 7 Jan 1780 Bedford County, Virginia.
51 Catherine McFARLAND b 13 Mar 1782 Bedford County,
Virginia.
+ 52 Jesse McFARLAND b 7 Aug 1784 Bedford County, Virgini
M Isabella Henry BOYD.
+ 53 Anna McFARLAND b 15 Nov 1786 Bedford County, Virgini
M George CATHEY.
Mary Helen Haines research notes:
Descendant of John's grandson Arthur McFarland (1803 North Carolina to 1852 Missouri) has found evidence that John took an oath of Allegience in 1777 and was on an expedition in 1776 in William Christian's Company against the Cherokees, while he was residing in Montgomery County, Virginia. application #725169
Is this John McFarland the same as John McFarling of Capt Joshua Lewis' Company in 1757? I don't know.
The DAR has accepted John Jr. born 2-4-1739 d. 10-17-1803 NC m. Mary Kinder, as a Pvt. Patriotic Service in VA. I don't know where that death date came from.
Virginia Records:
Bedford County formed from Lunenburg in 1753.
Fincastle formed from Botetourt in 1772, but only lasted till 1777, when Montgomery was founded. Washington Co. was also formed from Fincastle in 1776.
Montgomery County, founded in 1777.
Deed Book A, p. 234 is recorded the transfer of 367 acres on Reedy Creek to John McFarland, Jr. of Montgomery Co., from John McFarland, Sr. of Russell Parish, Bedford Co.
In Jan. 6, 1783 John McFarland sells 100 acres on North side of Pine Ridge, on John McFarland's branch to John Cypher. (In the 1793 tax list for Wythe Co., John Cypher is paying tax on that land.)
Book A, p. 478, In 1786 John sold his land on Reedy Creek to Jacob Brooner, and it states John is living in State of Franklin, Caswell Co. (which becomes Greene Co. TN.)
About the State of Franklin: In 1776 the settlers of the area of Watauga and Nolachucky asked for protection from North Carolina. This became the Washington District was represented by John Sevier. This became Washington County in 1776 and was essentially all of the future Tennessee. During the Rev. War various campaigns against the Indians were fought by Virginia and Carolina troops into the Holston and Tennessee Valleys. After the war North Carolina fixed the upper line of the Cherokee hunting grounds at the French Broad River, which opened up the land north for settlement. Land was granted by North Carolina to veterans of the war in lieu of pay. Greene county was established by North Carolina in 1783, but in 1784 three districts within the former territory, Washington Co., Sullivan Co., and Greene Co. formed an association and declared themselves the separate state of Franklin. The State of Franklin was organized, with John Sevier as the Governor, and the following year Greeneville became the capital. Four years later, the State of Franklin collapsed, and Greene County once again became a part of North Carolina in 1788. The following year, 1789, North Carolina again ceded western lands, and in 1790 Greene County became a part of the Territory of the United States South of the Ohio River. The state of Tennessee was formed in 1796.
I have not found the deed record for John's purchase or grant for land, only references to it in other deeds. John McFarland was not present for taxes in 1783 in Greene Co. TN, but is present for taxes in Montgomery County VA in 1782 paying taxes on his 367 acres there. His move must have been around 1784. We know he sold his VA land in 1786 and was living in the State of Franklin at that time. Greene County (what became Tennessee) was formed in April 1783 by North Carolina out of the Washington District which had been formed in 1777. The land John McFarland settled is described as being on the south side of the Nolachucky, where the Little Chucky stream meets the Nolachucky River, 228 acres to John McFarlan. It was Greene County then, also owning land in the part that became Jefferson County when that county was formed in 1795, and in 1797 it becomes Cocke County. In Deed Book 2, p. 55 for Greene County, a mention is made for Alex. Outlaw buying 212 acres on North Side of Nolichucky on the line of John McFarlin in 1788. In 1789 Robert McFarlan receives a grant for 200 acres on the south side of the Nolachucky in Greene Co., #2347.
John McFarland Sr. and Jr. are present in Jefferson Co. TN records as late as 1796, when their names appear on will and probate documents of Alexander and John Ward in the Jefferson County, TN Will Books. George and Benjamin McFarland's names also appear, and Robert McFarland as sheriff. William George's name also appears, as well as Samuel Jack.
The move to North Carolina was just a few miles east from where they were living on the Nolachucky to their new land on the Pigeon River. Cocke county TN is adjacent to Haywood Co. NC. Buncombe County had been formed in 1792 from Burke County NC after the inhabitants of that Appalachian community petitioned for their own government. John McFarland must have moved into the area around 1797 judging from the birth date of his granddaughter Rebecca McFarland, daughter of John McFarland, Jr. and Rebecca Bell.
Official North Carolina Records:
Buncombe Co., NC:
Deed Book 4, p. 472. John McFarlin purchases 122 acres on the waters of the Pigeon River, the "flowery garden" for $62. from John Strothers on Oct. 22, 1799.
Deed Book 3, p. 191. John McFarland of Buncombe Co. NC purchases three tracts of land on Nov. 15, 1799 from John Strother of Beufort Co., NC. One tract of 150 acres on south side of Richland Creek. 2nd tract of 350 acres on east side of Pigeon River-the "flowery garden." 3rd tract is 130 acres on east side of Pigeon River. This land was a part of a NC land grant to David Allison. Signed by John McFarland and Nathan Dever.
Deed Book 3, pp. 308, 309. John McFarland buys a parcel of land on the waters of the Pigeon River for $50. next to the flowery garden and George Cathey's land.
Deed Book 6, p. 357. A grant from the State of N.C. #1065 for 200 acres on the Pigeon River to John McFarland Sr. December 17, 1802.
Deed Book 7, p. 245. Jan. 18, 1803 John Sr. buys 150 more acres on the Pigeon River from John Dobson.
Deed Book 9, pp. 31, 34, 36. John Sr. is deeding land to James (253 acres on Jonathan Cr.), to Reuben (175 acres on Jonathan Cr.) William (196 acres on Jonathan Cr.) and David (116 acres Jonathan's Cr.)
Haywood Co. is formed from Buncombe Co. in 1808 at the request of the residents of this area, including John McFarland. He is found in early records as a grand jury member along with Jacob McFarland, Daniel Fleming, William Deaver, David McFarland, and George Cathey.In 1808 in the founding document of the county, John McFarland was named a commissioner in charge of erecting public buildings, etc. They laid the foundation at Mt. Prospect, which became Waynesville. Haywood County celebrated their centennial by writing a county history. On page 12, "Higher up the river (Pigeon), on the East and West fork, settlements were made some years later than those lower down. Among those who first bought land on East Fork, the name of John McFarland, William Cathey, and Elijah Deaver, who moved there previous to 1808, are found." Descriptions of the land where they settled include: "The Pigeon River, as it winds its course among the verdant hills...It forms as beautiful a valley as can be found in North Carolina. Richland Creek, with its rippling, laughing waters...Jonathan's Creek, a meandering mountain torrent, rises among the peaks and winds through a beautiful valley with lofty mountains on either side..."
In the first book of County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions (FHL 463089) John McFarland appears frequently. There is no way to know if it is John McF. Sr. or Jr. He is referred to as Capt. John McFarland, and John McFarland, Esq. in the records of 1809. He is a Justice of the Peace along with people like Thomas Love, William Deaver, and John Dobson.
|
1739 - Abt 1803 (63 years)
[1]