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- Mary Helen Haines notes:
Alternative birth date: Feb. 25, 1764 according to Bible Record submitted by Lucille McFarland in 1989
Alternative death date: July 10, 1820
Bible record coming from Nancy Caroline McFarland says John was born Feb. 28, 1764, died July 10, 1820. Rebecca McFarland born April 26, 1770, died Sept. 14, 1816.
1784: "Petition of the People Setled Over french Broad river on the pidgen rivers" made April-June 1884 includes John Mcfarlad Sene, John Mcfarland, Samuel jeck, John Mcnute, along with Wm Willoughby, Jesse Evans, Andrew Evins, Alexander Montgomery, William Boyd, Silas George, and many others.
1788: another petition to the North Carolina Assembly asking for pre-emption status and relief from the depredations by Indians includes: Alex. Ward, George McNutt, then about 20 down in the list is Wm Bell, John McFarland, George McFarland, Alexr Rodgers, ? Campbell, and Samuel Jack all next to one another, Near is Benj McFarland, and David Staurt.
It is not clear exactly where this place is, although it is most likely what becomes Cocke Co. TN judging from the records below, unless the borders were so fluid that this land was actually the North Carolina land that they finally get deeds to in the early 1800s.
1789: another petition is signed by Wm. Cathey, near Adam Lowery, James Lowery, Wm. Houston, John Finley, George Ewing.
In 1790 the border between TN and NC was set and the records begin in Greene Co. TN and then Jefferson Co. when it was formed. By 1800 census the McFarlands are in Buncombe Co. NC census and all records appear there.
Tennessee records:
My ancestor James E. McFarland always listed his birth as Jefferson County Tennessee, and he was born in 1795.
John Jr. appears in various records in the 1790s as he witnesses wills for the Wards. His children from John born in 1787 to John in 1795 list their birthplaces as Tennessee on 1850 censuses.
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 McFarland Sr.
John Ward is probably the brother of Alexander Ward. The Wards were neighbors in the Reed Creek area of VA, and the two girls Rachel and Mary probably married there before the move. However the Ward family also moved to the same area in TN 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.
So, the question is....did the family move or did new lines get drawn that established the land they lived in became North Carolina?
North Carolina Records:
Buncombe County NC records:
1800 Census in Buncombe Co. NC has John McFarland Sr., George, Reuben, James, William, and John Jr.
Land Records:
Buncombe County, 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. (It is impossible to know which John purchased this acreage, although it would seem to be this one.)
Deed Book 9, p. 320. John McF. Jr. buys 100 acres on the Pigeon from George McFarlin in Nov. 1804, the same 100 acres he had sold to him in 1802 in Book 7, p. 160.
Deed Book 7, p. 557. John McFarland has a land grant from N.C. #1506 for 150 acres on the Pigeon River. on June 27, 1806.
John McFarland served as a Senator for the State Legislature for North Carolina representing Buncombe Co. in 1808 according to A History of Buncombe County North Carolina, by F.A. Sondley, p. 801.
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, the county seat.
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 Haywood County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions (FHL 463089) John McFarland appears frequently. Because John McFarland, husband of Mary Kinder is presumed dead, and John McFarland, born 1787 is just coming of age, the records of John McFarland as Capt. and Esquire, and Justice, and Senator, must belong to John born 1764. 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, and a State Senator representing Buncombe Co. in 1808, and Haywood in 1811, 1812, 1813, and 1814.
Haywood County NC records:
Minutes, County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions 1809-1815 for Haywood County:
First Vol., p. 2 the opening session that takes place on the fourth Monday in March, 1809 at Mount Prospect, John McFarland Esq. is listed as one of the Justices of Peace. Again, it is hard to know which John McFarland, but I am assuming it is John with wife Rebecca due to his middle age. There is no separate designation to differentiate him from his father. He is referred to as Capt. John McFarland on various pages (p. 9, 21, and is in charge of a company of militia, and therefore collector of taxes in 1810. The McFarlands appear in court records as jurors, road overseers, justices. The last record is a reference to a deed from Jacob McFarland to Dan McDowell for 67 acres dated September 19, 1815.
When Haywood County was formed John McFarland served as Haywood County's state Senator for the years, 1811 through 1814. Source: The Centennial of Haywood County, by W.C. Allen, p. 37.
Court Order #7, March 27-29, 1809 session (p. 21-22 of Early History of Haywood County, by Medford) "John McFarland appt. overseer "from the burnt schoolhouse, up Jonathans Creek across the mountain (Soco Gap) to the first crossing of Soco Creek"
Haywood County Militia in 1812: There are four McFarland listings in the records for Haywood County. James, in the 16th Co. Regiment, John in the 16th Co. Regiment, John in the 12th Co. Regiment, and then James in an unknown company.
Land Records:
Haywood County, NC:
Deed Book A, p. 16, State of North Carolina #1715. 160 acres purchase by John McFarland, Sr. at cost of 50 shillings for every 100 acres. County of Buncombe, east fork of the Pigeon River, including both sides where said McFarling now lives. Beginning on north side of William Cathey's branch, with Elijah Deaver's line. Entered Ap. 5, 1808. Warrant was originally issued to Joseph Henry. Signed by George Cathey and John Patton.
Deed Book A, p. 67. Feb. 10, 1809. John McFarland purchased 150 acres on east side of Pigeon River from Michael Defedellar for $300. The land adjoins John McFarland and John Gulbright. Witness: John McFarland Jr. Signed Michael Defedellar.
Deed Book A, p. 70. Feb. 10, 1809. John McFarland purchased 75 acres for $400. on east side of Pigeon River, adjoining Joseph Dobson on the south. Witness: John McFarland Jr., Michael Defedellar. (The John Jr. would be the John who married Mary Fleming.)
Deed Book A, p. 571, the recording made of John McFarland appointing William Dever "my truly and well-beloved friend William Dever of the county and state aforesaid my true and lawful attorney" and he is empowered to sell my lands. Dated April 10, 1815.
Deed Book B, p. 286. Dated April 10, 1815, but not entered into records until January 1826. This records the sale of four parcels of land to William Dever for $800. total. These are on the east side of the Pigeon River, one for 200 acres, another is unspecified amount, another for 75 acres, and the last for 150 acres.
This indicates that the move to Missouri took place shortly after.
Missouri Records:
Ste. Genevieve Deed Book C, pp. 148-49. George Cathey of Ste. Genevieve Co. Missouri Territory sells to John McFarland for $100. his pre-emption claim on the northside of Back Creek. Dated Nov. 29, 1816, witnessed by Reuben McFarland. (This land probably is the land in Sect. 7, 35 N, 7 E, just north of Reuben's.)
Tax Records for Ste. Genevieve Co. for 1821 to 1824 show McFarlands: Jacob, James, Jesse, John Sr., John Jr. John Andrew, and Reuben.
Sale Bill of the Estate of John McFarland, Ste. Genevieve Missouri, on Sept. 14, 1820. Appraisers: Alen Richards, Wingate Jackson, William Holmes. Most of the purchasers at the sale were Mary, John, James, Reubin, Jesse McFarland. Also were Bailey Fleming, Joseph Hughes, William Holmes.
Final Dispostion of John's land in Ste. Genevieve: Range 7E, Township 35N, Sect. 12 and is land patent #514 that dated to 1828, takes place in Deed Book G, pp. 63-67 where the various brothers and sisters of John McFarland, Jr. are paid $30.00 each for their part of the inheritance of land near present-day Avon community that they claimed together in 1828. This list includes Anna and Joseph Hughes, Jacob and Mary McFarland, William B. and Nancy McFarland, Sally H. and Carroll George, Nancy C. and Alexander Sloan, Arthur, James and Joseph McFarland. The land is 240 acres and each brother/sister is paid for their part: the total divided by 8. This puts in question Rebecca McFarland. The only thing I can think is that since she and her husband had not moved to Missouri with the rest of the children, she was not a part of the original claim, therefore not to receive a part, but that seems odd.
St. Francois Co. formed in 1821.
Back in Haywood County:
"William Dever, agent for the heirs of John McFarland, to the members of the Baptist Church of the Locust Old Field. For love and friendship which sd McFarland had to the followers of Jesus Christ and to encourage the cause of Zion, 3 acres and 24 perches, more or less, on the headwaters of North Hominy, including the Locust Old Field Meeting House and burying ground; beginning on a white oak bush. Signed John McFarlin by his agent Wm Dever.. Test Elijah Dever Junr. R. Osburn, ackd by Dever in open court. Reg. 24 Nov. 1826. From: Abstracts of Haywood County, North Carolina. Deeds Books A-C, 1809-1838, Bille Eddleman, p. 116.
This cemetery can be found in Canton, at the intersection of Academy Street, Pennsylvania, and Locust. Find a Grave's listing is http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=1981635
Mary Helen Haines notes: Research on John's presence in Tennessee has not been verified by me in the records. There are records that John McFarland received 228 acres in 1784 on the Nolachucky River opposite the mouth of the Little Chucky River. This would have been Greene Co. at the time, then it would be Jefferson County when Jefferson was formed in 1792, and then it would be Cocke Co. after 1797. My ancestor James E. McFarland always listed his birth as Jefferson County Missouri. MHH
North Carolina Records:
Minutes, County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions 1809-1815 for Haywood County:
First Vol., p. 2 the opening session that takes place on the fourth Monday in March, 1809 at Mount Prospect, John McFarland Esq. is listed as one of the Justices of Peace. Again, it is hard to know which John McFarland, but I am assuming it is John with wife Rebecca due to his middle age. There is no separate designation to differentiate him from his father. He is referred to as Capt. John McFarland on various pages (p. 9, 21, and is in charge of a company of militia, and therefore collector of taxes in 1810. The McFarlands appear in court records as jurors, road overseers, justices. The last record is a reference to a deed from Jacob McFarland to Dan McDowell for 67 acres dated September 19, 1815.
John McFarland served as a Senator for the State Legislature for North Carolina representing Buncombe Co. in 1808 according to A History of Buncombe County North Carolina, by F.A. Sondley, p. 801.
Land Records:
Buncombe County, 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 9, p. 320. John McF. Jr. buys 100 acres on the Pigeon from George McFarlin in Nov. 1804, the same 100 acres he had sold to him in 1802 in Book 7, p. 160.
Deed Book 7, p. 557. John McFarland has a land grant from N.C. #1506 for 150 acres on the Pigeon River. on June 27, 1806.
Haywood County, NC:
Deed Book A, p. 571, the recording made of John McFarland appointing William Dever "my truly and well-beloved friend William Dever of the county and state aforesaid my true and lawful attorney" and he is empowered to sell my lands. Dated April 10, 1815.
Deed Book B, p. 286. Dated April 10, 1815, but not entered into records until January 1826. This records the sale of four parcels of land to William Dever for $800. total. These are on the east side of the Pigeon River, one for 200 acres, another is unspecified amount, another for 75 acres, and the last for 150 acres.
This indicates that the move to Missouri took place shortly after.
Missouri Records:
Ste. Genevieve Deed Book C, pp. 148-49. George Cathey of Ste. Genevieve Co. Missouri Territory sells to John McFarland for $100. his pre-emption claim on the northside of Back Creek. Dated Nov. 29, 1816, witnessed by Reuben McFarland. (This land probably is the land in Sect. 7, 35 N, 7 E, just north of Reuben's.)
Tax Records for Ste. Genevieve Co. for 1821 to 1824 show McFarlands: Jacob, James, Jesse, John Sr., John Jr. John Andrew, and Reuben.
Sale Bill of the Estate of John McFarland, Ste. Genevieve Missouri, on Sept. 14, 1820. Appraisers: Alen Richards, Wingate Jackson, William Holmes. Most of the purchasers at the sale were Mary, John, James, Reubin, Jesse McFarland. Also were Bailey Fleming, Joseph Hughes, William Holmes.
Final Dispostion of John's land in Ste. Genevieve: Range 7E, Township 35N, Sect. 12 and is land patent #514 that dated to 1828, takes place in Deed Book G, pp. 63-67 where the various brothers and sisters of John McFarland, Jr. are paid $30.00 each for their part of the inheritance of land near present-day Avon community that they claimed together in 1828. This list includes Anna and Joseph Hughes, Jacob and Mary McFarland, William B. and Nancy McFarland, Sally H. and Carroll George, Nancy C. and Alexander Sloan, Arthur, James and Joseph McFarland. The land is 240 acres and each brother/sister is paid for their part: the total divided by 8. This puts in question Rebecca McFarland. The only thing I can think is that since she and her husband had not moved to Missouri with the rest of the children, she was not a part of the original claim, therefore not to receive a part.
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