William McFerrin (abt. 1755 - abt. 1845)

Born about Oct 1755 in York, Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Husband of Jane Duncan (Laughlin) McFerrin — married Feb 1780 in Augusta, Virginia, USA

Descendants

Died about 1845 at about age 89 in Marshall, Mississippi, United States

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Biography

Private William McFerrin served with Virginia Militia during the American Revolution.

William McFerrin is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A076868.

William McFerrin is the son of William McFerrin and [unknown mother]. " He was born in York, Pennsylvania in October 1755. He was a man of medium size, about five feet ten inches high, weighing about one hundred and sixty pounds. His florid complexion, blue eyes, and auburn hair attested his pedigree. His family "removed to Augusta County, Virginia, in 1765 and he joined the Revolutionary Army in 1776. He married Jane Laughlin about 1781 in Virginia. He died in Mississippi in 1845.

Birth

Birth: OCT 1755 York Co., Pennsylvania

Occupation

Occupation: Farmer

Religion

Religion: Presbyterian

The information below is taken from the “Diary of Public Events and Notices of My Life and Family and Of My Private Transactions including Studies, Travels, Readings Correspondence, Business Anecdotes, Miscellaneous Memoranda of Men, Literature, Etc From January 1845 to August 1845 and Sketch of my Life from Infancy” by Samuel Hervey Laughlin [1]

Old William McFerrin married a sister of my grandfather, John Laughlin, and had a number of sons and daughters.

Colonel James McFerrin, his oldest son, married a Berry in Washington, Virginia, where his father lived, and removed to Rutherford County, Tennessee. He was a Captain of Volunteers in the expedition of General Jackson to Washington Mississippi in 1811-12. He served again in the Creek Nation in the War of 1813-14. After the war, he embraced religion, joined the Methodist Church and resigned his commission as a Colonel of Militia, and became a popular preacher. He removed to Jackson County, Alabama, where Thomas Berry who had married his sister, had previously removed from Rutherford. He became in time a travelling preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Connection, and removed again to the western district of Tennessee where he was a residing Elder, and died in the year 1840, universally respected and esteemed as a good man - and for his limited early education - an able and useful Minister of the Gospel. He left several sons and daughters - John B. McFerrin, a Minister of high standing in the Methodist church, now Editor of the South Western Christian Advocate, is one of them; William, another son is also a popular preacher in the same church; and John B. I esteem as one of my most respected friends. I think him a sound christian, and warm hearted kinsman. I hope some of his letters may be found in my letter book.

Old William McFerrin’s other sons include Burton L. McFerrin, removed from Tennessee to Missouri some years since, and William, who lives in Cannon County, Tennessee and has several sons - Alexander and Burton, neither very much esteemed, being two of them.

Old William McFerrin, sold his place on Holston River, adjoining my father's old residence in Virginia, to William Berry, and then removed to Tennessee. He was still alive last fall, being about 95 years old, in the Western District, living with Cullen Curlee, Esq. who married one of his daughters, Eleanor.

The information below is taken from the “Genealogical Abstracts from Reported Deaths, The Southwestern Christian Advocate, 1838-1846” [2]

Mr. WILLIAM McFERRIN, the grand-father of the Editor of this paper, died recently in Marshall county, Mississippi; aged ninety years. The following letter dictated by the venerable man a few days before his death, was written down by Mr. W. Forbes, and directed to his grand-son, the Rev. William M. McFerrin, of the Memphis Conference. We might add much to what is said of this departed veteran, but we forbear. He lived to see all his children converted, and buried several of his large family, who died in the faith. His numerous posterity will rejoice that his last days were marked by the triumph of christian faith.

MARSHALL COUNTY, MISS., Sept. 19th, 1845. To William M. McFerrin, — I your aged grand-father, William McFerrin, being now in the ninetieth year of my age, and being in bad health, feel that the time of my departure from this world is at hand. And being desirous that you should preach my funeral after my death, I therefore, write to you a few lines, to give to you the outlines of my life, that you may be the better prepared to attend to this matter. I was born in the State of Pennsylvania, York county, in the year of our Lord 1755, and in the month of October. In the year 1765 my father removed to Virginia and settled in Augusta county, near to Stanton, where he remained 12 years. In 1774 the war began, and in 1776 I turned out a volunteer. I first fought the Indians under Col. Christy; and then the British under the command of Cols. Washington and Green. But believing there were other duties binding on me, I joined the church of God, and become a member of the family of Christ in my youth. I also married a wife in the year 1781. For many years after the war, I spent my time at home with my family, in cultivating the ground for their support. In the year 1809 I removed from Virginia to Tennessee, Rutherford County. In 1813 my wife died. About this time my children all married off and left me. But from that time until now I have found a constant and happy home with C. Curlee, Esq., who married my daughter Elenor. These my dear children have been my staff in old age and stays in times of greatest need. May heaven reward them, is my constant prayer. Amen. From Rutherford county, Tennessee, I removed with the above named children to Tipton county, Tenn., and remained there ten years. In 1840 we all removed to the State of Mississippi, Marshall County, where I now live, and expect to die, and that in a few days. For this world and all that in it is, — yea all that affects the senses of man, seem to be departing and getting at a great distance from me. Yes, the ten thousand cords that bind me to this world are breaking fast, — while eternity with all its spacious territory — with all of its expanded fields of delight, and grand and sublime scenes the Bible speaks of, are moving up to my door. I stand with rapture and look on; I calmly bid this world good night; and with joy invite the approaching world. After my death, and you have preached my funeral, I want you to send to John B. McFerrin, of Nashville, and have my death and the outlines of my life published in the paper, that all of my friends may hear of it. So farewell, until we meet in another world.

William McFerrin

Since the writing of the preceding part of this letter, your aged grandfather has departed this life. Esq. Curlee and lady have gone to Middle Tennessee on a visit, he came to my house to stay a few days, took sick and died. He perhaps had a small touch of bilious fever combined with old age. I was with him during his whole afflictions. From the time he was taken sick, he said he should die. During his sickness, his hopes were like pillars of fire, reaching from earth to heaven, and throwing light on the path that reaches from this to a better world. When his sufferings would become great, he would seem to hurry death to execute his office. William Forbes ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ William McFerrin, 1845. Genealogical Abstracts From Reported Deaths, the Southwestern Christian Advocate, 1838-1846. Jonathan Kennon Tompson Smith. 2003. Tennessee GenWeb. p. 64, 14 November 1845. familysearch.org. Accessed 24 Oct 2020. Letter Written by William McFerrin in 1845

• United States War of 1812 Index to Service Records, 1812-1815, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29K-NFV7 : 24 October 2020), William McFerrin, 1812-1815; citing NARA microfilm publication M602 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); roll 138; FHL microfilm 882,656. William McFerrin War of 1812 Index Card Image
• Barcus, George Wendell, 1874-. 'Genealogy and family history of Rev. Edward Rosmon Barcus and wife, Mary Frances Smith Barcus'. Waco, Texas, 1930. archive.org, Accessed 24 Oct 2020. Barcus, Edward Rosmon, 1825-1896, Barcus family, McFerrin family.
• William McFerrin, 1840. 1840; Census Place: Tipton, Tennessee, Sixth Census of the United States, 1840. (NARA microfilm publication M704, 580 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. ancestry.com. Accessed 24 Oct 2020. William Ferrin 1840 Census Image (Shared free to view)
• GGG-Grandson of William McFerrin, Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls. Ancestry.com. U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Accessed 24 Oct 2020. Descendant Sons of the American Revolution Application (shared image free to view)
• Yates Publishing. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 (2). (Name: The Generations Network, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2004;), Database online. Record for Jane Laughlin _FOOT: Yates Publishing, U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004), Database online.
• Source: Type: Obituary NAM William McFerrin obituary Periodical: Southwestern Christian Advocate Date: 14 November 1845 Page: p. 4 Submitter: Von W. Unruh Title: Archivist, Tennessee Conference UMC Commission on Archives & History
• Source: Type: Book Title: John B. McFerrin, A Biography Author: G. P. Fitzgerald, D.D. Publication: Publishing House of the M. E. Church South, Nashville, Tennessee 1893
• U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls.
• DAR Patriot Index A076868 accessed 19 Sep 2021. Meehan-411

Ancestry Sources

General Sources

Godfrey Memorial Library, comp.. American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 1999. [3]

Ancestry.com. North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. [4]

Yates Publishing. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. [5]

Military Records

Ancestry.com. U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls. [6]

Ancestry.com. U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. [7]

Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, U.S., Revolutionary War Battalions and Militia Index, 1775-1783 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. [8]

Ancestry.com. U.S., The Pension Roll of 1835 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. [9]

Newman, Harry Wright. Maryland Revolutionary Records. Baltimore, MD, USA: Maryland Archives, 1938. [10]

Index of the Rolls of Honor (Ancestor's Index) in the Lineage Books of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Vol. I [database on-line]. [11]

Some Tennessee Heroes of the Revolution [database on-line]. Fifth Pamphlet [12]

Twenty-four Hundred Tennessee Pensioners [database on-line]. Surnames M-N. [13]

Census Records

Ancestry.com. 1786 Pennsylvania Septennial Census, 1779-1863 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.[14]

Ancestry.com. 1790 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. [15]

Ancestry.com. 1800 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. [16]

Ancestry.com. 1810 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. [17]

Ancestry.com. 1820 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. [18]

Ancestry.com. 1830 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. [19]

Ancestry.com. 1840 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. [20]

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Jim Berry for creating WikiTree profile McFERRIN-49 through the import of Thos_Berry_1776_anc.ged on Dec 19, 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Jim and others.