James Andrew McFarland (abt. 1750 - abt. 1829)

Born about 1750 in Ireland

Husband of Margaret Lynn (Lewis) McFarland — married 1774 in Augusta County, VA

Died about 7 Nov 1829 at about age 79 in Elizabeth, Allegheny, Pennsylvania County, PA.

Biography

Andrew McFarland(e) born about 1750 in Ireland, and died 1829 near Elisabeth, PA. Married 1774 to Margaret Lynn Lewis (1756-1814), daughter of William Lewis and Ann Montgomery.

Earliest records place him in Augusta County, VA, in now Rockbridge County, which may connect him as part of the Duncan McFarlane family.

"Margaret Lynn Lewis McFarlane moved after her marriage to Fort Pitt (Pittsburgh), where her husband, who had settled in Philadelphia from Ireland in 1764, was engaged with his brothers in fur trade with the Indians and had been appointed a Justice. On Feb 14, 1777, he crossed the Allegheny River at Pittsburgh to trade with the Mingo Indians, who, howevery, had sided with the British and took him prisoner. He was taken to Fort Niagara and on to Quebec, where he was ransomed or exchanged in 1780. He rejoined his family in Staunton and they returned to Pittsburgh." ^[1]

Children of MARGARET LEWIS and ANDREW MCFARLAND are:

i.Margarette McFARLAND b abt 1775 Augusta County, Virginia. M John W. WINGFIELD.

ii. James (McFarlane) McFARLAND b 29 Dec 1778 Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

iii.Lewis (McFarlane) McFARLAND b 28 Jun 1781 Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. iv.Hannah (McFarlane) McFARLAND b 21 Jun 1783 Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. M Daniel Liberty McCLURE.

v.Mary (McFarlane) McFARLAND b 9 Jul 1785 Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

vi.Andrew (McFarlane) McFARLAND b 9 Oct 1787 Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

vii.John (McFarlane) McFARLAND b 19 Feb 1790 Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

viii.Agatha (McFarlane) McFARLAND b 6 Mar 1792 Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

ix.Robert Cochran (McFarlane) McFARLAND b 7 Aug 1794 Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

x.Thomas (McFarlane) McFARLAND b 26 Oct 1796 Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

xi.William (McFarlane) McFARLAND b 13 Feb 1800 Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

xii.Sophia Kitchen (McFarlane) McFARLAND b 20 May 1802 Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Women in the Revolutionary War SOME PENNSYLVANIA WOMEN DURING THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.MATRONS OF THE REVOLUTION. MARGARET LEWIS McFARLAND.

William Lewis, one of the famous Virginia family of the name, was the father of three daughters; the eldest, Margaret Lynn Lewis, born in 1756, married Andrew McFarland, of Pittsburgh and immediately after moved to the Kittanning, where her husband was engaged in the Indian trade. We are unable to give the exact date, but previous to December 26, 1775, (see Pa. Arch. v., 135); when William Lochry and John Moore wrote a letter to Thomas Wharton, President of the Council of Safety, in which they mentioned Andrew McFarland's fears of being plundered by the Mingoes is alluded to.

On the 4th of March 1777, several of the Delawares arrived at Fort Pitt and informed Colonel George Morgan, the Indian agent, that the "Mingoes proceeded directly to Kittanning and there took Mr. McFarland and carried him to Niagara, and that they fold our young people and women, for none others were at home, that the commanding officer at Niagara sent them for the above purpose, in order to hear the news in these parts. They were directed not to hurt him. Had our head men been at home we should have brought him back, for we will not allow this bad work to pass through our towns."

Colonel John Montgomery, one of the Indian commissioners, wrote to Judge Jasper Yeares, the other commissioner, under date of March 7th, 1777: "A few weeks ago four Indians came opposite Kittanning and called for a canoe. Andrew McFarland went over and as soon as he landed the Indians seized him and turned the canoe adrift and carried McFarland prisoner, it is thought to Niagara or Detroit."

On learning of the capture of her husband Mrs. McFarland with her infant and maid servant fled from the Kittanning. After starting, the servant reminded Mrs. McFarland of her husband's money and valuable papers, but she desired the girl not to mention anything of that kind to her at such a moment; yet regardless of the command of her mistress the servant returned to the dwelling and brought all the money and as many papers as she could carry in her apron overtaking in a short time her mistress, as the snow was very deep. After incredible fatigue they reached the house of Colonel William Crawford, at Stewart's Crossing, on the Youghiogheny, where New Haven now stands. Here the attention of friends soon restored her from the exhaustion caused by carrying her infant such a distance through the snow. She remained at Colonel Crawford's until her father, hearing of her situation, sent her brother, Colonel William Lewis, to bring her home. Intelligence was received that her husband had been carried captive to Quebec, and the Indians had agreed that if a heavy ransom was paid they would restore McFarland to his friends. Of course this was done, his brother went to Quebec, paid the ransom, and returned with Mr. McFarland to Staunton, Va., to the great joy of the brave Margaret McFarland.

Mrs. McFarland remained with her kin in Virginia, while Mr. McFarland served two years as sergeant in the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment of the Line, commanded by Colonel Daniel Brodhead. It was not until the end of the war of the Revolution that Mr. McFarland and his heroic wife returned to their cabin on the Allegheny. Here they resided until the close of a long life surrounded by a happy family, honored and respected for their bravery and good deeds, Mrs. McFarland dying September 12, 1804; her husband surviving two years.

Sources

1. ↑ The Family of John Lewis, Pioneer by Frazier, Cowell Jr., Fisher, Fisher Publications, Inc. San Antonio TX 1985.