Original Rootsweb Co. Tyrone Community Site
McFarlane, Phillips & Montgomery Genealogy & Notes


Co. Tyrone Headstone Project
Click banner to submit/search the Project!

Find your Family Today - Click Here to get custom produced family history reports - Family History, Ancestral information and more...

McFarlane, Phillips & Montgomery Genealogy & Notes

Compiled and submitted by Robert Phillips
rrphillips[at]usa.net
Updated by Jen Shaffer
smithjen78[at]hotmail.com



James Phillips and Elizabeth McFarlane



James Phillips (Son of unknown parents)

James Phillips left the Carlisle area about the time some of the iron foundries were put up for sale in 1811. James arrived in Pittsburgh well before 1815 when the Pittsburgh business directory listed him as a “nailor” on Fourth Street. According to family information when James (1) came from Carlisle, PA in about 1810, he established a blacksmith shop in the Pittsburgh area that made bolts, nails, hinges and other hardware for the early pioneers. In his naturalization paper and in the census his occupation is listed as a “nailer” or a person who makes nails, but he made many other products. However, during the years he lived on Fourth Street, he probably worked for one of the manufacturers in Pittsburgh that made nails and other hardware products. There is no evidence that his location on Fourth Street between Wood and Smithfield Streets was a blacksmith business. He rented a house there that appears to have been located on Lot 357 (Location JP on the map above) on the north side of the street. It was owned by John Irwin who also owned other property in the area. Sketches of this area (above) show the houses to be two or three stories made of wood or brick and fronting on the street with little or no room between them. There was little room behind the houses for any furnace that James would have needed as a blacksmith or nailer. He and his mother probably rented the house around 1812.


James married Elizabeth McFarlane about 1815. Her father was a farmer in the Baldwin Township area and appears to have had a store located on the east side of Market Street near Fifth Street (JM on the map). Many farmers had stalls in the Market Place or the Diamond where the Courthouse was located. This was the main location for them to sell their produce. The McFarlane market is listed in the 1815 business directory under the name of Jane McFarlane, but it appears to have been a store and a possible residence, since its address is where buildings were located across from the Black Bear Hotel.


Jane was the daughter of Baptist and Magdalena McFarlane who were the parents of Elizabeth McFarlane, the wife of James. Since the market was a building in a prime location, it is likely that Baptist McFarlane established this market in the mid-1790s to be able to market his farm produce in Pittsburgh. This also is when he moved to the St. Clair (Baldwin) location. The timing is further supported by the letters he received at the Pittsburgh Post office in 1796 and 1797. The 1796 letter was letter in care of John Irwin, store keeper, who was located on Fourth Street between Wood and Market Streets. It was between James Phillips and the McFarlane market. Since Baptist lived quite a distance from this part of Pittsburgh, it would be difficult for Elizabeth to have met James unless they had something in common. The McFarlane market appears to have been it.


The market probably was first operated by Baptist or his wife, but by 1803 his eldest daughter would have been old enough to manage it. She was Isabella McFarlane, and she married Robert Stitt in 1807. Like James, he lived nearby on Wood Street far from the McFarlane home in Baldwin Township. By 1807 her next older sister, Jane, would have been 18 and old enough to manage the market. Their younger sister, Elizabeth, could have started working in the market by 1810 when she was 18 years old. By this time Baptist had move further from Pittsburgh to Mifflin Township and appears to have given up farming. The daughters may have operated the market selling produce from other sources since it was a business in one of the buildings on Market Street. Elizabeth married James in about 1815, which would have left Jane as the sole manger of the market. Another relative raised by Baptist McFarlane was William Montgomery, who was a blacksmith located on Grant Street indicated by the WM on the above map. As can be seen besides the market, John Irwin, who appears to have owned the house that James rented, and William Montgomery there were a number of areas of common interests (see the section on the McFarlane family).


James seems to have prospered during these early years and was able by the late-1820s to start his own business. By then there was good access to the south side of the Monongahela River; so James relocated to the Baldwin area (now Carrick) on Brownsville Road about 1829 where he set up his blacksmith business. The area was known as “Coal Hill,” and his property had a good supply of coal under it. The woman, who is believed to be his mother, appears to have died about the time James bought the property in Baldwin in 1828. He probably did not want to move as long as his mother was alive; however, the father of his wife took ill about the same time. He appears to have spent his last few months with James and Elizabeth in 1828. He died in November 1828 in Pittsburgh most likely at their home (see the McFarlane section below). James was then free to move to Baldwin in 1829. Baptist was buried near his home, but the location for the mother of James is not known. It is possible that she is buried in the Concord Presbyterian Church cemetery where James and Elizabeth are believed to be buried.


The part of Lower St. Clair Township where James settled became Baldwin Township in 1844 and was later incorporated into the city of Pittsburgh as Carrick. James bought property there from a Mr. Allison on 31 March 1828 and later adjusted his boundaries with John Brawley on 23 May 1839. The property of over 14 acres (number 1 on the map below) was located on the west side of Brownsville Road across from Becks Run Road and the Concord Presbyterian Church (number 2 on the map). The land marked by number 4 is where John Phillips, the son of James located in the late 1800s, and number 3 on the map shows where Dr. Duff had his office. His daughters married the grandsons of James Phillips. While there are no pictures of the home of James Phillips, there is a sketch of the home of John Agnew (see below) that was located across Brownsville Road from where James lived. John Agnew was a glass maker, and the sketch shows the furnace located behind his home. This probably is a reasonable depiction of how the home of James Phillips would have looked. The Concord Presbyterian Church was organized in about 1832, and James and his family appear to have attended it.


James and Elizabeth Phillips

The marriage of James and Elizabeth McFarlane (It is also spelled McFarland and Macfarland.) in about 1815 is based on the age of their first child John McFarlane, who was born in 1816 and their ages being over 25 and 20 years, respectively. The order of the rest of his children is based on the court records and the census data. This data places the birth of the first daughter, Sarah, in 1817 and the second daughter, Susannah, in 1818.


It is estimated that Elizabeth would have been about 21 years old at the time of her marriage, and was born between 1791 and 1794. This is based on the 1820 census data that limits her age to 26 years or older and the 1830 census that limits her age to 39 years or younger. This makes her age in 1820 between 26 to 29 years, and her birth date between 1791 and 1794. Her parents, Baptist McFarlane and Magdalena (Montgomery) moved from Fallowfield Township in Washington County to St. Clair (Baldwin) Township in Allegheny County in 1792 (see McFarlane Section below). It is most likely that she was born in Allegheny County when they lived on the south side of Brownsville Road near where Route 51 crosses it.


By the 1820 census James and Elizabeth had two daughters and a son, John M., who was born in 1816. Besides an older woman (over 45 years of age), there also was a young woman (16 to 26 years of age) who probably was a servant. This census listed them as living in the West Ward of Pittsburgh where James was listed in the 1815 Business Directory. His neighbors in the 1820 census also were close to the Fourth Street location in the 1815 business directory, and one, William Martin, was in the same block of Fourth Street.


During the 14 years they lived in Pittsburgh, it appears that James and Elizabeth had a good life. They had eight of their ten children during these years, and she had the support of her mother-in-law and a servant girl. James was able to save enough money to buy property in Lower St. Clair where they moved in 1829. However, there were a couple of sad events. First was the death of his mother about 1828 who would have been at least 63 years old. James probably thought that this would be a good time to move to a place where he could have his own business. The second event was the father of Elizabeth taking ill. It appears that Baptist McFarlane spent his last days at their Pittsburgh home. He died in November of 1828.

By the 1830 census James and Elizabeth had moved their home to Lower St. Clair (Baldwin) Township on Brownsville Road. This census shows three daughters, Sarah, Susannah and Jane, and four sons. The sons probably are John M., George, John (possibly Frank) and Richard (see Chapter 2 regarding the naming of the sons). This move apparently was a disappointment to Elizabeth since she complained that James was not making enough money and she did not have the life style that she used to enjoy. The neighborhood was not like that in Pittsburgh, since their place at the time was in a rural setting. According to a family story she became very hard on the children and friction increased in the family. The children looked forward to visits with “Aunt Bella” who was the older sister of Elizabeth, Isabella. She and her husband, Robert Stitt, also moved to Lower St. Clair about the same time as her sister and James. According to the family story she made the children happy.


In the early-1830s James and Elizabeth had two more sons, but one died within a few years. The last son, James (2), was born in 1834, and soon after Elizabeth died. The exact date and cause of her death is not clear. She could have died in child birth, but since a son died about the same time it also could have been some type of illness. There were a number of Cholera epidemics in the 1830s. The friction in the family also appears to have come to a head about the same time resulting in George leaving in 1838 never to be heard from again. Their eldest son John also left during this period, but he appears to have been disinherited. His name was given to the third son who now was identified as the eldest. It is hard to believe that James and Elizabeth named two sons the same, John McFarlane Phillips. The third son may have been Frank who is reported to have died, but he also could be one of the sons that did die. What happened during this period may never be known, but the records do reflect that there were family problems and the first son was removed from the list of family children and never reinstated.


The 1840 census shows two daughters and four sons at home. Susannah had married Robert Lafferty about 1838; so the two daughters were Sarah and Jane who married later before the 1850 Census. Sarah married George White, and Jane married Montgomery Stitt on 11 February 1847. The four sons were John (possibly Frank), a second son that died, Richard and James who was 7 years old. The 1840 Census also shows that Elizabeth is no longer alive. She died sometime after the birth of James in 1834. There is a damaged tombstone in the Concord Presbyterian Church graveyard that reads “Children of J and E Phillips”, and with it are two unreadable markers. These other two markers may be the graves of James and Elizabeth, since no other location has been identified for them. However, these grave markers are no longer to be found, since the cemetery was damaged over the years and the stones moved.


The 1840 Census also shows a much younger woman than Elizabeth who may have been hired by James to care for the younger children after Elizabeth died. By the 1850 Census James had remarried, but there were no children from this second marriage. His second wife was Isabella Stewart (McGibbney) who was the cousin of Elizabeth. Her parents were John Stewart and Sarah Montgomery. They also lived on the south side of Brownsville Road across from where Baptist and Magdalena McFarlane lived before they moved to Jefferson Township. Sarah was probably the nice of Magdalena (Montgomery) McFarlane who raised her, and the 1840 Census lists her as living with her children near the Stewart and McGibbney families further out Brownsville Road.


The 1850 census was the first one that provided details on each family member. Prior censuses only gave general categories of age and no names except for the head of household. This census lists Isabella as the wife of James and gives her age as 48. This would place her birthday in about 1802 and make her about 13 years old in 1815, the year James probably married Elizabeth. The 1850 census also lists the age of James as 65 years old, which means he was born in 1786, and he appears to have been born in the middle of the year based on the dates the censuses were taken. Isabella probably was born after August in 1802. It also gives the ages of Richard (22 years) and James (17 years) and their professions as bricklayers.


While there are no children of record for James and Isabella, Isabella did have two sons from her previous marriage to Joseph McGibbney, James and Joseph. Her husband appears to have died in the mid-1830s a number of years before she married James. She is listed in a deed dated 7 February 1838 as buying property from her brother William Stewart as McGibbney; so her husband would have not been alive then. Isabella and her children lived in their family home until the boys probably reached 21 years of age when they would have been on their own. There is no record of them living with Isabella and James Phillips. James would have been 21 years old in about 1846, and Joseph would have attained 21 years of age in about 1847. This means that Isabella married James in about 1849 just before the 1850 Census.


During the 1850s there is not much information on James and Isabella except for what can be extracted from the history surrounding John, his son, and some references to a Phillips being involved with James E. Brown of Kittanning in warehousing iron and nail products. There is no positive information to indicate that James is this Phillips, but the venture, Brown, Phillips & Co., began in about 1847 and extended to 1855 when Floyd bought out the Phillips interests. James would have been 69 years old at then. There are no direct references to the business of James, but this is not unusual for a family business located outside of Pittsburgh. However, by the late-1840s James would have had to have an outlet for his products in Pittsburgh if he was to sustain his business. Brown of Kittanning Iron also would have been faced with the same situation, and so it would make sense for these two to join in the iron and nail warehousing. Brown, Phillips & Co. also had a warehouse in Emlenton, Venango County further north on the Allegheny River. The Brown, Phillips & Co. warehouse in Pittsburgh was located at 99 Water Street where most business warehouses were located. When it became Brown, Floyd & Co. it moved to a new building at 108 Water Street. The 99 Water Street address then became a multi-tenant building. Both Brown and Floyd are listed in the related business directories, but there is no reference to the Phillips partner. Another person associated with Kittanning Iron was David B. Oliver before he joined the Lewis, Oliver & Phillips Co. partnership. This partnership had its warehouse and offices in 1865 nearby at 91/92 Water Street. However, it should be kept in mind that there is no positive association of Brown, Phillips & Co. with James Phillips.


In the summer of 1866 (before October) John Phillips appears to have moved in with his father to care for him. James (1) died on 27 November 1866 instate which suggests that he may have suddenly become ill and have not been able to make a will. However, from the court transactions it is possible to determine the family of James (1). His daughters were Sarah, who married George White, and Susannah, who married Robert Lafferty. Robert died in 1868 from burns in a fire at his business. The Lafferty family was one of the old families of Pittsburgh. The third daughter was Jane, who married Montgomery Stitt. He was the son of Robert and Isabella (Mcfarlane) Stitt, who lived in the Pittsburgh area. Robert was listed in the 1815 Business Directory as a carpenter on Wood Street, and Isabella was the sister of Elizabeth (See the McFarlane family below.). Besides John Phillips, who filled the papers, the other sons named were James, George and Richard E. The first John M. Phillips was not included in the list.


As noted above, two of these sons left home after Elizabeth died. George left at the age of 19 in 1838 and was never heard of again. Richard E. stayed on at least into the 1850s and was married before he went to the far West. He was last heard from in 1863. He left behind a son, but his wife may have died before he left. The son was John, and his uncle John appears to have given him a job with Lewis, Oliver and Phillips. John, Richard and James (2) trained as bricklayers, and John went into the brick construction business with his brother James. John left the business to take over the business of his father and then to establish the Oliver, Lewis and Phillips Company. James went on to become a known builder in the Pittsburgh area.


The court transactions show that the death paper of James (1) was signed by Jn [John] Phillips (his son) and Robert Lafferty (his son-in-law). The property was divided into three portions by court action on 31 August 1867; however, the heirs could not decide on the disposition of the homestead. The Orphan’s Court then directed the Sheriff to review the property. He reported that it could not be divided, and the court ordered on 31 Aug 1867 for him to sell it in Public Auction. Susannah (Phillips) Lafferty bought the real estate for $12,507 on 28 September 1867, and John Phillips and Robert Lafferty transferred the property to her on 1 November 1867. The heirs were then paid in cash. After her husband, Robert Lafferty, died tragically in a fire in 4 August 1868, Susannah sold the property on 1 October 1869 in three parcels according to the court plan to Thomas Coffin, John C. Klein and George Baker. She reserved the coal for herself. The parcel that John Klein bought had the family home and business located on it.


The McFarlane Family (Montgomery and Stewart Families) [James (1) Phillips]

(It should be noted that the McFarlane name is found with different spellings. The most common is McFarland, but the family of Elizabeth was spelled McFarlane.)


The tie between James (1) Phillips and the McFarlane, Montgomery and Stewart families is through both his wives, Elizabeth McFarlane and Isabella McGibbney (Stewart). The McFarlane and Stewart families between 1792 and 1800 lived in close proximity to each other along Brownsville Road near where it crosses Route 51 in the Brentwood – Whitehall area. The wives of both Baptist McFarlane and John Stewart appear to be related, and they each had a brother named William Montgomery. The brother of Sarah was a “well known person” in Pittsburgh and a “good friend” of John Stewart. All that is known about the other William is that he is referred to by Magdalena as her “brother” and by Baptist as his “brother-in-law.” It is not clear as to the relationship of these “brothers” to Sarah and Magdalena because of the age difference, but there was some type of relationship. Both of these women and Baptist McFarlane came to America from Ireland. William and his brother, Robert, also appear to have been born in Ireland and came as children with Baptist McFarlane and his wife.


The McFarlane and Montgomery Families

Elizabeth McFarlane, the wife of James Phillips, is the daughter of Baptist McFarlane and Magdalena Montgomery. The history of Baptist McFarland is known through the tax records, census data, his will, the will of Magdalena, and some property records. There is almost nothing on Magdalena except that she had a brother named William Montgomery, and according to the Phillips family information she was related to the Montgomery family that settled “Montgomery Hill” on the north side of Allegheny City before 1800. However, this does not fit the data since Montgomery Hill was settled by a William Montgomery in the mid-1800s. He is most likely related to Magdalena, but a later generation because of his age. It also can be determined that Baptist was educated since he could write his name and appears to have had money based on his property transactions. Baptist and Magdalena probably were born in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, but were in the Pittsburgh area (Allegheny County) well before 1800.


The first information of the family of Baptist and Magdalena comes from the 1786 tax records of Nottingham Township in Washington County, PA. It is estimated that they were married in about 1784, based of the age of Isabella who was born on 9 Jun 1785 and appears to be their oldest child. According to the Bible of her husband’s family (the Stitts) Isabella (also spelled Issabella) was born east of the Allegheny Mountains. This means that Baptist and Magdalena came directly to Washington County after the birth of Isabella. They could have come directly from Ireland if Isabella was born there or from the Philadelphia – Chester area if Isabella was born in the United States. They were most likely married in Ireland and came to the United States in 1875. If Baptist married when he was about 25 years old, his birth year would be 1759, and if Magdalena married when she was 20 years old, her birth year would be 1764. While there are a number of McFarlane, McFarland and Montgomery families living in the Washington and Allegheny area, none of them can be tied directly to Baptist or Magdalena. The only exceptions may be Andrew and James McFarlane, who could be cousins. They were brothers and had other brothers and sisters living in the area when Baptist arrived. One brother was Hugh McFarlane who was a good friend of the Penn family (see the Appendix for more information).


At least some of this other McFarlane family of Scotch descent came to Philadelphia in 1764 (there is another reference to 1758) from County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. It is recorded that Andrew moved shortly thereafter to the Pittsburgh area where he was a justice of the peace appointed by Governor William Penn. This probably was arranged by his brother Hugh. Andrew would have arrived in the Pittsburgh area most likely in 1768 when the frontier was opened. Andrew had property surveyed near Elrama (Washington County) on 16 February 1769. Its location sits on the present boarder of Allegheny and Washington Counties. James appears to have come with him, since James applied for a survey for a land warrant on 25 May 1770 in Scott Township of Allegheny County, which is to the southwest of Pittsburgh in the Dormont area. He patented the claim on 27 Nov 1788 and named it “Black Oak Hill”. James would have been about 19 years old in 1770. Andrew also took the lot to the east of “Black Oak Hill” in 1788. (See the Appendix for more information on this McFarlane family.)


Baptist and Magdalena in their wills and deeds identified only a few of their family members, which makes it difficult to identify their total family or their family origins. However, the available information allows some understanding of the history of this family. When Baptist arrived in Nottingham Township, one of the primary land holders there was Andrew McFarlane, and Baptist may have leased his land from him. Since Andrew had arrived in America by 1764, he could have kept his relatives in Ireland informed as to his location. It is interesting to note that Baptist went to a location where there was another McFarlane, which was not a common spelling of that name. By the 1790 census Baptist had moved to Fallowfield Township. Since he was not listed in the Fallowfield tax records for 1789, the move was late that year or early in 1790. The 1790 census shows that two of his neighbors were Thomas Cloud and John Hull. They were located between Pigeon Creek and Charleroi. The 1791 tax records also confirm Baptist was living in Fallowfield Township. The 1790 census also shows Baptist had two male children and three other females living with him and his wife, Magdalena Montgomery. However, no records have been found regarding the purchase or sale of any property in Washington County, but there were for James McFarlane. When he was killed in 1794 the property was then sold by his estate in 1796, but Baptist had left the area by 1792 which was before James McFarlane bought the land on Pigeon Creek from Thomas Parkinson.


The 1790 census and the next one (1810) where Baptist is listed do not show a reasonable pattern between them for his children, which have been hard to identify. (While Baptist does not appear in the 1800 census, he is listed as a farmer in an 1800 state document as living in St. Clair Township.) Besides two daughters, Isabella and Elizabeth, it is known that Baptist and Magdalena had a son, John, and the “brother” William Montgomery also had a brother, Robert, who is referred to in a Butler County deed. The two males in the 1790 census are clearly not the same two in the 1810 census since the 1810 males were born after the 1790 census. The two 1790 males could be apprentices to Baptist, but more likely they were Robert and William Montgomery. They would not have been listed in the 1810 census since they were on their own by 1807. These two brothers may have been twins since their birth date seems to be the same, about 1785. They most likely are nephews of Magdalena because of the age difference; however, she could have been a step-sister with a different mother. Their parents may have died, and Baptist and Magdalena became their guardians. At least William was well educated – he could write his name and he had a profession, blacksmith. In addition to William and Robert, there was Sarah who was mentioned as the sister of William. The parents of Sarah (b: est. 1770) also have not been identified, and it is very likely she is one of the three females listed in the 1790 census of Baptist and Magdalena. From the fragments of the available data, it appears that Baptist and Magdalena were married in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland and came to the United States in about 1785 after Isabella, their first child, was born. They also brought with them the three Montgomery siblings – Sarah, William and Robert. These three also were most likely born in County Tyrone – both Robert and Sarah were born there. Since Robert and William appear to have been twins, William also would have been born in Ireland. Robert went to Butler County probably in 1809 where William helped him buy a farm in 1819/1820. He married a Donety or Dorothy there, and they had four boys and three girls. William died in 1832, and Robert died in 1836. Sarah married John Stewart in 1795 who she probably met after moving to St. Clair with Baptist and Magdalena.


The other two females in the 1790 census are probably Isabella (b: 9 Jun 1785) and Jane (b: est. early 1790) who are daughters of Baptist and Magdalena. The 1810 census lists Baptist in Mifflin (now Jefferson) Township of Allegheny County with one male under 10, one male between 10 and 16, one male over 45, two females between 16 and 26, and one female between 26 and 45. The older female is Magdalena, and one of the 16 to 26 year old females is Elizabeth who was born after 1790 (1791 – 1794) and married James Phillips in about 1815. The other 16 to 26 year old female was the one born in early 1790 and is Jane McFarlane who was a merchant in Pittsburgh in 1815 – she would have been about 26 years old at that time. The male between 16 and 26 is their son, John (b: est. 1796), to whom they gave their last home with the provision he would take care of Magdalena if Baptist died before her. It appears that John never did. The male under 10 years was probably a second son, but there is no mention of him. He, along with two females, appears in the 1820 census. One of the females is probably the daughter (b: est. early 1790) who now would be about 31 years old. The younger female (10 to 16 years) could be another daughter or more likely a servant. Baptist also was listed in the 1820 census as still living in Mifflin Township. Both he and Magdalena had died by 1829 before the 1830 census.


After the 1791 there are no more tax reports of Baptist in Fallowfield, so he and his family most likely had moved to the Baldwin (Brentwood) area of Allegheny County in 1792. He is listed there in the 1794 and 1798 St. Clair tax rolls. There are newspaper notices that Baptist had mail in the Pittsburgh Post Office which would suggest that he was in Allegheny County and support the market in Pittsburgh. One was on 13 Jun 1796 (a letter in care of John Irwin, store keeper, on Fourth Street between Wood and Market Streets near the McFarlane market); and the other, on 1 Jan 1797. His presence in Baldwin Township also is based on the lawsuit that he filed against William Stewart. Based on the 1798 St. Clair tax rolls Baptist had 620 acres, and it appears that he acquired it before 1795. It seems that the land Baptist acquired was not properly registered or he was sold land on a Virginia Certificate that was no longer recognized. This land most likely was located between Brownsville Road and Route 51 on land that was later claimed by William Stewart and William and Joshua Long. The first problem occurred with William Stewart who Baptist sued in 1795. However, William appears to have won the suit because he was awarded the patent a year later on 9 August 1796. It was called “Old Soldiers Retreat.” Then the next problem occurs on 10 February 1798 when Baptist sues William Long. It was first delayed until March and then to the June 1798 court session. Baptist also lost this land because William Long received one of his warrants on 15 January 1799 and has patents on both properties by 28 February 1809.


After Baptist lost to William Stewart, he did buy 130 acres from him on 1 November 1800. On 15 May 1802 George McCombs purchased about 27 acres from Baptist, which was part of the 130 acres that Baptist had bought from William Stewart in 1800. On 2 Mar 1807 Baptist sold the rest of the land (103 acres, 153 perches) to Noble Calhoon, and on the same day Baptist and Magdalena also bought 87 acres from Noble Calhoon and his wife Sarah. It was located near Peter’s Creek in Mifflin Township. Mifflin Township later on was divided, and the part in which Baptist lived became Jefferson Township. It appears that after loosing his land Baptist decided to retire from the farming business. The two Montgomery boys were 21 years old by 1806 and had left. William had a business in Pittsburgh by 1807. However, since there is the listing for the market in 1815 operated by Jane McFarlane, Baptist or his daughter may have remained in the produce market business.


It is not clear why Baptist and others are not listed in the 1800 Census except that the census taker may not have had them on the rolls due to the land problems. However, the 1810 census shows that he had moved to Mifflin Township of Allegheny County with his family. A reference states that he was one of the settlers there before 1830, but does not list any sons living with him. His sons would have been on their own by 1830, and one of them, John McFarlane(d), was living in Jefferson County, Virginia in 1817. This county is now in West Virginia. On 16 Apr 1807, their daughter Isabella was married to Robert Stitt, who at that time lived in Pittsburgh and was a carpenter listed in the 1815 Business Directory. They had seven children – Magdalena, William, Robert, Montgomery, George, Joseph and Isabella. Montgomery married Jane Phillips (daughter of James (1) Phillips), and Magdalena was named in the will of her grandmother, Magdalena MsFarlane. The Stitt family appears to have moved to St. Clair Township before moving to Vernon in Crawford County, Ohio probably after the death of Magdalena (Montgomery) McFarlane in 1829. Based on the 1840 census, Robert had died and Isabella was left to raise the family. The 1850 Census only listed a George Stitt living by himself in Crawford. Sometime around 1866 Montgomery and Jane moved their family to Cherry Valley in Ashtabula County, Ohio taking the Stitt family Bible with them. This move probably was after his mother died.


The 1810 Census shows for Baptist only the younger son and the two daughters. It was just after Baptist sold his St. Clair property on 2 March 1807 and moved to Mifflin (Jefferson) Township that Isabella married Robert Stitt the next month on 16 April 1807. The two daughters in the 1810 Census are Elizabeth who married James Phillips in about 1815 and Jane McFarlane who was the merchant located on the east side of market street between the Diamond and Fifth Street in the 1815 Business Directory, as discussed above. Jane was identified by some of her descendants as being the daughter of Baptist and Magdalena. The move to Mifflin Township was probably due to Baptist and Magdalena looking to retire to a smaller place; however, the move also may have been due to a strained relationship caused by the lawsuits. It is reported that William Stewart in about 1800 sold his property and left the area. His wife, Phebe, had died a few years before. The Mifflin property also is a few miles from where Andrew McFarlane and his wife lived in Elrama.


On 9 Jun 1817, Baptist transferred this Mifflin property to his son John for $1.00, about two years after Elizabeth married James Phillips. Baptist in this transfer stated that he and his wife could live there for the rest of their lives. Baptist paid John $1.00 per year rent with the additional provision that John would take care of Magdalena if she outlived Baptist. John at this time was living in Jefferson County, Virginia which is just south of Pennsylvania and now in West Virginia. It appears that John never followed through with the care of Magdalena. The 1820 census showed Baptist and Magdalena still living in Mifflin Township with only the 17 year old son and 31 year old, (Jane), at home. There also was a younger girl (10 – 16 yrs) who probably was a servant, since Baptist states in his will that he had three daughters.


Baptist remained in the property business because on 9 Aug 1808 he bought 75 acres of property near Streets Run and Glass Run Roads from Robert Thompson for $500.00. He then sold it on 12 Aug 1808 to Thomas Spencer for $600.00. Baptist probably saw a good way to make some quick money. These 75 acres were part of an original patent that William McLaughlin warranted on 19 October 1785 and named “the Heights.” William McLaughlin then patented the original tract of 365 acres to Robert Thompson on 23 February 1799. The exact portion of this original tract that Baptist bought has not been identified.


Both Baptist and Magdalena made their wills a month or two before they died when they were quite ill. Baptist appears to have only focused on that part of the family that was close to him. Besides his wife he mentions he has three daughters, but only names one other person in his will that was dated 10 Oct 1828. This person was his granddaughter, Sarah Phillips, who was the oldest of the Phillips children. He also named his “brother-in-law” William Montgomery to be his executor. Since his will was witnessed by two of his neighbors in Mifflin, he probably was still at his home then. His daughter Elizabeth and granddaughter Sarah Phillips may have been at his home caring for him before he was moved to their home in Pittsburgh.


Magdalena named her daughter Isabella and granddaughter Magdalena in her will dated 20 Mar 1829. She named her “brother” William Montgomery to be her executor, but only Doctor William Church, Jr. who attended Magdalena’s death witnessed her will and filed the death papers. It is not clear why neither Baptist nor Magdalena said anything in their wills about their sons or the daughter, Jane. However, when Baptist got sick all of these children may have already left home. John was in Virginia, and it appears that Jane was married and living in Ohio by the mid-1820s. The younger son also probably was not around. It may explain why Baptist and Magdalena died at the homes of their nearby children.


It is unclear how William Montgomery (and his brother, Robert) are related as a “brother” to Magdalena. While it is clear that he is the one who was the “well known” Pittsburgher and owner of “Montgomery Hill” the ages of Magdalena, Sarah and William span at least twenty years. It is reasonably certain that Sarah, William and Robert were all born in Ireland and that Baptist and Magdalena raised them. Magdalena may have been an aunt to them or a step-sister with a different mother, but it is hard to see her as a brother to William with twenty years difference in ages.


Baptist signed all his deeds, but appears to have been too ill to write his will or sign it. He stated in it that he lived in Pittsburgh (instead of Mifflin). His son-in-law, James Phillips, was still living in Pittsburgh at that time, and this probably is where Baptist died. It also could explain why the daughter of James and Elizabeth is mentioned in the will of Baptist. Magdalena apparently did not read or write, since she signed documents with a mark. She also appears to have dictated her will and signed it with her mark. She stated in her will that she lived in St. Clair Township (instead of Mifflin). By this time James Phillips had moved to St. Clair; however, she mentions her daughter Isabella Stitt and her granddaughter Magdalena Stitt in her will. She could have been with her daughter at the time of her death since Isabella and her husband, Robert, lived in the Pittsburgh (probably St. Clair) area then. Shortly before the death of Baptist, he and his wife still had their home in Mifflin Township. It appears that when Baptist became ill and was taken to the home of James and Elizabeth Phillips, his wife Magdalena in 1828 moved to the home of their daughter, Isabella. Since their son John had left the area for Virginia about 1818 and broke his agreement to care for Magdalena, the family home probably was sold because there is no record in the 1830 census of the Baptist McFarlane family. Baptist and Magdalena most likely are buried at Lobb’s Cemetery between their property and that of Andrew McFarlane. Andrew and his wife, Margaret, also are buried there. She died in 1814 and Andrew in 1829.


Both Baptist and Magdalena used her brother, “William Montgomery” as executor for their estates. This was the William Montgomery that was the blacksmith in Pittsburgh, who at the time of their deaths was living on Montgomery Hill. When Baptist died his will was certified by his witnesses and William Montgomery was sworn in as executor, but a year later in 1829, the will of Magdalena was only certified by a Dr. Church who was the only witness to her will and William Montgomery was never mentioned. Dr. Church was an important doctor in Pittsburgh and probably would have attended Magdalena somewhere in the Pittsburgh area, like the home of her daughter Isabella Stitt. A few years after the death of Magdalena, William Montgomery committed suicide in 1832.


The family of Baptist (Baptiste) McFarlane(d) is:

1. Unk McFarlane (est. 1730 - ?) Unknown


2. Baptist McFarlane (by 1759 – bef. 3 Nov 1828) prob. County Tyrone, N. Ireland – Allegheny County, PA

+ Magdalena Montgomery (by 1764 – bef. 13 May 1829) County Tyrone, N. Ireland – Allegheny County, PA (m: est. 1784 prob Ireland)

[Also raised Sarah (b: est. 1770), William (b: abt. 1785) and Robert (b: est. 1785) Montgomery beginning before 1790.] [Magdalena could have been a step-sister – different mothers]


3. Isabella McFarlane (7 Jun 1785 - 9 Oct 1850) east of the Allegheny Mountains, PA (Ireland?) – Vernon (Meadville) , Crawford, PA

+ Robert Stitt (1767 – 16 Feb 1834) Tyrone County, Ireland – Vernon (Meadville), Crawford, PA (m: 16 Apr 1807 – near Pittsburgh)

4. Magdalena Stitt (28 Feb 1808 – ?) Allegheny County – unk

4. William Stitt (25 Apr 1816 - 30 May 1895) Allegheny County – Meadville, PA

4. Robert Stitt (abt. 1817 – 22 Feb 1879) Allegheny County – Crawford, PA

4. George Stitt (26 Feb 1824 – aft. 1895) Allegheny County – Meadville, PA

4. Montgomery Stitt (26 Feb 1824 – aft. 1880) Allegheny County – Cherry Valley Ashtabula, OH

+ Jane Phillips (1824 – aft. 1880) Allegheny - Cherry Valley Ashtabula, OH (m: 11 Feb 1847 in Pittsburgh, PA)

4. Joseph Stitt (10 Dec 1829 – 17 Mar 1897) Meadville, Pennsylvania.

4. Isabella Stitt (? - ?)


3. Jane McFarlane (early 1790 – 1870) est. Washington County, PA - West Prairie, Linn Co., Iowa [This is Jane, the 1815 merchant in Pittsburgh. She remained at home at least through the 1820 census.]

+ David Saxton (1784 – 1838) PA – West Prairie, Linn Co., Iowa  (m: est 1825)


3. Elizabeth McFarlane (est. 1791[94] – est. 1835) est. Washington County, PA - Allegheny County, PA

+ James Phillips (abt. 1786 – 27 Nov 1866) Ireland – Baldwin, Allegheny, PA (m: est. 1815 in Allegheny County, PA)

4. John McFarlane Phillips (1816 – aft 1870) Pittsburgh - ?

4. Sarah Phillips (est. 1817 - ?) Pittsburgh [married George White]

4. Susannah Phillips (abt. 1818 – 1 Sep 1880) Pittsburgh [married Robert Lafferty]

4. George Phillips (est. 1820 - ?) Pittsburgh [left home in 1838]

4. John Phillips (30 Jan 1822 – 29 Jan 1907) Pittsburgh - Baldwin [married Eliza Rossiter]

4. Jane Philips (abt. 1824 - ?) Pittsburgh [married Montgomery Stitt – see above]

4. (son) [Frank?] Phillips (est. 1825 – bef. 1840) Pittsburgh – Baldwin, PA

4. Richard E. Phillips (est. 1828 – bef 1840) Pittsburgh [went West]

4. (son) Phillips (est. 1830 – bef 1840) Pittsburgh or Baldwin

4. James (2) Phillips (1834 – 1 Aug 1882) Baldwin - Pittsburgh [a bricklayer] [see Phillips Family]


3. John McFarlane (est 1795 - ?) est Allegheny County, PA [left the area before 1816 for Jefferson County, VA (now WV)]


3. (son 2) McFarlane (est. 1803 - ?) est. Allegheny County, PA [left the area before 1830]



The Stewart and Montgomery Families

John Stewart (abt. 1725 – bef. 27 Sep 1795) was an early pioneer in western Pennsylvania and owned 700 acres of land in what was then Washington County. On 24 September 1788 it became part of Allegheny County. This land was in St. Clair Township, now Baldwin Township, southeast of Pittsburgh divided by Brownsville Road. His wife, Mary UNK, died before 17 Sep 1796 in Dickenson Township, Pennsylvania, which was the original name of the area where his property was located. John evidently was a pioneer in western Pennsylvania. He died intestate, and Robert, his eldest son, petitioned the Orphans' Court to appoint an inquest to appraise the land for the purpose of dividing or selling it. On 25 September 1795 an inquest of 12 men was held at the home of Robert Stewart in St. Clair Township, and they found that the land could not be divided without prejudice or spoiling, and set a value of 12 shillings 6 pence per acre on it.


John and Mary also had a son named John who married Sarah Montgomery in (est.) 1795. John (and Sarah) lived on a tract of land that was adjacent to that owned by his brother, William Stewart. These two sections of property appear to equal the original 700 acres owned by their father. John owned this property in trust for the heirs of Robert, his bother. John Stewart was older than Sarah Montgomery, who is described as an “Irish Woman” who had a well-known brother, William Montgomery. In 1825 John Stewart listed his wife, Sarah Stewart, and his beloved friends William Montgomery and Robert Nevens as executors of his will. John died in 1825 and the terms of his will were never carried out until many years later. However, on 31 Aug 1825 after his death his sons, George and Robert, testified to his will and on 3 Sep 1825 Letters of Testamentary were granted to Sarah Stewart, William Montgomery and Robert Nevens the executors. In April 1826 these three filled their account to the court with a supplement on 29 Nov 1829. By 28 Jan 1830 Robert Nevin (Nevens) asked to be discharged from his trust. There was a comment that this also may have included both Sarah Stewart and William Montgomery.


This William Montgomery was the blacksmith and well known person that lived in Pittsburgh until he moved to Ross Township after 1822 (see below) and established Montgomery Hill, also known as Montgomery Farm. This ties him to the family of Magdalena, and he was the brother of Sarah and the executor of the estate of her husband, as discussed above. He committed suicide in 1832, which was two years after the last noted court action (28 Jan 1830) regarding the estate of John Stewart. He may have been very ill and not able to carry out the actions in the will of John Stewart.


John and Sarah had 11 children, and one of their daughters was Isabella who married Joseph McGibbney before 1825. After he died (before 1830), she lived with her sons until they were of age and then married James Phillips in about 1849 (see above). She and Joseph McGibbney had two sons, James (b: abt. 1825) and Joseph (b: abt. 1826).


The family of John Stewart is estimated as follows:

1. John Stewart (abt. 1725 – bef. 27 Sep 1795) No. Ireland – Dickenson Township (Baldwin, Allegheny) PA.

+ Mary UNK (? – bef. 17 Sep 1796) ? - Dickenson Township (Baldwin, Allegheny) PA.


2. Robert Stewart (abt. 1750 – 24 Nov 1824) No. Ireland – Baldwin Township, PA

2. William Stewart (abt. 1754 - ?) Ireland - ?

2. John Stewart (bef. 1755 – 25 Sep 1825) No. Ireland – Baldwin Township, PA

+ Sarah Montgomery (abt. 1770 – 26 May 1856) County Tyrone, No. Ireland - Baldwin Township, PA (m: est. 1795)


3. Robert Stewart (1795 – aft. 1860) Baldwin Township

3. Robert Stewart (1795 – aft. 1860) Baldwin Township

3. James Stewart (1797 – 5 Nov 1871) Baldwin Township

3. John Stewart (bef 1800 – bef 1856) Baldwin Township

3. William Stewart (1812 – 30 Apr 1875) Baldwin Township

3. Samuel M. Stewart (1815 – 28 Jun 1892) Baldwin Township

3. Isabella Stewart (1802 – 21 Jun 1882) Baldwin Township

3. Catherine Stewart (1804 – 1 May 1880) (Chartiers Township?)

3. Sarah Stewart (1808 – 21 Jan 1863) Baldwin Township

3. Jane Stewart (1810 – abt 1875) Baldwin Township

3. Elizabeth Stewart (1815 – ?) Baldwin Township - Americus, Grand Forks, ND

3. Mary Stewart (? – ?) Baldwin Township


The Montgomery Family

Both the wives of James (1) Phillips had mothers who were named Montgomery and who appeared to be related. They both had a brother that was a William Montgomery, and it was noted that the brother of Sarah was a well-known person in Pittsburgh. It is also known from the Phillips family material that the mother of Elizabeth McFarlane, the daughter of Baptist McFarlane, was related to the Montgomery family that settled “Montgomery Hill” before 1800. They all appeared to have been born in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.


The search for a William Montgomery among the many that are listed in the Pittsburgh area that was “well known” points to the one that was the blacksmith listed in the 1815 Pittsburgh Business Directory as working and living near Grant and Second Streets. The search for “Montgomery Hill” also was rewarding. There is the reference to it on the maps, but the maps and the related deeds do not show any Montgomery families there until after 1821. The property for Montgomery Hill/Farm was bought beginning in 1821 and not earlier as the family information suggests. Montgomery Hill is located on the old northern boarder of Allegheny City (the North Side) with Ross Township near where the WIIC TV tower is presently located. The old Allegheny Observatory was built on part of the Montgomery Hill Farm.


While the Montgomery family members were in the Pittsburgh before 1800, they were in the Baldwin area and not on Montgomery Hill. William, the blacksmith, was involved in many land deals between 1808 and 1829. He also was involved in banking. William appeared to have been sick for several years before he committed suicide on 2 Aug 1832 at the age of 74 years. He died intestate and left his wife, Sarah, and four children a sizeable estate that was divided between them in 1834. However, two of his children died shortly after this, and the estate had to be reapportioned on 15 Dec 1836 between his wife and sons, William and Samuel.


There was a piece of property in Butler County, PA that William had arranged to buy for his brother Robert in 1819. William actually bought the land in 1820, and Robert only paid the interest on it until he died. His heirs paid Sarah, the wife of William, the $300.00 that was owed on the lot, and the heirs of Robert received clear title to it. The daughter of William, the son of William, and her husband, Matthew Ferguson, gave part of Montgomery Farm to the Allegheny Observatory for a place to build their first building. It was later relocated to Riverview Park. Much of this area in 1872 is listed as being owned by Ferguson, who was Matthew and his wife, Sarah. William, the blacksmith, is buried in the Allegheny Cemetery along with other family members, but his grave was originally at another location, possibly Montgomery Hill until 1 May 1860 when he was moved.


The William, who was the son of William, the blacksmith, married Rachael Arthurs, and his daughter, Sarah, married a Matthew Ferguson. This son of the blacksmith, William, Jr., also died intestate in March 1839, and based on court documents his wife’s name was Rachael Arthurs. She was made guardian of their daughter Sarah Jane and remarried in early 1844. A second guardian, George Arthurs, had to be appointed in December 1844 when Rachael died in childbirth and Sarah was still under 14 years of age.


This information does not provide any insight into the parents of Magdalena, Sarah and William, the blacksmith, who founded the farm, but it does verify that this Montgomery family did live in the Allegheny City area (or actually Ross Township then). Since it appeared that Magdalena, Sarah and the William, who settled “Montgomery Hill,” lived in the Pittsburgh area, a search for their parents was made. There are a number of families that had a William Montgomery, but none of them can be directly tied to Magdalena, Sarah, Robert or William, the blacksmith. It appears that they all came from Ireland with Baptist McFarlane in 1785. At this point it is best not to speculate on the parents of these four except to indicate that the only reasonable relationship is that William is the brother of Sarah even though there is about a 10 year difference in their ages. Magdalena is probably too old to be a sibling of theirs, but she could be a step-sister with a different mother. She and Baptist most likely raised Sarah and William and Robert along with their own children and were responsible for bringing them from Ireland in 1785.


The following is the estimated structure of the Montgomery family:

1. Unk (1) Montgomery (est. 1730 – est. 1792)

+ Unk UNK


2. Unk (2) Montgomery (est. 1754 – est. 1829) [probably died in Ireland before Magdalena came to the US]

+ UNK (m: est. 1774) (est. 1770 – aft 1829) [probably died in Ireland before Magdalena came to the US]


3. Sarah Montgomery (abt. 1775 – 26 May 1856) County Tyrone, N. Ireland - Baldwin Township, PA

+ John Stewart (bef. 1755 – 25 Sep 1825) Northern Ireland – Baldwin Township, PA (m: est. 1795)

[Isabella Stewart (McGibbney) who married James Phillips was their daughter.]


3. William Montgomery (abt. 1785 – 2 Aug 1832 [suicide]) est. County Tyrone, N. Ireland [blacksmith] [moved in 1807 to Pittsburgh and then in 1822 to Allegheny – Montgomery Hill/Farm]

+ Sarah UNK (est. 1787 – 21 Dec 1842) (m: est.1808)


4. William Montgomery (est. 1810 – 25 May 1837)

+ Rachael Arthurs (m: est. 1835) (est. 1815 – Dec 1844)

[She married George S. Hays in early 1844 and died Dec 1844 in child birth.]

5. Sarah Montgomery (est. 1836 – 16 Feb 1901) [only child and ward of the Arthurs family]

+ Mathew Ferguson (est. 1836 – 20 Jun 1910) (m: est. 1856) [donated property in 1860]


4. Robert Montgomery (est. 1811 - 28 Oct 1834) died young

4. Jane Montgomery (est. 1815 – 26 Jun 1835) died young

4. Samuel Montgomery (est. 1820 – 25 Nov 1844)

+ Maria UNK (est. 1820 – 9 Jan 1863) (m: est. 1840)

[She appears to have latter married a Mr. Smith and died in childbirth.]

5. Jane Montgomery (est. 1841 – 17 Mar 1845)

[under 14 yrs in 1844 and ward of Edward Arthurs]


3. Robert Montgomery (est. 1785 – by 18 Jan 1836) est. County Tyrone, N. Ireland [moved about 1820 to Butler County]

+ Donety [Dorothy] UNK (? - ?) (m: est. 1809)


4. George Montgomery (est. 1811 - ?)

4. Samuel Montgomery (? - ?)

4. John Montgomery (abt. 1819 - ?)

4. Robert Montgomery (? – bef. 1836)

4. Isabella Montgomery (? - ?)

4. Sarah Montgomery (? - ?)

4. Elizabeth Montgomery (? – bef. 1836)


2. Magdalena Montgomery (by 1764 – bef. 13 May 1829) County Tyrone, N. Ireland – Allegheny County, PA

+ Baptist McFarlane (by 1759 – bef. 3 Nov 1828) N. Ireland – Allegheny County, PA (m: est. 1784 prob. in County Tyrone, N. Ireland)

[Came to the US about 1785 probably after Sarah, William and Robert Montgomery and their daughter, Isabella, were born.]




Appendix A

The McFarlane Families


The appendix contains information about the McFarlane families and in particular the brothers Andrew and James who are thought to be related to Baptist McFarlane. It also describes the details of the property acquisitions by Baptist McFarlane and James Stewart.


The McFarlane(d) Families in the Pittsburgh Area (circa. 1800)

While most of the following information is taken from reasonably reliable sources, such as Historic Pittsburgh material, and county records, there are a number of cases where estimates are made. The intent of this narrative is to provide a framework for searching for and judging the hard data. Dates that are marked “est.” are estimated from other family dates and are not confirmed.


In evaluating the possible families from which Baptist McFarland could have come the following was used:

1. The various spellings of the McFarland name were not considered since those listed below were found with different spellings in the references. However, the McFarlane version more than the other spellings with Baptist and that also was the spelling used most in the family material. There also are two families below that mostly used that spelling. These are the Andrew and James McFarlane and the Isaiah Graham McFarlane family


2. Isabella McFarlane was born 9 Jun 1785, “east of the Allegheny Mountains” and appears to be the first child of Baptist and Magdalena (Montgomery) McFarlane. This makes their marriage date not later then (est.) 1784. If Baptist was married when he was 25 years old, his birth date would be (est.) 1759, and if Magdalena was married when she was 20 years old, her birth date would be (est.) 1764. Since Isabella was born somewhere “east of the Allegheny Mountains” the marriage would have been there as well. There was little time between the birth of Isabella and when Baptist appeared on the tax roll of Nottingham Township of Washington, PA in 1786. It is known that Magdalena was born in Ireland, but it is only an estimate for Baptist. It also is thought that Isabella was either born in Ireland or on the way over.


3. To complicate matters Baptist and Magdalena had three Montgomery siblings with them at the time of the 1790 census. The two boys, William and Robert, were born about 1785 (the same year as Isabella). The one girl, Sarah, was born in Ireland in 1770 and would have been 15 years old when the boys were born. Magdalena is referred to as the “sister” of William Montgomery several times. Due to the age difference between Magdalena and William she also may have been a step-sister or a close relative. The parents may have been killed in the Irish political battles in that period, and Magdalena and Baptist took the boys and their older sister with them to the United States.


The options for the movement of Baptist and Magdalena are limited:

1. They could have come from Ireland with their daughter, Isabella, and the three Montgomery children in 1785 leaving Ireland right after Isabella was born.

2. They could have been married in Ireland and Isabella was born on the ship or upon arrival in 1785. They brought the Montgomery children with them.

3. The Montgomery family came with Magdalena and Baptist, but the parents died upon arrival in 1785.

4. A search of the records shows no evidence that Baptist and Magdalena lived on the east coast of the United States before moving to western Pennsylvania. They appear to have come directly from the arrival point to Nottingham Township.


The key sets of data required to solve this problem are:

1. Where was Isabella born – Ireland or the US?

2. Where were William and Robert born – Ireland or the US?

3. When did they come to the US?


Summary

It appears that Baptist went directly to Washington County after Isabella was born, which suggests that he or Magdalena knew people in Nottingham Township of Washington County. He was in Nottingham from 1786 to 1789, and then in Fallowfield from 1790 to 1792. After this he moved to Allegheny County. The most likely person that Baptist may have known in Washington County was Andrew McFarlane. While Andrew and his brother came to Philadelphia from Northern Ireland in 1764, they may have been related to Baptist as cousins. Both parties used the McFarlane spelling which is rare in the records; however, their name is frequently found with other spellings.


When Baptist and his family arrived in Nottingham Township in about 1786, it extended into the present area of Allegheny County. The property that Andrew had was on the present boarder of the two counties. Andrew at the time of the arrival of Baptist and his family was at that time living there and operating a ferry service. Baptist in the 1786 Nottingham census did not own any property and most likely would have rented property for a year or two until he could buy land. If he was related to Andrew and James, he probably rented land from Andrew since James at this time did not have any property there. When Allegheny County was created in 1788 Baptist was still in Nottingham Township, but the land of Andrew was on both sides of the boundary. Andrew appears in the Allegheny County listing and so may have lived on the north side of the property while Baptist lived on the south side.


About 1789 Baptist moved south to Fallowfield Township, and probably leased some land near Pigeon Creek. This is where James McFarlane bought a farm and a mill on Pigeon Creek from Thomas Parkinson in 1792 about the year that Baptist left the area for Allegheny County. Baptist lived near to John Hull, and the property of James when sold after his death was noted as being next to land owned by a Hall. It is possible that James bought from Thomas Parkinson was the land that Baptist was leasing.


While this speculation is backed by little solid data, the names and dates do fit; however, there is no record identified to date that associates Baptist with this McFarlane family. A number of McFarlane or McFarland families were checked in the area of Washington and Allegheny Counties. None of them show any positive association with Baptist except for Andrew McFarlane. These families are:

1. Andrew and James McFarlane

2. Abel McFarland (West Bethlehem)

3. Isaiah Graham McFarlane

4. Robert McFarland – Monongahela City (Monongahela City)

5. Robert McFarland – Elizabeth (Elizabeth)

6. Robert McFarland – Pittsburgh (Pitt)

7. Samuel McFarland



1. Andrew and James McFarlane (McFarland) (Mifflin)

(Note: The spelling of the name of this family is mostly found as McFarlane instead of the more common McFarland.)


As noted in the McFarlane Section two brothers of Scotch descent came to Philadelphia in 1764 (there is another reference to 1758) from County Tyrone, Ireland. These were Andrew and James, but the records show the family consisted of other brothers and sisters in the Pittsburgh area. The main source of information of these siblings of Andrew and James comes from an indenture dated 29 Sep 1814 that was related to a land transaction that was part of the estate of James. The heirs of James McFarlane were listed as below:


Andrew McFarlane (wife, Margaret) [she had died by this time]

David McFarlane (no wife listed) [represented by Andrew McFarlane]

Francis McFarlane (wife, Mary McWilliams)

Hugh McFarlane (no wife listed) [his share went to David]

Sarah McFarlane (Andrew Robinson) [their share went to David]

Hannah McFarlane (William Dickson) [represented by Francis McFarlane and James Irwin]

Mary McFarlane (George McWilliams) [their share went to Francis]


It is recorded that Andrew moved shortly after their arrival to the Pittsburgh area probably about 1768 when the frontier was opened. He was a justice of the peace there and appointed by Governor William Penn. Andrew had property surveyed near Elrama (Washington County) on 16 February 1769. Its location sits on the present boarder of Allegheny and Washington Counties. James McFarlane appears to have followed him since there is a reference to him applying for a survey for a land warrant on 25 May 1770 in Scott Township of Allegheny County, which is to the southwest of Pittsburgh between Carnegie and Baldwin. He patented the claim on 27 November 1788 and named it “Black Oak Hill”. James would have been about 19 years old in 1770. Since it was not patented until eighteen years later, it suggests that James may have been delayed in closing the paperwork due to his military service. Andrew acquired the lot to the east of it from Richard Price (“Price’s Nob”) at the time he Patented it on 27 November 1788.


In an Indenture dated 29 Sep 1814 the heirs of James McFarland list themselves as his brothers and sisters. They are Andrew and his wife Margaret, David McFarland, Francis McFarland and his wife Mary McWilliams, and Hannah and her husband William Dixon. It appears to have been a family of five sons and three daughters, but when the rest of them came to the United States in not clear. Baptist, who was alive at the time the indenture was prepared was not included supporting the fact that he was not directly related.


There is not much known about James from 1788 until he was killed in the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794, except that he served in the military forces and was involved in rescuing his brother Andrew. However, Andrew was quite visible. It is recorded that Andrew may have been in Scott Township before 1773. It is said that he never seemed to have resided there for any length of time, but came and went like the Indianans. He always left whenever the Indians came. It is related that McFarlane went to Scott Township and built a cabin on his land. But the Indians attacked him shortly after, and chased him until within range of the guns of Fort Pitt. This race was so celebrated at the time that it has been orally handed down, like “Brady’s Leap” from generation to generation. The cabin was not the primary home of Andrew since he had his home near Elrama.


History shows that both these brothers moved from place to place operating stores and trading posts. Most references place James as a resident of Washington County. Andrew and James also had a trading post near Pittsburgh and Andrew was a justice of the peace in the area until John Connolly acting for Virginia arrested him in April 1774 during the war between Pennsylvania and Virginia. Andrew was sent as a prisoner to Virginia, but returned on 5 May 1774 with a wife, Margaret Lewis, who was the daughter of Col. William Lewis of Virginia fame.


Upon Andrew’s return from Virginia, he and James moved their trading post from Pittsburgh to Kittanning on the Allegheny River. On 14 Feb 1777 Andrew McFarlane was captured by the Indians and taken to Quebec. At that time he and his wife had an infant son [This was most likely his daughter Ann and not his son Andrew]. It appears that she fled to Staunton, VA where her family lived. In the fall of 1780 James, who was a captain in the First Pennsylvania, under General Washington, got his brother, Andrew, released. When Andrew was united with his family in Staunton, they returned to the Pittsburgh area where he operated a store at Chartiers Creek near where he and James had property in Scott Township.


Within a few years (probably 1785) Andrew went back to his home and farm on the Monongahela River near Elrama (Washington County) where he ran a ferry service. This property was surveyed on 16 Feb 1769 and he received the warrant on it on 20 May 1785. He named it “Clogher,” and it was patented on 24 May 1785. The history of his brother, Maj. James McFarlane, from this point until he was killed in the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794 is not clear, but he did buy a farm and a mill on Pigeon Creek from Thomas Parkinson in Washington County. Thomas Parkinson bought it from John Decker in 1777. He was taken to the home of Thomas McFarlane, son of Andrew, after being shot since that was where the leaders of the rebellion were located. It is very possible that Andrew was behind enlisting the aid of his brother James.


The 1790 Census shows an Andrew McFarlin to have 4 sons (16 and under) and 3 daughters and 1 slave. He lived in the part of Allegheny County that was Washington County. Elrama is on the boarder of Allegheny and Washington Counties, and his farm was in both counties. There is no listing for James in 1790, but he could have been off on military duties. The 1800 Census lists an Andrew McFarlane living in Mifflin Township of Allegheny County with two sons under 10 years of age and two between 10 and 16 years of age. It also lists one daughter under 10 years of age, one between 10 and 16 years of age and two between 16 and 26 years of age. This data agrees with his family. In the 1800 census Andrew is listed as over 45 years of age and his wife as between 26 and 45 years of age. This means that he was born before 1755 and she after that. James was killed before the 1800 Census. Since the property of Andrew was in both counties he could have been listed under the Allegheny County while having property in Washington County.


One daughter of Andrew, Anna St. Clair McFarlane, married a Robert McFarlane [different family]. They lived in Monongahela City area. There is some confusion as to the children of Andrew. One reference indicates that his eldest son was Andrew who became one of the pioneer settlers on the Shenango, near the present New Castle, Pa., and his descendants are numerous in Lawrence County. Another reference suggests that Andrew’s first two sons were John and Thomas. It is possible that the records are confused by the space of three years that Andrew was held in Quebec. John, or Uncle Jack, was an Indian trader and had a coal works at Lock 4 (near Charleroi) on the Monongahela River; however, he may have lived in the Chartiers area before following his father to the Monongahela River area. It appears that John never married. Thomas lived near Lock 3 (near Elizabeth) in the house where Maj. James McFarlane died after attack on Nevilles’s house during the Whiskey Rebellion. After James was killed, Andrew, his brother, was among those that went to Pittsburgh to take up the cause with the government there.


There also is a reference to Capt. Thomas McFarlane selling the farm and going to Missouri in 1845 which would have been after his brother John died. He was described as the oldest child of Andrew. Andrew’s son, Robert, may be the one listed in the Canton Township (1800 Census). This is close to the Chartiers Creek area; however, Robert might have been too young for the one listed in the census. There also is a record of an Andrew McFarlane having a tavern near Palmerville (Robinson Township).in the early 1800s and serving as postmaster there. He could have been the son of Andrew born in 1776. In addition there are other references to a Maj. Andrew McFarlane being on the Monongahela River in the summer of 1833, and a Jane McFarlane as a merchant in the center of Pittsburgh in 1815. Maj. Andrew McFarlane is possibly a grandson of Andrew, but Jane is a daughter of Baptist McFarlane.


Andrew and James did have brothers and sisters in the Pittsburgh area. As noted above the main source of information of these siblings of Andrew and James comes from an indenture dated 29 Sep 1814 that was related to a land transaction that was part of the estate of James. In this sale David McFarlane was represented by Andrew and received the shares of Andrew Robinson and Sarah (McFarlane) and Hugh McFarlane. George McWilliams and Mary (McFarlane) gave their share to Francis. William Dickson and Hannah (McFarlane) were represented by Francis McFarland and James Irwin. It appears that from this indenture that David was not well or was incapacitated in some manner since he received shares from Hugh and Sarah McFarlane. Andrew also represented him. The Dicksons also were represented in this and at least one other in 1796 suggesting they were somewhere else or could not travel.


Other property sales related to the estate of James McFarlane that included some of the above names were:


25 Nov 1788 Warrant in Scott Township – “Black Oak Hill”

James McFarlane acquired 3031/2 acres & allowances under Survey Order Number 3363 dated 25 May 1770. It was Patented on 27 November 1788 to him on Warrant to accept dated 25 November 1788 and named “Black Oak Hill.” (P-14-380) At the same time Richard Price also acquired the same exact lot on the east side of the one James McFarland received. The dates were the same; only the Survey Order Number for it was 3131. It was named “Price’s Nob.” (P-14-380) However, the Warrant and Patent were change to transfer the land to Andrew McFarlane using the original dates.


2 Mar 1797 Pittsburgh Post Gazette (also 5 Nov 1796)

Private sale of property of James McFarland(e) of Washington County, PA (deceased). Tract on Pigeon Creek ¾ mi. from mouth at Parkinson Ferry on Monongahela River. 281 acres. Track off Pittsburgh and town lots.

Andrew McFarlane, Andrew Robinson, Hugh McFarlane, Francis McFarlane, George Williams [McWilliams] and (atty for W. Dixon [Dickson]).


4 Apr 1785 Warrant in Patton Township – “Friendship”

James McFarlane bought 377 7/10 acres in Patton Township, Allegheny County. It was warranted on 4 April 1785 and surveyed on 21 June 1785. The property was transferred to David McFarlane et al. by patent on 5 July 1804 after James was killed. It was named “Friendship” and registered as P-54-368.


1 Dec 1788 Patent in Patton Township – “Brotherhood”

Francis and James McFarlane received a patent on 209 ½ acres on 1 December 1788 on a warrant to accept dated 20 November 1788 from Robert Beatty. He had it surveyed on 1 November 1769 on Order No. 3631. Francis and James named it “Brotherhood” and had it registered P-14-386.


It appears that not all of the McFarlane siblings arrived in the United States at the same time. While Hugh McFarlane is noted as a good friend of the Penn family in 1774, Francis does not appear until 1788 when he and James bought the property in Patton Township. Francis also is noted a being appointed as a director of the Presbyterian Seminary in May 1827. There is an Andrew Robinson noted in the Pittsburgh area as early as 14 June 1774 who may be the husband of Sarah McFarlane. He and others were requesting protection by John Penn from the Indians. The other sisters and David cannot be dated and could have come later. It is possible that at least Francis and Baptist McFarlane could have arrived together.


Margaret McFarlane died on 22 Jan 1814 and Andrew died on 7 Nov 1829. It was noted that Andrew had land in St. Clair – “Prices Nob” and “Black Oak Hill” and donated land in Crawford and Mercer Counties per his will. “Black Oak Hill” was the land bought by his brother James in Scott Township of Allegheny County.

 

 

The history of Andrew and James McFarlane is:

1740 Andrew born in County Tyrone, N. Ireland (possibly Scotland).

1751 James born in County Tyrone, N. Ireland (possibly Scotland) (based on his death in 1794 at 49 years of age).

1764 Andrew and James came to Philadelphia.

1768 Andrew and James came to Pittsburgh area and Andrew was justice of the peace. (estimate)

1769 Andrew applied for land near Elrama, Washington County.

1770 James applies for land survey near Chartiers Creek Scott Township, Allegheny County

1774 Andrew arrested by Connolly and sent to Virginia.

1775 Andrew returned with wife Margaret Lewis.

1776 Andrew’s first child (Ann).

1777 Andrew and James have trading post on the Allegheny River at Kittanning.

1777 Andrew captured by Indians and taken to Quebec. He had a wife and young son [daughter].

1777 James a Captain in Washington’s Army (First Pennsylvania)

1780 Andrew returned to Staunton and then to the Pittsburgh area.

1781 Andrew had store on Chartiers Creek.

1783 Andrew had his home and farm on the Monongahela River in Washington County and ran a ferry service.

1785 (4 Apr) James McFarlan(d) bought land in Patton Township, Allegheny County [to David on 5 Jul 1805]

1786 [Baptist McFarlane in Nottingham Township, Washington County, PA near Andrew]

1788 (27 Nov) James and Francis bought land from Robert Beatty in Patton Township, Allegheny County

1788 (27 Nov) James and Andrew received land Patents on lots in Scott Township, Allegheny County

1790 Census – Andrew and Margaret had 4 sons 16 and under and 3 daughters and 1 slave.

1791 (21 Jul ) James McFarlane bought Lot 89 in Allegheny Town

1792 James McFarlane bought a farm and mill on Pigeon Creek from Thomas Parkinson.

1794 (5 Apr) Andrew had an event at his place on the Monongahela River

1794 [5 Apr] James had the same event at his place on Pigeon Creek near Devere’s Ferry.

1794 (25 May) Andrew in Mifflin Township.

1794 (17 Jul) James killed in Whiskey Rebellion

[Note: From the Lot 89 sale James did not have a wife or any heir at that time. He also did not leave a will.]

1794 (1 Aug) Andrew in the march on Pittsburgh after James’ death on Friday

1795 (1 Aug) Andrew on Monongahela River.

1796 (5 Nov) James Pigeon Creek property put up for sale.

1797 (2 Mar) Second announcement of property sale.

1805 (5 Jul) David McFarlan(d) et al. received the land of James in Patton Township named “Friendship”

1814 (22 Jan) Margaret, Andrew’s wife, died.

1814 (29 Sep) Lot 89 was sold to Robert Stewart of Ross Township.

1822 Robert C. McFarland (Rebecca) St. Clair Township deeded land to John McFarland Washington County.

1828 Andrew made will [conveyed part of 1788 property to son, John]

1829 (7 Nov) Andrew died.

1832 John (son of Andrew) deeded the 1788 part to George Kennedy

1843 (before) John died

1843 (Apr) John’s heirs confirmed the deed to George Kennedy



The estimated structure of this McFarlane family is:

1. Unk McFarlane [McFarland) (est. 1755 - ?) Ireland


2. Maj. James McFarlane (1751 – 17 Jul 1794) Tyrone, N. Ire – Pgh [buried at Mingo Church near Finleyville.] [Whiskey Rebellion] [No known family and died intestate.]


2. Andrew McFarlane (1740 – 7 Nov 1829) Tyone, N. Ireland – Jefferson Twp. Washington County area

[Scotch descent]

+ Margaret Lynn Lewis (14 Oct 1755 – 22 Jan 1814) VA – Pgh area (m: 25 May 1774)

[daughter of William Lewis of VA fame. – Col William Lewis and Anne Montgomery] [1800 – 58/55]

3. Ann St. Clair McFarlane (17 Apr 1776 – May 1848) [Robert McFarlane - Monongahela City below]

3. James McFarlane (29 Dec 1778 - ?)

3. Lewis McFarlane (28 Jun 1781 - ?) [wife – Ann] Allegheny County

3. Hannah McFarlane (4 Jun 1783 - ?) [husband – Unk McClure] Allegheny County

3. Mary McFarlane (9 Jul 1785 - ?)

3. Andrew McFarlane (9 Oct 1787 [est. 1776] - ?)

3. John McFarlane (19 Feb 1790 [est. 1781] - ?) [It does not appear that John ever married. His heirs

appear to be his brothers and sisters.]

3. Agatha McFarlane (6 Mar 1792 - ?) [husband – James Mercer] Washington County

3. Robert Cochran McFarlane (7 Aug 1794 - ?) [wife –Rebecca] St. Clair, Allegheny County

3. Thomas McFarlane (26 Oct 1796 - ?) [wife – Susanna] Allegheny County

3. William McFarlane (13 Feb 1800 - ?)

3. Sophia McFarland (20 May 1802 - ?) [husband – James Cochran] Allegheny County


Note: There are several references that give different names and dates for the children of Andrew and Margaret. Based on the 1790 and 1800 census data the above names and dates are the most likely. The 1800 count has one less son, but James would have been twenty-four years old then and on his own.


2. David McFarlane (? - ?) [No wife?]

2. Francis McFarlane (? - ?)

+ Mary UNK (? - ?)

2. Hugh McFarlane (? - ?) [No wife?]

2. Sarah McFarlane (? - ?)

+ Andrew Robinson (? - ?)

2. Hannah McFarlane (? - ?)

+ William Dickson (? - ?)

3. John Dickson (? - ?)

+ Francis Unk (? - ?)

2 Mary McFarlane (? - ?)

+ George McWilliams (? - ?)


Note: The above six people with their spouses are listed in a deed (29 September 1814) along with Andrew as heirs of James, who died intestate. The estimated birth year of 1759 for Baptist McFarlane does not make him a descendant of this family group, nor could he be a brother since he is not in the list of heirs with Andrew, but he could be a cousin dating back to Ireland.



2. Abel McFarland (West Bethlehem)

One of the McFarland families settled in about 1770 in Amity Township, which is located on the southern boarder of Washington County on Route I-76 near Greene County. This line can be traced from a Col. Daniel McFarland who was an officer in the Revolutionary War who had emigrated from Scotland to Massachusetts where he lived for a number of years. After the war he came to the Washington area with sons and daughters of a mature age. He had a son, William McFarland, Esq., who was born in New Jersey on 19 Dec 1756. He was a lawyer and was ordained as an Elder in the Lower Ten Mile Church in 1784 in Washington County. There was a Fort McFarland built there for the family between 1771 and 1773. William had a son, Abel McFarland, who was a Representative and a Senator 1806 to 1814 and also ordained in the Lower Ten Mile Church in 1795 or 1796. William died on 2 Jun 1823.


The estimated structure of this McFarland family is:

1. Col. Daniel McFarland (1731 – 1817) [Rev. War]

+ Sarah Barbour (1730 – 1810) lived to be 80 years old.


2. Cpt. William McFarland (19 Dec 1756 – 2 Jun 1823) [Ordained an Elder in 1784.] Worchester, MA – Washington, PA

+ Hannah Kelsey (? - ?) (m: 20 Oct 1779) Monongahela, PA [Rev. Thaddeus Dodd]

3. Rebecca McFarland (? - ?) [John Carter]

3. James McFarland (14 Nov 1782 - 26 Feb 1865) [father of Judge N. C. McFarland, Topeka, KA]

3. Sarah McFarland (? - ?) [Joseph Evans, Sr. – son is Abel M. Evans]

3. Mary McFarland (? - ?) [Ezra Dille]

3. William S. McFarland (? - ?)?????

3. Patty McFarland [died at 21 yrs]

3. Maj. Samuel McFarland (1795 - ?) Washington Cty, Ten-Mile Creek [06035664a – pic]

+ Mary Huston (m: 9 May 1849) [Hamilton Huston and Mary Miller] [no children]

3. Phebe McFarland (? - ?) [Silas Clark]

3. Thomas McFarland (13 Oct 1794 – 7 Mar 1871) [late of Bethlehem twp]

+ Catherine UNK [Hogland??] (? - ?)

3. Hannah McFarland (? - ?) [Mrs. Boyd of Ohio]


3. Abel McFarland (est 1765 - ?)


This family is probably not directly related to Baptist since it was located too far from the areas where he lived in Wshington County.



3. Isaiah Graham McFarlane

(Note: The spelling of the name of this family is mostly found as McFarlane instead of the more common McFarland; however, the McFarland spelling is sometimes used.)


The family of Isaiah Graham McFarlane (McFarland) lived in central Pennsylvania until his sister Eliza persuaded Isaiah to settle in the Wilkinsburg area of Pittsburgh in the mid-1800s. A brother of Isaiah, James, also settled in the Pittsburgh area. However, the disposition of the family of their grandfather, who is not identified, and great-grandfather, James, are unknown.


The estimated structure of this McFarlane family is:

1. James Macfarlane (est. 1710?? - ?) Tyrone , Ulster County, Ireland arrived about 1718 [Scotch origin] [Lancaster and Cumberland – bought land warrant 13 Sep 1748] [cousin of James Graham (dec Rev James Graham)]


2. UNK (est. 1765 - ?)


3. John Findley Macfarlane (est. 1790 - ?) [Gettysburg, Adams County, PA]

+ Martha Graham (est. 1795 - ?) (m: est. 1815)[distant cousin]


4. Eliza Macfarlane

+ James Graham, Jr. Lime Hill, Beulah

[Martha Graham Black – granddaughter]

4. Isaiah Graham (I. G.) Macfarlane (1817 - ?) [moved to Perry County, PA]

Margaret McDowell (? - ?)

4. James Macfarlane

+ UNK

5. James R. Macfarlane (? - ?) [judge Allegheny City Common Pleas Court] [youngest son]

4. Eveline Macfarlane

+ Alexander Rieman [Baltimore, MD]


Early members of this family could be candidates for Baptist; however, they lived too far from where Baptist lived in Washington County.



Robert McFarland

There are a number of Robert McFarlands that lived in the Pittsburgh area. They are:

1. Robert McFarland – Monongahela City.

2. Robert McFarland – Elizabeth

3. Robert McFarland - Pittsburgh



4. Robert McFarland – Monongahela City

He appears to have come to the area in 1815 and became involved in many areas. He was an ordained an Elder of the Presbyterian Church (Mingo Creek or Williamsport) (First Presbyterian Church of Monongahela City) on Aug 1816. He lived at Bath Mills on Pigeon Creek and manufactured salt. Robert and Ann left two daughters Eliza (Rev. S. M. Sparks) and Mary (Alex Wilson).


The estimated structure of this McFarland family is:

1. James McFarland (est 1741 - 1798)

+ Mary Campbell (? - ?) (m: 1766 - Berkley County, VA)


2. Robert McFarland (1776 – May 1835) ? - Monongahela City [Appears to have come to the area of Monongahela City by about 1815. Dir of Bank 1816-17, Elder Aug 1816]

+ Anna McFarlane (1776 - 1848) (m: 20 Dec 1802) [She was a McFarlane – daughter of Andrew (see Item 1 above)] [left two daughters]


3. Mary Campbell McFarland (1803 -?) [Alexander (Alex) Wilson on 3 Feb 1835]

3. Eliza Cabble McFarland (1808 - 1837) [Rev. S. M. Sparks in 1833]


2. Joseph McFarland (1780 – 1864)

+ Nancy Clark Humphreys (? - ?) (m: 12 April 1821)


3. Mary Jane McFarland

3. James Campbell McFarland

3. Rowena Agnes McFarland

3. Martha Elizabeth McFarland

3. David Humphreys McFarland


This family does not fit Baptist McFarlane because they are from Virginia and came to the area too late.



5. Robert McFarland – Elizabeth

There is not much about this Robert McFarland, it was noted that there were two flows of immigration to the Elizabeth area – one from Eastern PA by way of Cumberland Valley, Fulton and Bedford Counties and the Youghogheny and the other from VA by way of the Potomac and Monongahela. The former was the most used.


Robert McFarland was first noted in the Elizabeth area in 1796. He had a letter in the post office on 6 Jan 1796. The resident data from 1793 does not list him; however, he may have lived earlier in the Westmoreland area since a Robert McFarland signed the petition for Allegheny County to be formed from Washington and Westmoreland in Westmoreland on 15 Feb 1787.


On 10 July 1786 Thomas Applegate warranted 137 ½ acres near Elizabeth, PA, and it was surveyed on 3 April 1789. Applegate patented this land to Robert McFarland on 20 Aug 1805. It was named “Portland” (P-57-209). This is probably the same Robert McFarland that is listed in the 1800 census. This census lists only two males between 16 and 26 years old. Robert does not appear to have a wife.


Further information on this Robert might be found in Cumberland and Lancaster Counties. There is a report of a Robert McFarland listed as a trader on the 1718 Donegal Township (Lancaster County) tax list.


This family does not fit Baptist McFarlane because they came to the area too late to the Washington area.


References: Land warrant in Elizabeth, 1800 census


6. Robert McFarland – Pittsburgh

There is a Robert McFarland as an early settler of Squirrel Hill. He was there before 3 April 1769 when the Pennsylvania land office opened there. He may be the one in the 1800 Census in the Pitt Township of Allegheny County. This family data was listed as 1-2-3-0-1-2-1-0-0-1.


References: Land warrant in Pittsburgh,

Alexander Mcgreger 10 Aug 1787 patented to R. McFarlane 28 Mar 1788 War 26 mar 1788 P 14-64 “Oxford”


7. Samuel McFarland

Son of Samuel and Lovey (Elkin) born in Allegheny City 13 Nov 1847 and was a bricklayer in Sewickley. Samuel McFarland was born in Ireland and emigrated at 22 years to US. He moved to Sewickley in about 1840. He married Lovey Elkin who came alone to US at 18 years and she died in Mar 1914. They had 9 children



The McFarlane References in the Pittsburgh Area (circa. 1800)


SCOTT TOWNSHIP ( erected from a part of Upper St. Clair in 1861)

Two other names appear occasionally among the unwritten records of what is now Scott Township, and these are John Henry and Andrew McFarlane, both of whom took up land there at one time, and may have been in the town ship before Long (Alexander Long in 1773). But, they seem never to have resided there for any length of time, but came and went like the Indianans, with this exception, that they left whenever the Indians came.


Thus it is related that McFarlane went to this township and built a cabin on his land. But the Indians attacked him shortly after, and chased him until within range of the guns of Fort Pitt. This race was so celebrated at the time that it has been orally handed down, like “Brady’s Leap” from generation to generation. [This was probably James]


McFarlane came from Ireland to America in 1758, and in 1774 held, under Governor Penn, a commission as justice of the peace in the vicinity of Fort Pitt. It was about this time he was driven from Scott Township.


There were few of the early pioneers whose lives were more eventful, but though he figured on several occasions in the history of Scott Township, we have no record that he was ever a resident. [This was probably James]


Henry, although a land-owner in Scott, was at first a resident of what is now another township. He settled, however, in 1773 or 1774, in Scott Township, and remained there with his family.


Major William Lee came to Fort Pitt some time during the Revolution, and afterwards settled in Scott Township. He was an Englishman by birth.


In 1784 the house of General Neville, near Woodville, was burned to the ground by the Whisky Insurgents.


A man by the name of [James] McFarlane was shot from the house by some of the general’s friends or slaves.


ROBINSON TOWNSHIP

The first church was Presbyterian. It was built of hewn logs and was situated near Montuor’s Run. Rev. James Patterson was its first pastor.


The first hotel was built by William McCormic, and was on the Steubenville turnpike, seven miles from Pittsburgh. It was a large log structure, and was erected about 1816.


The first post-office in the township was at McFarlane’s Tavern, near Palmerville. Andrew McFarlane was the first Postmaster.


There was a murder committed at that tavern forty years ago. The place was a resort for all the roughs of the neighborhood.


FamilySearch

BIRTH of Children: 1776-1806, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania,

All children of Andrew McFarland and Margaret Lynn Lewis were born here.


WASHINGTON COUNTY – INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS

June 1793 Session:

Road reported laid out from Robert Montgomery’s mill to James McClelland’s, on road leading from Mr. Cano’s to Mr. Wells’ mill.

Same session:

Road ordered from Humphrey Blackway’s to Fredericktown; to be laid out about one mile from William McFarlane’s and half a mile from Caleb Baldwin’s saw-mill, to intersect the Pigeon Creek road that leads from Bentley’s mill to Devore’s Ferry, near Barout’s still-house. Reported laid out the following year.


WASHINGTON COUNTY – LAND SALE

In 1777, Thomas Parkinson bought a farm of 300 acres from John Decker, on Pigeon Creek, near Parkinson’s Ferry. Built a mill on it. In 1792 he sold this property to James McFarlane, and the next year moved. The brother of Thomas Parkinson was a leader in the Whiskey Rebellion.


Web Site Information:

RESIDENCE: PENNSYLVANIA, Allegheny County. John McFarland. Jane Neilson, b. ca. 1770/1780, daughter of Joseph Neilson (who died Donegal Twp, Westmoreland County, Pa), married John McFarland and resided in Allegheny Co, PA.


BOOK-LINKS: Andrew McFarland "History of Augusta County, Virginia" by J. Lewis Peyton (Relative of Lewis Family) 1953 found at Seattle Genealogical Society.

Margaret Lewis, born 1756, daughter of Col Wm Lewis and Anne Montgomery. Married James McFarland and then removed to Pittsburg, PA, when it was known as Fort Pitt. She had 11 children, whose names are unknown, except for the first two--Margaret and James. [This is in conflict with the Andrew above. James did not marry her.]


Census Data:

The 1790 census listed the following people living in the Washington County area:


A = Males 16-up B = Males under 16 C = Females


Name Census Data (A B C) County/Township


Abel McFarland 2 1 2 Washington

Andrew McFarlin 1 4 4 Allegheny/Part taken from Washington

Andrew McFarlane 3 4 4 Washington

Baptist McFarlin 1 2 4 Washington /Fallowfield

Daniel McFarland 1 1 4 Washington

Francis Mcfarlen 3 0 1 Westmoreland/ Franklin

Jesse McFarlane 1 1 4 Washington

Wm McFarland 2 3 5 Washington

Wm McFarland 3 2 5 Westmoreland/Armstrong


As a check on each of these families the 1800 Census listed the following persons for Allegheny and Washington Counties:


Name County Township


Abel McFarland Washington West Bethlehem

1800 Census - Abel McFarland 41310 - 11011 Page 129 (938)


Daniel McFarland Washington West Bethlehem

1800 Census - Daniel McFarland 01010 -34010 Page 129 (938)


Andrew McFarland Allegheny Mifflin

1800 Census - Andrew McFarland 22101-11210 Page 83(89)


Baptist McFarland Allegheny St.Clair/Baldwin


John McFarland Washington Chartiers

1800 Census - John McFarland 20001 - 20001 Page 29 (739)


Robert McFarland Allegheny Elizabeth Town

1800 Census - Robert McFarland 00020 - 00000 Page 74(54).


Robert McFarland Allegheny Pitt

1800 Census - Robert McFarland 12301 – 21001 Page 61(27).


Robert McFarland Washington Buffaloe

1800 Census - Robert McFarlane 10210 - 10010 Page 14 (709)


Robert McFarland Washington Canton

1800 Census - Robert McFarland 02101 - 01201 Page 19(718).


Daniel McFarland Washington Amwell

1800 Census - Daniel McFarland 00001 - 00001 Page 9 (699)


Wm McFarland Esq Washington Amwell

1800 Census - Wm McFarland Esq 21110 - 32110 OR Page 9 (699)

32110 - 21110


David McFarland Washington Fallowfield

1800 Census - David McFarland 10011 - 00100 Page 51 (782)


Samuel McFarland Washington Smith

1800 Census - Samuel McFarland 20010 - 10010 OR Page 99 (878)(038)

10010 - 20010.



Appendix C

Montgomery - McFarlane - Stewart Time Line


1759 (est.) Baptist McFarlane born [prob. County Tyrone, N. Ireland] [based on 25 yrs when married (est.1784)]

1765 (est.) Magdalena Montgomery born [prob. County Tyrone, N. Ireland] [based on 20 yrs when married (est.1784) and 1810 census]

1784 (est.) Baptist McFarlane and Magdalena Montgomery married [prob. County Tyrone, N. Ireland]

1785 (est.) Robert Montgomery born [brother of William – poss. twin] [born in County Tyrone, N. Ireland]

1785 (between Aug 1784 and Aug 1785) William Montgomery born [brother of Robert – poss. twin] [prob. born in County Tyrone, N. Ireland]

1785 Baptist and Magdalena came to the U. S. [before or after Isabella was born]

1785 (9 Jun) Isabella McFarlane born east of Allegheny Mountains. [First known child of Baptist and Magdalena McFarlane]

1786 Baptist settles in Nottingham Township, Washington County, PA [poss. with Andrew McFarlane] [tax record]

1786 (2 Feb) Warrant to William Stewart for 289 acres and 97 perches and allowances [“Old Soldiers Retreat”]

1787 (10 Jan) Survey of William Stewart land [“Old Soldiers Retreat”]

1787 (1 Nov) Virginia Certificate to survey 400 acres for John Stewart (brother of William) land [“Bedford”]

1789 Jane McFarlane born [Based on census data and 1815 Pittsburgh Business Directory.]

1790 Baptist McFarlane is listed in the Washington county Census [2-1-4-0]

1791 Baptist is in Fallowfield Township, Washington County, tax records, but not after 1791.

1792 Baptist moves from Fallowfield to St. Clair Township, Allegheny County

1972 Baptist buys property that is in dispute

1792 (1791 – 1794) Elizabeth McFarlane born [married James Phillips]

1795 (est.) Sarah Montgomery marries John Stewart.

1795 (bef. Jul) Baptist sues William Stewart probably over land ownership. [William put his 300 acres in escrow]

1795 (3 Oct) William Philips sold his land to Conrad Katz (“Philipi”)

1796 (est.) John McFarlane born [see 1817 (9 Jun) note]

1796 (9 Aug) Pennsylvania land patent to William Stewart “Old Soldiers Retreat”

1797 (15 May) William Stewart sold land (100 acres) to William Newell

1798 (10 Feb) Baptist sues William Long probably over land ownership.

1798 (3 Mar) Conrad Katz sold a piece of land to William Stewart [sold to Baptist in 1800]

1798 Baptist McFarlane is listed in the St. Clair tax rolls owning 620 acres and home.

1799 (15 Jan) William Long receives one of his land warrents.

1800 No census listing for Baptist McFarlane or William Stewart (They are in 1798 St. Clair Tax Rolls.)

1800 (1 Nov) Baptist buys 130 acres in Baldwin from William Stewart

1801 (est.) Last child (Unk. son) of Baptist and Magdalena born. [They were 42 and 36 yrs, respectively.]

1801 (19 Jun) William Long Surveys his two tracts [warrants]

1802 (15 May) Baptist sells about 27 acres of the 130 acres to George McCombs.

1807 (2 Mar) Baptist sells rest of the 130 acres to Noble Calhoon.

1807 (2 Mar) Baptist buys 87 from Noble Calhoon and his wife Sarah near Peter’s Creek in Mifflin Township.

1807 (16 Apr) Isabella McFarlane was married to Robert Stitt.

1807 William Montgomery (“brother of Magdalena”) appears in Pittsburgh [about 23 yrs old]

1807 William leased Front Street (office) with Thomas Hazelton, as tenants in common, from Andrew Herd

1808 (9 Aug) Baptist buys property near Streets Run and Glass Run Roads from Robert Thompson.

1808 (12 Aug) Baptist sells the above property to Thomas Spencer for a profit.

1808 (est.) William Montgomery marries Sarah UNK.

1808 William Montgomery living in Pittsburgh – bought property (lot 26) in Allegheny City Ward 4.

1809 (28 Feb) William Long receives patents on his two parcels of land.

1801 (19 Jun) William Long Surveys his two tracts [warrants]

1810 William Montgomery listed in census in Pittsburgh [It shows 5 males in the 16 – 26 age range and 1 female in the same age range.] [This suggests that William could have been born as early as 1784] [Thomas Hazelton lived next door]

1810 Baptist is listed in the Mifflin census (Mifflin one male under 10, one male between 10 and 16, one male over 45, two females between 16 and 26, and one female between 26 and 45.) [Note that his daughter Isabella was married 16 Apr 1807 before the 1810 census.]

1815 William Montgomery, blacksmith, with house and business on east side of Grant Street near Second Street.

1815 (by) Robert Stitt, carpenter, east side of Wood between Virgin Alley and 5th Street. [married to Isabella McFarlane]

1815 (by) James Phillips, nailor, on 4th between Wood and Smithfield streets. [married Elizabeth McFarlane]

1815 (est.) Elizabeth McFarlane marries James Phillips [they live in Pittsburgh on 4th Street.]

1817 (9 Jun) Baptist and Magdalena transferred their property near Peter’s Creek in Mifflin Township to son, John.

[John would have to be 21 yrs. to do this; therefore he would be born (est.) 1796.]

1820 James Phillips and family listed in census in Pittsburgh West Ward [4th Street]

1820 Baptist McFarlane listed in census living in Mifflin Township [It shows 1 boy (16 - 18), two girls (10 – 16 and 16 – 26) and Baptist and Magdalena over 45.]

1828 (3 Nov) Baptist dies in Pittsburgh probably at the home of James Phillips.

1829 (13 may) Magdalena dies in St. Clair probably at the home of her daughter, Isabella (McFarlane) Stitt.


Extra Appendix

Sean Patchin – Phillips Macfarlane Lines

Suggested merger of Patchin and Phillips families:

NOTE: The use of the same given names.

[From Patchin]

1. Robert McFarlane (est. 1725 - ?) Scotland?? – County Tyrone, N. Ireland??

+ Unk


2. Patrick McFarlane (est 1745 – ??) County Tyrone, N. Ireland - County Tyrone??

+ Unk

3. John McFarlane (est 1765 – ??) County Tyrone, N. Ireland - ??

4. Hugh McFarlane

4. Andrew McFarlane


4. James McFarlane (est 1790 – ??) County Tyrone, N. Ireland - ??

+ Mary Cooke (est 1795 – ??) County Tyrone, N. Ireland - ??


5. John McFarlane [came to America (OH) in 1834]

5. Hugh McFarlane b: 1815 Plum Bridge, County Tyrone, N. Ireland

[came to America (WI) in 1835]

+ Sarah Dunn

5. Thomas McFarlane [came to America (PHIL) in 1835]

5. Catherine McFarlane [came to America (PHIL) in 1835]

5. James McFarlane


[From Phillips family]

2. Andrew McFarlane (1740 – 7 Nov 1829) County Tyone, N. Ireland – Jefferson Twp. Washington County

[Scotch descent]

+ Margaret Lynn Lewis (14 Oct 1755 – 22 Jan 1814) VA – Pgh area (m: 25 May 1774)

2. Maj. James McFarlane (1751 – 17 Jul 1794) Tyrone, Ire – Pgh [buried at Mingo Church near Finleyville.]

[Whiskey Rebellion] [No known family and died intestate.]

2. Baptist McFarlane (by 1759 – bef. 3 Nov 1828) prob. Tyrone, N. Ireland – Allegheny County, PA

+ Magdalena Montgomery (by 1764 – bef. 13 May 1829) Tyrone, N. Ireland – Allegheny County, PA (m: est. 1784 prob County Tyrone, N. Ireland) [probably a cousin to Andrew and James]

[Also raised Sarah (b: est. 1770), William (b: abt. 1785) and Robert (b: est. 1785) Montgomery beginning before 1790.] [Magdalena could have been a step-sister – different mothers]


3. Isabella McFarlane (7 Jun 1785 - 9 Oct 1850) east of the Allegheny Mountains, PA (Ireland?) – Vernon (Meadville) , Crawford, PA

+ Robert Stitt (1767 – 16 Feb 1834) Tyrone County, Ireland – Vernon (Meadville), Crawford, PA (m: 16 Apr 1807 – near Pittsburgh)

3. Jane McFarlane (early 1790 – 1870) est. Washington County, PA - West Prairie, Linn Co., Iowa [This is Jane, the 1815 merchant in Pittsburgh. She remained at home at least through the 1820 census.]

+ David Saxton (1784 – 1838) PA – West Prairie, Linn Co., Iowa  (m: est 1825)

3. Elizabeth McFarlane (est. 1791[94] – est. 1835) est. Washington County, PA - Allegheny County, PA

+ James Phillips (abt. 1786 – 27 Nov 1866) Ireland – Baldwin, Allegheny, PA (m: est. 1815 in Allegheny County, PA)



Return To The County Tyrone Home Page