William McFarland Papers

Manuscript Collection: MC164

Creator Sketch

William McFarland was born on May 8, 1774 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and was the son of Thomas and Hannah (Stuart) McFarland. He married Ann Singer, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Singer with whom he had six children, one of whom was surveyor Thomas Stuart McFarland. In 1799, after becoming a surveyor, William moved to Ohio and began laying out towns, one of which is named after him. By 1817, having lived in Indiana, he moved his family to Louisiana where his wife died shortly thereafter. In 1830, he moved his family to Texas where he purchased a portion of the Guerrero grant. He participated in the Battle of Nacogdoches in 1832 and represented the Ayish Bayou District at the 1832 Convention in San Felipe. McFarland was also a part of the committee to select the site of the town San Augustine, where in 1836 he was appointed chief justice by President Sam Houston. In 1838, McFarland was a member of the Texas Boundary Commission where he was appointed to determine the line between the United States and the Republic of Texas. He died on August 16, 1840 at Belgrade.

Scope and Content Note

The William McFarland Papers are comprised of three financial documents: two promissory notes and a receipt. The two San Augustine County, Texas, partially printed promissory notes are to William McFarland and are dated in 1837 and 1838, signed by W. D. Ratliff and A. Horton respectively. Also included is a receipt of Capt. Ratliff, commander of the company in San Augustine, for fifty dollars dated in 1842.

Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

None.

Terms Governing Use

Open for research by appointment.

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to the San Jacinto Museum of History. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Library Director. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Jacinto Museum of History as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Administrative Information

Citation

[Identification of Item], William McFarland Papers, MC164, San Jacinto Museum of History, Houston, Texas.

Acquisition

Purchased for the museum by Ike Moore, June 1941.

Processing Information

Processed by Lisa M. Lomas, 2011.

Bibliography

Inventory