Tag: Edward Farmar

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Major Jasper Farmar: Father At 62?

Is it possible for a father to have a son in his senior years? Recently in the news, Al Pacino, age 83, welcomed his fourth child Roman with actress Noor Alfallah, age 29. A month ago, Robert De Niro, age 79, welcomed his seventh child with girlfriend Tiffany Chen.

Many times in building a family tree, age is a factor in identifying the right parents. This is especially true when the grandfather, father, and/or son shares the same name.

Normally, we apply today’s timelines in our biases. For example, let’s assume we are building a tree for John Smith. A record has John Smith born to Joe Smith, the father of another Joe Smith. However, this record may indicate Joe Smith was 80 years old when his son John was born. Our biases would cause us to think that Joe Smith the younger is the more likely father.

This biased thinking also tricks us into adding non-existent persons into our tree. For example, John Smith is born to Joe Smith, but unlike the example above, there is no Joe Smith Jr. Our biased thinking says that surely Joe Smith didn’t have a son at the age of 80, so it must be a son that we don’t know about… and so we add a Joe Smith Jr. to the tree.

Such is the case for Edward Farmar of Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania, the son of Major Jasper Farmar.

Edward Farmar was born in 1672 when Major Jasper was 62 years old. For some, the age difference doesn’t seem correct, so there must have been two Major Jasper’s. Or for some, Major Jasper’s father Robert was not the son of Sir George Fermor, but rather the son of yet another Robert Farmar. Adding the extra Robert or the extra Major Jasper makes our biased timelines seem more “correct.”

This biased thinking seems even more plausible when considering Major Jasper’s wife, Mary Gamble. How can Mary born in 1614 have a son at the age of 58?

She didn’t. When Mary Gamble died, Major Jasper remarried in 1671 to widow Mary Batsford, age 36. We know this from the birth dates of Edward’s siblings, his Farmar half-siblings, as well as legal documents of his Batsford half-siblings. Yet family trees will show Major Jasper had one wife, and name her Mary Gamble Batsford.

The moral of the story is that adding extra persons in our tree to make our biased timelines “correct” only creates more brick walls for ourselves and other family historians, especially when a deep dive of available records proves otherwise.

Philip Farmer is the author and publisher of “Thomas Fermor and the Sons of Witney” tracing the family history from 1420 to 1685, and “Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh” following their 1685 arrival from Ireland into Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Harlan County, Kentucky.

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325th Anniversary

In 1698, Edward Farmar donated land and built a log cabin for the purposes of a church.

For 325 years, St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Whitemarsh, has supported the community’s spiritual and social needs.

It’s an honor and privilege to kick-off their anniversary celebration with an invitation to speak at their inaugural event.

Hope to see you there!

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Hark The Herald Angels

Edward Farmar was one connection away from George Whitefield who popularized the beloved Christmas carol “Hark the Herald Angels.”

On 18 December 1739, Edward in a letter to his cousin Nicholas Scull writes…

“…I was in hopes since this Gentleman Mr. Whitefield had preached up the Doctrine you yourself applauded so much that it might have had that Impression on you as to Convert you from that Damnable Doctrine of free thinkers…”[1]

Edward’s reference to “Mr. Whitefield” is undoubtedly Reverend George Whitefield (also Whitfield, 1714-1770), an evangelist and one of the founders of Methodism. Four months after Edward’s letter was written, Whitefield visited Whitemarsh Township. Whitefield traveled from Philadelphia with a company of forty horses and arrived at about nine o’clock on the morning of 18 April 1740. For a community of about fifty households, a crowd of two thousand from the surrounding townships awaited. With his theater, rhetoric, and patriotism, Whitefield loudly called upon the crowd to repent, in a revival movement that would be termed the “First Great Awakening.”[2]

Benjamin Franklin, having first heard Whitefield in London and again during his 1739 visit to Philadelphia, remarked how he had a “loud and clear voice.” While Whitefield was preaching at the court house steps at Market Street and Second Street, Franklin walked away to conduct an experiment. Franklin concluded that if audience members took up two square feet, more than 30,000 could hear Whitefield’s open-air sermon.

In the same year Edward’s letter was written, a contemporary of Whitefield, Charles Wesley (1707-1788), in a collection titled Hymns and Sacred Poems published “Hymn for Christmas-Day.” The 1739 poem began with “Hark how all the Welkin rings / ‘Glory to the King of Kings’ “

What’s a welkin? By definition, the song would have translated to “hark how all the heavens ring.” It is plausible that Edward may have sung the hymn about welkins while attending St. Thomas Episcopal Church.

It wasn’t until 1753 when Whitefield published A Collection of Hymns for Social Worship that he changed the lyrics to “Hark! the Herald Angels sing / Glory to the new-born King!” The subtle changes do give the carol more of a Christmas message.

The hymn would go through a few more lyrical and composition changes to the beloved Christmas carol today, with Whitefield’s changes remaining largely intact.

Philip Farmer is the author and publisher of “Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh,” a 500-page, 155-year biographical history of the family immigration from Ireland into Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Harlan County, Kentucky. A sequel is currently in work.

Click for more information

[1] The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, vol.40, p.120. Edited to remove modern misspellings.

[2] “A Bit of Local History,” The North Wales Record (25 February 1893).

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UPDATE: Rachel Astley, Wife of Edward Farmar?

A lot of family trees incorrectly have Rachel Astley as the wife of Edward Farmar. Is his wife Rachel Ellis/Roberts as other researchers suggest?

In an earlier post, it was related that the Astley surname first appears in the Philadelphia region around the late 1700’s and early 1800’s. Yet, on a July 1685 land deed between William Penn and the local Indians, appears the name of Will Asley. The purchased land becomes the land inherited by Edward.

Jim White in his book Boone Family to America, 1670-1720, Volume II (2009) has Edward’s wife as Rachel Ellis, the daughter of Robert and Elin Ellis who immigrated in 1690 from Tyddyn Y Garreg, Merioneth, Wales, to Philadelphia. More research was required to determine the validity of White’s claim, as the book cites a source with no mention of Edward.

Tyddyn Y Garreg Meeting House

Further, White’s book claims that John Farmer, Edward’s brother, is the “Quaker of Essex” who traveled throughout the America’s from 1711-1714. Julie Miller’s research of John Farmer’s diary shows White’s claim to be untrue.

That got me to thinking. Maybe White was wrong about Rachel Ellis? Maybe Edward Farmar’s wife is Rachel Asley? In writing the book Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh, did I perpetuate yet another erroneous mistake?

Could I prove the real identity of Edward’s wife?

Using publicly available books, I started a family tree for Rachel’s siblings, who all adopted the surname “Roberts.”

I then used my father’s autosomnal DNA results to find the name “Ellis” or “Roberts” in the family trees of 6-8 cousin matches. I had purchased an AncestryDNA kit as a Christmas gift for my father in 2017; his DNA results became an invaluable tool that proved Samuel Chase Early was his great grandfather.

It was a very tedious process of elimination for a LOT of family trees. Not only did the Ellis or Roberts surname have to appear as a direct ancestor in the cousin’s pedigree, but no other surname in my father’s pedigree had to appear in the cousin’s pedigree, or match with other surnames in the Ellis/Roberts’ pedigree.

Why? To rule out any other DNA possibilities. If a cousin descended from a Farmer, is it a match due to the Farmer DNA, or Ellis/Roberts DNA? If an ancestral Farmer married an Osborne, and the cousin’s ancestor married an Osborne, is it a match due to the Osborne DNA? This also means that some descendants of Robert Ellis were eliminated if they married into families common with my father’s pedigree.

I needed trees that ONLY share the Ellis/Roberts connection. And in doing so, could also irrefutably prove that Stephen Farmer was the great grandson of Edward Farmar.

This is not an easy task. A full pedigree will have 196 persons across seven generations. And of course, family trees have to be correct. This can be a problem when family lines abruptly stop with limited information, or when family lines have children associated with the wrong parent (e.g. a son as offspring to his step-mother). Trees with good documentation were sought and used.

Out of THOUSANDS of trees, below are eight possibilities that were considered as examples of the painstaking effort to prove the identity of Edward’s wife.

  1. The pedigree of R.M. and J.M., sharing 16-26 cm across one segment. 5ggp Jane Roberts (1750-1820), parents unknown, married James Maxwell (1745-1821). Common surnames? 5ggp William Long (1750-1770) who married Martha Davis (1754-1840).
  2. The pedigree of R.B., sharing 19-23 cm across one segment, and whose mother Roberts can be traced 11 generations to William Roberts (1630-1670), including those in Pennsylvania at the same time frame as Rachel Ellis. Common surnames? 7ggp Alexander Cummins (1736- ).
  3. The pedigree of S.M., sharing 14-22 cm across one segment. 4ggp Thomas Roberts (1790-1837). Common surnames? 9ggp Peter Krehbiel (1656- ) of Switzerland with name changes through the generations similar to Grabeel of Switzerland.
  4. The pedigree of C.C., sharing 14-16 cm across one segment. 8ggp Alice Roberts (1640-1704). Common surnames? 7ggp Thomas Worrel (1686-1732).
  5. The pedigree of M.W., sharing 13-15 cm across one segment. 7ggp Edward Ellis (1659- ). Common surnames? 5ggp Henry Gay (1704-1779), along with Thomas and Thompson.
  6. The pedigree of T.S., sharing 14-17 cm across one segment. 5ggp Adonijah Roberts (1755- ). Common surnames? None.

The search continues for the perfect tree, especially one that has a direct descendant of Robert and Ellin Ellis with no other surname matches. The pedigree of T.S. listed above is very promising, with further research needed into the identity of Adonijah Roberts.

For now, DNA results do suggest that the identity of Edward Farmar’s wife is Rachel Ellis.

Philip Farmer is the author and publisher of “Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh,” a 500-page, 155-year biographical history of the family immigration from Ireland into Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Harlan County, Kentucky. A sequel is currently in work.

“Very well written and researched…”
L. King

“I love your work… Very interesting!”
B. H. Baker

“Amazing research!”
J. Shipley

“Wonderfully researched, well written… recommend it even if you’re not related to the Farmar’s…”
D. Roark

“Excellent book! We highly recommend!”
E. Wolf

“Very informative and interesting. I could not put it down.”
E. Farley

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Edward’s Relatives & The American Revolutionary War

The following is excerpted and edited from the book “Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh.”

The relationship between America and England had been deteriorating since King George III’s Royal Proclamation in 1763, and after a series of parliamentary taxes in the 1760’s,[1] many questioned whether England had any jurisdiction over the colonies. By 1774, the argument was that Parliament was the legislative body of England only, and the colonies with their own legislatures had the respective authority within America. After the 1774 Coercive Acts stripped Massachusetts of their self-governance for their role in the 1773 Boston Tea Party, the First Continental Congress with delegates from the other twelve colonies met in Philadelphia from 05 September to 26 September 1774. As their appeal to King George III had no effect, the Second Continental Congress met again on 10 May 1775 and the delegates urged each colony to establish and train their own militia. By then, the first shots of war had occurred on 19 April 1775 at the Battle of Lexington and Concord. Many had hoped for reconciliation, but the king rejected Congress’ petition and issued a Proclamation of Rebellion after the Battle of Bunker Hill and Siege of Boston in June 1775. King George sought foreign assistance to suppress the “open and avowed rebellion” and encouraged citizens to “use their utmost endeavours to withstand and suppress such rebellion” including reporting anyone engaged in “traitorous correspondence.”

Elizabeth “Eliza” (Halroyd) Farmer, the wife of Dr. Richard Farmer of Philadelphia, was dismayed by the actions of the British, evidenced in a letter to her nephew Jack Halroyd, a clerk at the East India Company in London.

“June 28th, 1775
My Dear Jack-
We have nothing going on now but preparations for war… there is hardly a man that is not old but is leaving, except the Quakers; and there is two Companys of them, all in a Pretty Uniform of Sky blue turn’d up with white. There is Six or Seven different sorts of Uniforms beside a Company of light Horse and one Rangers and another of Indians: these are all of Philadelphia; besides all the Provinces arming and Training in the same Manner for they are all determined to die or be Free. It is not the low Idle Fellow that fight only for pay, but Men of great property are Common Soldiers who secretagogue hgh say they are fighting for themselves and Posterity. There is accounts come that they are now fighting at Boston and that the Army set Charles Town on fire in order to land the Troops under cover of the Smoak…
The People are getting into Manufacture of different Sorts particularly Salt Peter and Gunpowder; the Smiths are almost all turned Gunsmiths and cannot work fast enough. God knows how it will end but I fear it will be very bad on both sides; and if your devilish Minestry and parliment don’t make some concesions and repeal the Acts, England will lose America for, as I said before, they are determined to be free…”[2]

With the Declaration of Independence signed on 04 July 1776 in Philadelphia, a handwritten copy was sent to John Dunlap who printed more than two hundred copies of the “broadside” for distribution. While the document had been printed in the Pennsylvania Evening Post on 06 July 1776, the first formal public reading took place on 08 July 1776 under an order of the President of Congress on Friday, 05 July 1776.[3]

At eleven o’clock that sunny morning, the church bells and the bell at the State House began to summon the citizens of the city and from the surrounding countryside to the State House yard. Having entered through the large gate on the south side, a crude platform was to the east, constructed in 1769 by the American Philosophical Society for observing the transit of Venus. They looked around the walled area, including the prison, from which Tory sympathizers and other convicts looked down from the windows. Soldiers manned the cannons lining the sides, while wagons carrying ammunition, powder, and military stores were positioned around. Everyone waited patiently on the hard, rutted ground, with nearby willow trees offering shade.

At the first bell, the Committee of Safety, charged with the defense of the colony, assembled in their chamber. Present were Chairman George Clymer, Joseph Parker, James Biddle, David Rittenhouse, Owen Biddle, Thomas Wharton, Jr., Michael Hillegas, John Cadwallader, George Gray, Samuel Howell, Samuel Morris, James Mease, and John Nixon. Meanwhile, the Committee of Inspection, including Christopher Marshall, convened at the Philosophical Hall and soon met with the Committee of Safety.

The bells stopped at noon when a two-by-two procession entered the State House yard. At the head were constables and staff, then the Sheriff of Philadelphia William Dewees[4] and Coroner Robert Jewell, and their deputies following behind. The Committee of Safety and the Committee of Inspection followed as a body behind the procession. The restless crowd began to quiet as Sheriff William Dewees climbed the observatory stairs with his acting deputy, Colonel John Nixon, close behind, along with members of the Committee of Safety and local dignitaries.

Dewees approached the railing and addressed the crowd.

“Under the authority of the Continental Congress and by order of the Committee of Safety, I proclaim a declaration of independence.”

Colonel Nixon then stepped forward and, having been appointed by Dewees for reasons unknown, proceeded to read the document.

“In Congress, July 4, 1776. A Declaration by the Representatives of the United States of America. When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation…”

A loud applause erupted with the opening sentence. Colonel Nixon, in a loud and resonant voice that could be heard as far as Mr. Norris’ house on the east side of Fifth Street, continued to read, while those in attendance listened attentively, occasionally interrupting with applause. When he finished, the State House bell rang once more to the excitement of the audience and three hearty huzzahs. There was little conversation as some of the crowd made their way to Armitage’s tavern. Others followed the speakers to the courthouse, where the document was again read. The Committee of Inspection removed the king’s arms first from the courthouse and then from the statehouse. They were carried to the common, where later that evening, the citizens cheered and celebrated with a great bonfire while church bells tolled through the clear, starry night.

In the spring of 1777, Colonel William Farmar Dewees, Edward Farmar’s grandson, was asked to store army supplies at Valley Forge based on its suitable location and number of storage buildings, “contrary to [his] wishes and remonstrances.”[5] His Mount Joy iron works, in partnership with David Potts, the brother of William’s wife Sarah Potts, were essential in manufacturing cannonballs, bullets, rifles, knives, bayonets, and other military supplies.

In September 1777, British Lieutenant General William Howe sailed from New York and invaded Pennsylvania from the Chesapeake Bay. After defeating the American forces at the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, Howe, with information from a Tory supporter, sent Lieutenant Colonel William Harcourt with three companies of light infantry and part of the Sixteenth Light Dragoons to Valley Forge.

They arrived on September 18 and found Dewees, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton, and Captain Henry Lee trying to move the military supplies across the Schuylkill River.[6] As the British force of 400 men advanced and fired, the Americans fled by barge across the Valley Creek, where Colonel Dewees’ horse was shot while trying to cross. The British remained until the night of September 22, but not until after they had proceeded to burn the forge, sawmill, two large stone dwelling houses, two coal houses, four hundred loads of coal, and 2,200 bushels of wheat and rye as witnessed by Major Caleb North of the Tenth Pennsylvania Infantry. Losses also included his household belongings and livestock.

After the defeat at the Battle of Germantown, Washington’s army retreated along several paths and encampments until November 2, when Washington marched his forces to Whitemarsh Township. Howe, on his return march, burned all of the houses and businesses between Germantown Township and Philadelphia, including the Rising Sun Inn which was owned by William Maulsby, the son of Merchant Maulsby, Sr.[7]

Meanwhile, Colonel Dewees and a neighbor, Joseph Cloyd, were captured on 24 October while travelling along Ridge Road. They were imprisoned at British headquarters in Philadelphia for three and a half days with no food or provisions until they were transferred to a new jail for six days, again with no food, with exception to food provided by Joseph’s wife. To avoid starvation, and to ensure their release, they both swore an allegiance to King George III.

At the conclusion of the “Battle of White Marsh,” and with the British thirteen miles away in Philadelphia for the winter, the Continental Army left Whitemarsh on December 11. After an eight-day journey to travel thirteen miles, Washington and his army of 12,000 arrived at Valley Forge.

Valley Forge’s high terrain overlooking wide, open areas and the proximity to the Schuylkill River provided advantages for supply movements, training, and protection against surprise enemy attacks. Approximately 1300 to 1600 huts of varying size, material, and construction were built for living quarters by cutting down the trees and dismantling the split rail fences, which were also used for heating and cooking fires. For six months from 18 December 1777 to 19 June 1778, the army faced supply shortages, malnutrition, starvation, and disease where 11,500 horses and 700 to 2,000 soldiers died.

Colonel Dewees and his second wife, Sarah Waters, endeavored to relieve the suffering of the army at Valley Forge at their great expense. While the army was stationed in their vicinity, General Washington and his wife Martha were frequently entertained at the Dewees mansion. General Washington had sent Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Stewart to defend the manor house. During this visit, Thomas first met Edward Farmar’s granddaughter, Rachel Dewees, a young and very lovely girl who was not quite eighteen years old. In a case of love at first sight, both were married only a few months after they first met. After the wedding, the bridal party and their host of friends were returning to Thomas’ home in Bucks County on horseback when they met Washington. The General drew up his troops on each side of the road, then dismounted and congratulated Stewart and his bride. He also claimed the privilege of a kiss from the bride, who was well-known to General Washington.[8]

Dr. Richard Farmar and his wife Eliza were presumably Loyalists, and it may be no surprise that when Richard’s daughter, Sarah, fell in love with Major William Bowers, a Continental soldier, her parents were averse to the marriage. Tradition says that “Miss Sallie,” under the cover of darkness, climbed out of a second story window and eloped in 1778.

Following the British destruction of his iron works at Mount Joy and the army’s “destruction” of Valley Forge, Colonel William Farmar Dewees moved his family into his father-in-law’s home in Tredyffrin Township. He was in financial ruin, and after the war, Dewees tried to resurrect his business, but became bankrupt in 1784 when the sheriff confiscated his property and returned to Tredyffrin Township. In 1785, Dewees petitioned Congress for compensation claiming,

“a merciless enemy had either carried off or burned his property [and that the American soldiers’ destruction of the] greatest part of his standing timber and all of his fences deprived [him] of the Power to erect New Buildings, and rendered the Premises of less Value than they previously were…”

The petition was referred as early as January 1791 to the Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton – the same person who was with Dewees moving military supplies when the British attacked in September 1777. It was Hamilton’s opinion that…

“it is advisable carefully to forbear a special interposition of the Legislature in favor of special claims [that the] lapse of time has added to the difficulty of investigating satisfactorily claims which generally rest on evidence merely oral, and which, instrinsically, are liable to much vagueness and abuse…”[9]

Although sympathetic to his cause, Congress never acted on the claims during William’s life for his losses for which Congress had no monies to cover the funds.[10] A petition was presented again on 25 January 1794, referred to a select committee, and rejected on 15 December 1794. Before he died in 1809, Dewees again petitioned Congress to no avail. After his death, his son William and wife Sarah continued to pursue the claim when Congress introduced a bill on 5 February 1817. President James Monroe signed a petition in 1818 granting Dewees’ widow $8,000 for the damage caused by the British, but not for the damage caused by the American army. Sarah Dewees finally received an additional $900 compensation in 1820 from the State of Pennsylvania – forty-three years after the destruction at Valley Forge. Sarah Dewees died in 1822.

Today, Valley Forge National Historic Park preserves and protects over 3,500 acres of the original site.

Philip Farmer is the author and publisher of “Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh,” a 500-page, 155-year biographical history of the family immigration from Ireland into Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Harlan County, Kentucky. Complete with bibliography and footnotes that supports the research.

Click me for more info

“Very well written and researched…” Ms. L. King

“I love your work… Very interesting!” Ms. B. H. Baker

“Amazing research!” Ms. J. Shipley

“Wonderfully researched, well written… recommend it even if you’re not related to the Farmar’s…” Mr. D. Roark

“Excellent book! We highly recommend!” Ms. E. Wolf

“Very informative and interesting. I could not put it down.” Ms. E. Farley


click here to enlarge

[1] Taxes such as the 1765 Stamp Act, 1767 Townshend Acts, and 1764 Sugar Act, to name a few.

[2] North et al, In the Words of Women, p.94.

[3] Various accounts differ on the events of 08 July 1776. This account summarized from:  Keyser, The Liberty Bell, p.20-22; Hart, “Colonel John Nixon,” p.195-196; “We Declare Independence.” American Heritage.

[4] Edward’s son-in-law William Dewees, having married Rachel Farmar. One resource erroneously states “Thomas Dewees” (Hart, “Colonel John Nixon,” p.196)

[5] 33rd Congress, 1st Session, Rep. No. 108, “Heirs of Col. Willis Riddick [To accompany bill. H.R. No. 274]”, per the report from the Committee on Revolutionary Claims dated 17 April 1834.

[6] Henry Lee III (1756-1818), later served as Governor of Virginia (1791-1794) and father of General Robert E. Lee, commander of Army of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War. Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804), first Secretary of the Treasury, and founder of the nation’s financial system, the Federalist Party, the United States Coast Guard, and the New York Post newspapers.

[7] Barnard, Early Maltby, With Some Roades History and that of the Maulsby Family in America, p.153. William Maulsby, son of Merchant Maulsby, Sr., married Hannah Coulston, the granddaughter of Jacob and Ann Rhodes, at the Old Swedes’ Church, Philadelphia, in 1756. In 1763 he removed his certificate from Gwynedd to Philadelphia. He was owner of the Rising Sun Inn, on the Germantown Road, in Germantown Township, eleven miles from the city of Philadelphia.

[8] Jordan, et al. Personal Memoirs of The Lehigh Valley, p.42-43.

[9] 28th Congress, 1st Session, Report from the Committee on Revolutionary Claims dated 15 January 1844.

[10] “…in June 1783, and appraisement was, on oath, made of the property destroyed by the enemy at the sum of £3,404 3s 4p… and wood destroyed at £300… and that these accounts were submitted to the Board of Treasury about the year 1784 or 1785…” (16th Congress, 2nd Session, No. 538 “Loss of Property at Valley Forge” dated 20 December 1820). In 2018, this is the equivalent of $828,250.

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Rachel Astley, Wife of Edward Farmar?

A lot of family trees have the wife of Edward Farmar as “Rachel Astley.” It is uncertain as to how or when this information was presented and perpetuated as fact, but it may be in error.

Note:  The following has been excerpted and edited from the book Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh.

Edward Farmar was only fourteen years old when his mother, Madame Farmar, died in late 1686. Per her will, he was placed under the guardianship of Dr. Nicholas More, Esq., who at the age of forty-seven, was half the age of Edward’s late father. On 22 December 1670, and with her father Samuel’s consent, Dr. More married young Mary Hedge who was sixteen years his junior. They both had children about Edward’s age:  Samuel, Nicholas Jr., Mary, Sarah, and Rebecca.

The More family were Anglicans, as Nicholas had attended St. Gregory Church by St. Paul, London; Mary was from the parish of St. Catherine, Coleman, London. The family had sailed from London four years earlier on 21 September 1682 to Philadelphia, where soon after Nicholas’ arrival, he was chairman of the Pennsylvania Provincial Council in 1682, secretary to the Council in 1683, member and Speaker of the Assembly in 1684, and chief judge of the Provincial Court in 1684.

Within a few months after appointed Edward’s guardian, Nicholas More died in early 1687.[1] Dr. John Goodson, a Quaker, was chosen as Edward’s new guardian by 29 March 1687. He had a daughter, Sarah.

At the age of nineteen, Edward Farmar asked Sarah Goodson for her hand in marriage. His proposal created a matter of objection with John that was referred to a group of arbitrators consisting of two Quakers (John Delavall and Samuel Carpenter) and two non-Quakers selected by Edward (Andrew Robeson and ex-Quaker Robert Turner).[2] The minutes from those monthly meetings, including the women’s monthly meetings, documents that the dissension between Edward and John must have been so great as to last the span of six months, and in which other Friends became involved to reach a mutual agreement between them.

“If anyone objects to the marriage, they should speak now or forever hold their peace…” One of many Quaker Monthly Meeting minutes detailing the feud between John Goodson and Edward Farmar.

 

Despite the fact Edward was well-educated and soon to be a wealthy landowner, we may never know the reason why Sarah was not fond of Edward. Perhaps she saw him as a brother rather than a suiter. Perhaps he was too stubborn and persistent for her, as evidenced by the six month disagreement with her father.

Sarah subsequently married 25-year-old Samuel Cart of Abington Township, a merchant, on 12 April 1693. Seventeen years later in 1710, Edward Farmar and Samuel Cart were elected to represent Philadelphia County in the Provincial Assembly. Time may have healed Edward’s heart break and bitterness toward Sarah, or working with his former fiancé’s husband may have been awkward.

Based on the birth of their eldest son Samuel in 1695, we generally accept that Edward married Rachel ___ in 1694 at the age of twenty-two. Many family trees have Edward’s wife as “Rachel Astley,” with claims to her maiden name perpetuated with “user submitted data.”

The Astley-Farmar marriage may be due to an interpretation of a 06 July 1705 parish record in Highley, Shropshire, England. However, there is no record that Edward stepped down from his duties as judge and travelled back to England. It is also unlikely that a marriage in Philadelphia would be recorded in a Shropshire record as occurring ten years after the birth of their first child. Further, the neighboring parish records in Oldbury, Shropshire, England have numerous baptismal, marriage, and burial records for several Farmers, including the following:[3]

30 June 1706, Elizabeth, daughter of Edward Farmer, yeoman, & Rachell, baptized

31 August 1707, Ann, daughter of Edward Farmer & Rachell, baptized

22 May 1709, Thomas, son of Edward Farmer & Rachell, baptized

21 May 1710, Joanna, daughter of Ed: Farmer & Rachell, baptized

15 May 1712, Ed:, son of Edward Farmer & Rachell, baptized

13 September 1712, Rachell, wife of Edward Farmer, buried

21 February 1728, Edward Farmer, buried

It is most likely that a separate Edward Farmer married Rachel Astley in Highley, probably the church she attended, and later attended the church in Oldbury, probably Edward’s home town. Based on the dates, the presence of other Farmer family members, the difference between the Irish –ar and English –er spelling of the surname, and the fifteen mile distance between Highley and Oldbury, the consensus is that Edward Farmar, immigrant to Pennsylvania, did not marry Rachel Astley. This is further substantiated by numerous Astley’s in Shropshire, yet an inability to locate the Astley surname in the Philadelphia region until it first appears in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s.

Jim White in his book Boone Family to America, 1670-1720, Volume II (2009) has Edward’s marriage of 1697 in Chester County to Rachel Ellis, born in Tyddyn Y Garreg, Merioneth, Wales on 27th day 1st month 1675. [4] Her parents were Robert and Elin Ellis “Preachers of Righteousness” who immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1690.[5]

More research is required to determine the validity of White’s claim, which is difficult as the book does not disclose the source. Also, each of the children of Robert and Elin Ellis name their children with the same names, further compounded by the changing of the Ellis surname to “Roberts.”[6]

However, there is a lot of other evidence that connects the interactions of Rachel’s siblings and their descendants with the Farmar family and/or other families connected with the Farmar’s.

The last mention of Edward’s wife Rachel is 30 November 1731 for the sale of land to William Lowther of Abingdon Township.[7] It is unknown how or when she died or where she is buried, presumably at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. There is no record that indicates Edward remarried nor is there a wife mentioned in his will.

Philip Farmer is the author and publisher of “Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh,” a 500-page, 155-year biographical history of the Farmer family’s immigration from Ireland into Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Harlan County, Kentucky. Complete with bibliography and footnotes that supports the research.

click me

“Very well written and researched…” Ms. L. King

“I love your work… Very interesting!” Ms. B. H. Baker

“Amazing research!“ Ms. J. Shipley

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[1] Mary Hedge More married John Holme of Philadelphia on 03 January 1687/8, his second marriage. Mary died intestate on 17 November 1694. By 1696, John Holme moved from Philadelphia to Monmouth River, Salem County, New Jersey before dying testate in 1704. (Cook, “Farmar of Ardevalaine,” p.96).

[2] Robert Turner is mentioned throughout the book as 1) a witness to the land transaction between Edward’s brother Richard Farmar to Thomas Webb and from Webb to his mother Madame Farmar; 2) his letter regarding Widow Katherine’s construction of a brick house on Second Street; 3) his letter to William Penn regarding the burning of limestone by Samuel Carpenter; 4) his letter regarding the building of new homes in Philadelphia; 5) In May 1682, Joseph Fisher and Robert Turner each purchase a 5,000 acre plantation from William Penn.

[3] Fletcher, Shropshire Parish Registers, Diocese of Hereford (vol. 16), p.22-23, 29.

[4] Browning, Welsh Settlement of Pennsylvania, p.518.

[5] White, Boone Family to America, 1670-1720, Volume II, p.86. While providing information regarding the Ellis family, no evidentiary proof within this source ties Rachel Ellis with Edward Farmar.

[6] Glenn, Welsh in the Merion Tract, p.284-285. All of the children of Robert Ellis took the surname Roberts when they arrived to America.

[7] Cook, “Farmer of Ardevelaine,” p.110.

 

 

 

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Who was on the Bristol Merchant in 1685?

When writing the book Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh, the research that created the biggest headache was in determining who arrived in America, who stayed, who died, and who returned to Ireland.

We know the Farmar family embarked on the Bristol Merchant which may have left Liverpool on 11 August 1685, arrived into County of Cork, Ireland for more passengers, and then arrived into Pennsylvania on 10 November 1685.

70 passengers and their belongings were on the Bristol Merchant, similar to this ship pictured above

 

The first item to discern was… who made the voyage? Several resources have a different account of the passenger list, which has been compiled below.[1]

Major Jasper Farmar (b, c, d, e, f, g, h)
Mary Farmar, wife of Major Jasper Farmar (a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h)
Edward Farmar, son of Major Jasper (a, b, c, d, e, f, g)
Richard Farmar, son of Major Jasper (b, g)
Sarah Farmar, daughter of Major Jasper (a, b, c, d, e, f, g)
John Farmar, son of Major Jasper (a, c, e, f, g)
Robert Farmar, son of Major Jasper (a, b, d, e, f, g)
Catharine Farmar, daughter of Major Jasper (a, b, d, e, f, g)
Charles Farmar, son of Major Jasper (a, b, c, d, e, f, g)

Jasper Farmar, Jr., son of Major Jasper (a, b, c, d, e, f, g)
Catharine Farmar, wife of Jasper Jr. (a, c, d, e, f)
Thomas Farmar, son of Jasper Jr. (a, c, d, e, f)
Elizabeth Farmar, daughter of Jasper Jr. (a, c, d, e, f)
Katherine Farmar, daughter of Jasper Jr. (c, d, e, f)

Edward Batsford, step-son of Major Jasper (a, c, d)

About twenty [b] artisans and Servants, all from Ireland [a]:
Joanna Daly, also “Joan Daly” and “Joane Daly” (a, c, e, f)
Philip Mayow (a, c, e, f)
Helen Mayow, wife of Philip Mayow (a, c, e, f)
John Mayow (a, c, e, f)
John Whitlow, also “Whitloe” (a, c, e, f)
Nicholas Whitlow, also “Whitloe” (a, c, e, f)
Thomas Young, also “Younge” (a, c, e, f)
___ Young, wife of Thomas Young (a, c, e, f)
William Winter (a, c, e, f)
George Fisher (a, c, e, f)
Arthur Smithy, also “Smith” (a, c, e, f)
Thomas Alferry (a, c, e, f)
Henry Wells (a, c, e, f)
Robert Wilkinson, also “Wilkison” (a, c, e, f)
Elizabeth Mayow (a, c, e, f)
Martha Mayow (a, c, e, f)
Albert Dawson (c)
Sarah Burke, possibly also “Sara Binke” (a, c, e, f)
Sheele Oceven, possibly also “Thebe Orevan” and “Shebe Orevan” (a, c, e, f)
Andrew Walbridge (a, c, e, f)

Thomas Webb (e, f, h)
Daniel Webb, son of Thomas Webb (e, f, h)

Servants of Thomas Webb:
John Beltshire (e, f)
John Robinson (e, f)
Richard Ford (e, f)
James Banbury (e, f)
Thomas Case (e, f)
Henry Ford (e, f)
John Fox (e, f)
Derby Haley (e, f)
Joseph Case (e, f)
Thomas Burke (e, f)
John Garrett, also “Garrell” (e, f)
John Mehone (e, f)
David Quinn (e, f)
Mary Widdam (e, f)
Prudence Stuart (e, f)
Katherine Robinson (e, f)
Richard Muske (e, f)

Nicholas Scull, Major Jasper’s nephew through Jasper’s sister Alice (a, e, f, h)

Servants of Nicholas Scull:
Samuel Hall (a, e, f)
Cornelius Davye (a, e, f)
George Gooding (a, e, f)
Miles Morin (a, e, f)
Daniel Morin (a, e, f)
John Ward (a, e, f)
Mary Cantwell, also “Cantrell” (a, e, f)

Thomas Carter, Sr. (e, f)
Frances Carter, wife of Thomas Carter Sr. (e, f)
Thomas Carter, Jr., son of Thomas Carter Sr. (e, f)
Henry Carter, son of Thomas Carter Sr. (e, f)
John Carter, son of Thomas Carter Sr. (e, f)
Ann Carter, daughter of Thomas Carter Sr. (e, f)

Jonathon Thatcher (e, f)

Ann Besor, from Bristol, bound for Virginia.[2]

 

The second hurdle was to determine whether Major Jasper Farmar died prior to the voyage, died en route, or died after arriving into Philadelphia.

Dies before the voyage? “When all arrangements had been made for the voyage Major Farmar died, when his widow, Mary and children… embarked on the ship Bristol Merchant, John Stephens, master, and arrived at Philadelphia November 10, 1685…”[3] If Major Jasper dies before the voyage, why is his name on the manifest list?

Dies before he arrives? “Major Farmar did not live to see his colony established as his death occurred just as the vessel came to port in Philadelphia…”[4] and “Some records state that Major Jaspar and his son Jaspar, Jr. both died on the voyage…”[5]

Dies after arriving? “Major Farmar arrived at Philadelphia, September 10, 1685, on board the Bristol Merchant, Captain John Stevens commander, with his family…”[6]

It is generally accepted, based on dates of Major Jasper Farmar’s will and the names on the manifest, that members of the family died en route and were buried at sea.

 

The third hurdle was determining the children referenced in the will of Major Jasper Farmar’s wife, Madame Farmar, dated 31 October 1686:

“In the name of God, Amen. I, Mary Farmar, widdow and relict of Major Jasper Farmar of Ireland, being weak in health but in perfect memory, blessed by God, doe make this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme followeing, that is to say, Imprimis, I give and bequeath my Soule into the hand of my God my Creator who give it me, and who alone is able to keepe it, and my body to be buried with or neare my children in this towne of Philadelphia…”[7]

Which of the children are buried in Philadelphia who preceded Madame Farmar in death? John Farmar witnessed the will which names Edward Farmar, Edward Batsford, Sarah Farmar, and Katherine (Batsford) Farmar (the widowed wife of Jasper Jr.); therefore, they all survived Madame Farmar. Administration on the estate of Madame Farmar’s other son, William Batsford, states he “died at sea without a Will coming from Ireland to this Province in the eighth month 1684” and was granted “in the second month (April) 1687” to “Edward Batsford, his brother.” It is inferred that William died during his trip in October 1684 on a separate ship as his name does not appear on the manifest of the Bristol Merchant. (reference Cook, “Farmar of Ardevalaine,” p.90.)

Cook states that “[Katherine, Robert, and Charles] were possibly deceased by 31 October 1686, the date of the will of Mary Farmar…”[8] Some accounts state that Katherine Farmar, the daughter of Major Jasper Farmar and Mary Gamble, died and was buried at sea with her father and her brother Jasper Jr. That no records exist for Katherine, Robert, and Charles, after 1685, it is accepted that they are the children referenced in Madame Farmar’s will.

 

The next hurdle was determining who remained in Pennsylvania. John Farmar is presumed to have returned to England where he married Mary Hayles in 1686 and had a son, John.

The last obstacle was determining if Richard Farmar had joined his family across the Atlantic, and if he did, whether he remained in Pennsylvania. Any evidence is circumstantial, but Richard may not have been on the Bristol Merchant. Only two cited resources have Richard making the voyage, whereas one resource states “[Major Jasper] also settled any financial obligations he may have felt necessary with his two grown sons, Richard and Samuel, who had elected not to make the voyage to America…”[9]

That Richard remains in Ireland is further supported by the last will and testament of Major Jasper Farmar dated 25 September 1685, with Richard’s inclusion on the same line as Samuel Farmar and Mary (Farmar) Webber (who also did not make the voyage).

“In the name of God, Amen. I, Major Jasper Farmer being weak in health but in perfect memory blessed be God doe make this my last Will and testament in manner and forme following that is to say, Imprimus. I give and bequeath my Soule into the hands of Almighty God that gave it and my body to be buryed wherever it shall please the Lord I dye… Item, I give and bequeath unto my sonns Richard Farmer and Samuel Farmer and my daughter Webber in Ireland tenn shillings a peece to bye them mourning rings, and to my sonn Jasper Farmer and daughter Web tenn shillings a peece to buy them rings…”[10]

Deposition: “Major Jasper Farmer to his son Richard Farmer. Be it remembered that Samuel Hunt of Philadelphia in the province of Pensilvania, being legally attested before me Humphrey Morrey, one of the justices of the peace of the County of Philadelphia, Deposeth and saith as followeth, that is to say. That he this Deponent, about the tenth day of September which was in the year 1685, saw a certain Deed from Major Jasper Farmer to Richard Farmer, of that date, sealed and executed by the said Major Farmar unto the said Richard Farmar for a certain ferme purchased by the said Major from one Sir Boyle Maynard, and upon delivery thereof this Deponent heard the said Major demand of Richard Farmar whether he was satisfied and whether he owed him anything. Whereunto the said Richard answered that the said Major owed him nothing upon any account whatever, or words to that effect. And this Deponent further saith that he, this Deponent, was desired by Major Jasper Farmar, since deceased to draw his the said Jasper’s last Will and Testament, dated the twenty fifth day of September 1685, which Will this Deponent drew according to his directions, and which said Will and Testament he the said Major Jasper Farmar, being of sound and perfect memory, at the same time did seal and execute and publish in this Deponent’s and Edward Farmar’s presence, who have subscribed their names as witnesses thereunto. In witness whereof the said Deponent hath hereunto set his hand the 8th day of the 5th month July 1687. (signed) Saml Hunt. Attested by and before me, the day and year aforesaid Humphrey Morrey.”[11]

The disposition of Samuel Hunt attests that on 10 September 1685, he personally saw Major Jasper and his son Richard agree to the settlement of the farm, and witnessed Major Jasper write his will on 25 September 1685. Samuel Hunt isn’t listed on the Bristol Merchant manifest,[12] and Samuel Farmar’s signature on the back of the will further proves the document was written before the family set sail, but still does not prove Richard stayed in Ireland.

“By deed of 23 April 1685, Richard Farmer of Arderrack, Co. Corke, Ireland, gent., conveyed to Thomas Webb of Racannon, Co. Limerick, gent., for £144,4 sterling money of England, his one-quarter part of 5,000 acres granted by patent and which by mutual consent of the patentees is to be divided by the Surveyor General resident in Pennsylvania, together with his share of such goods and servants as were carried over there…”[13]

“…That said Richard Farmer assigned unto said Thomas Webb for £144, 4, sterling money of England all his right and title in his said fourth part of the said 5,000 acres and his property of such goods and servants as were carried over by the said Jasper Farmer, Jr. when the Patent was granted…” [14]

Although most accounts chronologically state that Richard “soon” or “shortly after” sells his quarter share of the land during the probate of his father’s will, the date of the land deed implies that four months before the family departs for Pennsylvania, Richard deeded his share of the 5,000 acres along with his belongings already in America which arrived on his brother’s trip in 1682, to his brother-in-law Thomas Webb. If so, why would Richard make the voyage and leave behind his wife and four children under the age of nine?

[The other big question:  Why did Thomas Webb sell his land to Madame Farmar?]

If Richard had arrived in America, he soon returned to Ireland based on a deed from 3 August 1687:

“John Barnes of Bristol Township, Philadelphia County conveyed to Edward Batsford of the town of Philadelphia, yeoman, for £225 a tract of 500 acres on Tacony Creek in Bristol Twp., subject to a mortgage to secure three bills of exchange for £140 drawn on Edward Boyle of Co. Cork, Ireland, Esq., reciting that “Whereas Mistris Catherine Farmer, relict and executrix of the deceased Jasper Farmer (Jr.) late of the Co. of Cork in the said Kingdom of Ireland, Gent., did also this day draw three bills of exchange containing 50 Pounds upon Richard Farmer of the Co. of Tipperary in the said Kingdom of Ireland, Gent., payable in three score days sight thereof unto the said Richard Barnes or his order,” the £190 money of England, being in current silver money of the said Province, £237,10.”[15]

Burke’s Landed Gentry states that Richard “was obliged to leave Ireland in 1689, and retired with his family to Taunton Deane, in Somersetshire. He returned to Ireland in 1691…”[16] His will is dated 01 January 1690 and was proved 28 March 1691, naming wife Elizabeth (daughter of Robert Phaire of Grange, County Cork), and children:  Jasper, Robert, John and Elizabeth.[17]

It is presumed that the following is simply stating that Richard has died by 1767, as Edward was the last surviving son of Major Jasper, as it pertains to the ownership of the original 5,000 acres.

“At a Special Meeting at the Governors on Monday the 19th of October 1767: Peter Robeson agt Jno. Morris, On Caveat… Jasper the Son dyed and left his Share of the said Land to his wife Catharine who afterwards married one Billup. Richard also dyed Edward only survived…”[18]

 

Philip Farmer is the author and publisher of “Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh,” a 500-page, 155-year biographical history of the Farmer family’s immigration from Ireland into Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Harlan County, Kentucky.

“Very well written and researched…”
Ms. L. King

“I love your work… Very interesting!“
Ms. B. H. Baker

click to learn more

[1] Sources:

a. Bean, Theodore W. History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (1884), p.1139.

b. Mann, Charles S. “Fort Washington Historic Environs.” Historical Sketches: A Collection of Papers Prepared for the Historical Society of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, vol. 2 (1900), p.203.

c. Billopp, Charles Farmar. A History of Thomas and Anne Billopp Farmar, And Some of Their Descendants in America (1907), p.11-12.

d. Jordan, John W., Edgar Moore Green, & George T. Ettinger. Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of The Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, vol. 1 (1905), p.43.

e. Cook, Lewis D. “Farmar of Ardevalaine, County Tipperary, Ireland and of Whitemarsh, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.” The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, vol. 21, no. 2 (1959), p.90-91. Original citation “A Partial List of the Families Who Arrived at Philadelphia Between 1682 and 1687,” Philadelphia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 8 (1884), p.336.

f. Ralston, Harold A. “Ship Passenger Lists, Scot and Irish.” Our Ralston and Belden Family Histories. 2007-2017. Retrieved 24 September 2018:
http://www.ralstongenealogy.com/sislist.htm#forty8

g. Yeakle, William A. “Whitemarsh.” Historical Sketches. A Collection of Papers Prepared for the Historical Society of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, vol. 1 (1895), p.18-19.

h. Baker, Jr., C.A. “Chapter 21, My Pennsylvania Ancestors, Part 1.” Baker Family Tree. 16 January 2009. Retrieved 15 March 2018:
http://bakerfamilytree.blogspot.com/2009/01/

“In late August of 1685, Jasper and Mary Farmar, six of their children including three children from his wife’s first marriage, plus his son Jasper and his wife and their three children, and his daughter (name unknown) and her husband, Thomas Webb, and their son, and at least twenty of their servants and their children boarded the ship “Bristol Merchant” in Ireland bound for Philadelphia. Also on board was Nicholas Scull, son of Jasper’s sister Alice, and his seven servants…”

[2] “Indentured Servants Basic Search Results” Virtual Jamestown. Retrieved 24 September 2018:
http://www.virtualjamestown.org/indentures/search_indentures.cgi?start_page=522&search_type=basic&db=bristol_ind&servant_ln=%

[3] Bean, History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (1884), p.1139.

[4] Mann, “Fort Washington Historic Environs,” p.204.

[5] Billopp, A History of Thomas and Anne Billopp Farmar, p.12.

[6] Mann, “Fort Washington Historic Environs,” p.203. The date of 10 September 1685 is a misinterpretation of the Julian and Gregorian calendars.

[7] “Colonial Estates – Philadelphia, PA & Bucks County, PA,” Hobbs and Phillips Family Genealogy. Retrieved 29 April 2018:
http://www.angelfire.com/ga/hobbsphillips/colonialestates.html;
Cook, “Farmar of Ardevalaine,” p.93.

[8] Cook, “Farmar of Ardevalaine,” p.90-91.

[9] Baker, “Chapter 21, My Pennsylvania Ancestors, Part 1.” Note that Samuel will eventually immigrate to Virginia in March 1689.

[10] Cook, “Farmar of Ardevalaine,” p.93-94.

[11] Cook, “Farmar of Ardevalaine,” p.92. Recorded 9th day of 5th month 1687 in Philadelphia Letters of Attorney Book D-2-4, 166, now in Bureau of Land Records, Department of Internal Affairs, Harrisburg.

[12] “Samuel Hunt” is not on the manifest, but “Samuel Hall” is. Is it possible that Samuel Hunt was on the Bristol Merchant and that the surname is incorrect due to mistranslation?

[13] Cook, “Farmar of Ardevalaine,”, p.91. Recorded 1st day 12th month 1685 in Deed Book E-l-5, p.156.

[14] Cook, “Farmar of Ardevalaine,” p.91-92. Acknowledged in Open Court 3rd day 12th month 1685 and recorded 10th day of 12th month 1685 in Deed Book E-l-5, p.174.

[15] Cook, “Farmar of Ardevalaine,” p.90. Recorded in Philadelphia Deed Book E-l-5, 542.

[16] Burke, Sir John Bernard. A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland (1858), p.368.

[17] Cook, “Farmar of Ardevalaine,” p.99.

[18] Cook, “Farmar of Ardevalaine,” p.92.

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William Penn and the Farmar’s

As large landowners in southeast County Cork, Ireland, the Penn’s and the Farmar’s knew each other and continued their relationship into early 1700 Pennsylvania. The following is excerpted from the book Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh.

Musketeers at the Battle of Stratton, 16 May 1643. This battle during the English Civil War (1642-1651) shows an example of how the men under Major Jasper Farmar’s command would appear.

As early as 1677, William Penn was part of a group purchasing land in the western side of present New Jersey. Once the land was acquired, they immediately encouraged its settlement, particularly among English Quakers. Surprisingly, British Parliament and King Charles II granted Penn a charter in March 1681 as the sole proprietor of land that would become Pennsylvania. Historians have suggested that the British government, by granting the land to Penn, had hoped the troublesome Quakers would leave England. Some historians suggest that it was part of a debt repayment to his father Sir William Penn. Others suggest that, through his relationship with the Duke of York, it ensured James a friendly neighbor who was concurrently the proprietor of New York immediately to the north of “Penn’s Land.”

To build his new province, William began negotiating and purchasing tracts of land from the local Indians. Penn then immediately began an active promotion throughout Europe to market and resell his property. To attract settlers in large numbers to his new province, William wrote a glowing prospectus in various languages that promised religious freedom as well as other advantages about the new land in America. Within six months he had parceled out 300,000 acres to over 250 prospective sellers, mostly rich London Quakers. Eventually he attracted other persecuted minorities including Huguenots, Mennonites, Anabaptists, Catholics, Lutherans, and Jews from England, France, Holland, Germany, Finland, Wales, and Ireland.

One of his first customers was Major Jasper Farmar. Major Jasper had lived for many years upon his estate in Garranekinnefeake, or “Garron Kenny Fange” Parish, village of Midleton, County of Cork, Ireland. His brother, John Farmar, resided on his estate in the neighboring village of Youghal. William Penn’s father had been granted lands in County Cork, Ireland for his services during the English Civil War. With Sir Penn’s failing health, William was sent to manage the estate in 1666, and when Sir Penn died in 1670, young William, then twenty-six years old, inherited “Penn’s Castle” – over 5,000 acres across eight square miles of land near the present village of Shanagarry. The villages of Midleton, Youghal, and Shanagarry neighbor each other, and as large landowners in southeast County Cork, the Penn’s and Farmar’s knew each other.

As early as 29th day 10th month 1669, Penn writes in his diary…

“[29th day 10th month 1669] Major fformer & J.Bolese came to me. I had advise from F. din’d and sup’d at sh. I have perus’d Part of ye Jusu. Book.”[1]

[22nd day 11th month 1669] I mett Ger. ff’tz Ger’ld about ye windmill, we concluded on 44lb per An’o & what It shall be adjudg’d more worth by Farmer, & Gale. I paying quitrent.

[10th day 12th month 1669] we left youghall, & w. H. his daughter, R.C. & P.C. & ye rest of us Came to M. ffarmers, & thence to shangary, where we lay being Civilly treated.

[21st day 11 month 1669] I went & Coll Wallis to Coll. Phairs, about ye reference the land was returned 4s 3ds per acre. I paying quitrent. I abated 6d per Acre, & h’t was 3s 9d p Acre. we so agreed on all sides. He before C.Phair Beul ffarmer, Wallis &c: gave vp Inchs y’e hous not to touch & arrears of rent to pay. so we return’d home to C.Phairs ser’t 1s.

[1st day 12th month 1669]. M. ffarmer & M. woodly Came to C. Ceuls I. spoak to them. from thence we Went to Corke. J. Boles being with us. we meet with Coll. Phair. His wife. & seuerall of his ffamely.”[2]

Coincidentally, the Puritan immigration into America’s provinces came to an abrupt halt when Sir Oliver Cromwell came to power, since the primary reason to flee England, religious freedom, was removed. In an ironic twist of fate for a Royalist supporter, the restoration of the monarchy with Charles II in 1661 restored the “need” for immigration, and presumably from his acquaintance and conversations with Penn, provides Major Jasper with the seeds of thought to immigrate to Pennsylvania. Additionally, years earlier his great grandfather, George Fermor, had purchased shares in the Second Virginia Company Charter which funded the Jamestown, Virginia settlement as early as 1609 in which Major Jasper’s distant cousin, Thomas Farmer, had been living since 1616, although not much had been heard from him since 1632.[3]

Penn undoubtedly described Pennsylvania as being more beautiful and fertile than Ireland, with temperate weather, friendly Indians, plenty of wild game, and religious freedom – all overseen by a democratic government operating under a constitution where power was derived from the people.

Major Jasper, dissatisfied with the turbulent political and financial condition of affairs by which he was surrounded, and through his friendship with Penn, was led to embark for a new life by taking up a “Plantation” in the new Province of Pennsylvania. But at the age of seventy-two, with a wife in her late forties, and at least seven children still living at home, it was a personal investment fraught with doubt. One has to wonder the emotional debate and discussions between Major Jasper, Mary, and their children.

In 1682, Major Jasper sent his 29-year-old son, Jasper Farmar, Jr., to make a voyage of investigation in “Penn’s Land.” Pleased at what he discovered, Jasper Jr., on behalf of himself, his father Major Jasper, and his brother Richard, took up, in two tracts, five thousand acres of land by a proprietary patent dated 31 January 1683.

“L. S.: William Penn, Proprietary and Governor of Pennsylvania and the Territories thereunto belonging. At the request of Jaspar Farmar, Junior, in the behalf of his father, Major Jaspar Farmar, his brother Richard and himself, that I would grant him to take up 5,000 acres of land, being of the lands by the Indians called Umbilicamence, fronting At one end upon the River Schuylkill. These are to will and require thee forthwith to survey or cause to be surveyed unto him the said five thousand acres in the aforementioned place where not already taken up, according to the method of townships appointed by me, and make return thereof unto my Secretary’s office. Given at Philadelphia the 3lst of the l0th month, 1683.
Wm. Penn.
For Thomas Holmes, Surveyor-General.”[4]

Every obligation Major Jasper had with his family who wished to remain in Ireland, including his son Samuel, had been settled in preparation for the trip. His oldest daughter Elizabeth had died in 1682, and his daughter Mary Webber, who did not make the trip, had married and received from her father a large dowry. In late August 1685, Major Jasper’s family, as well as the family of his son Jasper Jr., the family of his daughter Katherine Webb, and the servants of all three families, boarded the ship Bristol Merchant commanded by Captain John Stephens. By doing so, Major Jasper Farmar made a full life-changing decision backed by a strong financial commitment. The trip was extremely expensive. Not only were there the costs of the passage for all of his family and their servants, but there was also the added expense to ship all of the family belongings, including their furniture.

The weakness and loss of weight for the passengers aboard the Bristol Merchant left them vulnerable to diseases, and at the age of seventy-five, Major Jasper Farmar was especially vulnerable. Somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, Mary Farmar buried her husband Major Jasper, her stepson Jasper Jr., her stepdaughter Katherine, and perhaps several others whose names have been lost in history. After a ten-week voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, the Bristol Merchant arrived into the port of Philadelphia, on 10th day 9th month 1685.[5]

“Madame Farmar” settled the land with her family in the fall of 1685, and the surroundings must have been like the Old World, all within eyesight of the neighboring “Manor of Springfield” – land located northwest of Madame Farmar that William Penn had gifted to his first wife, Gulielma Maria Springett in 1681. The entire Farmar plantation would soon become Whitemarsh Township within Montgomery County, and is so named today in the same boundary lines.

Thomas Holmes’ “A Mapp of Ye Improved Part of Pensilvania in America, Divided Into Countyes, Townships and Lotts….” (published circa 1687). Farmar’s plantation located in the center of the map, in present Whitemarsh Township.

Lime was manufactured in Whitemarsh at a very early day, and probably earlier than at any other place in the province. In a letter from Dr. Nicholas More,[6] a physician from London, Chief Justice, and President of the Free Society of Traders, dated from his residence at Green Spring, in the manor of Moreland, 13 September 1686, to William Penn, then in England, that…

“Madame Farmar has found out as good limestone on the Schuylkill as any in the world, and is building with it; she offers to sell ten thousand bushels at sixpence the bushel upon her plantation, where are several considerable hills, and near to your manor of Springfield.”[7]

Madame Farmar was not only optimistic and energetic, but an astute and proven business woman, frequently mentioned with very great respect. James Logan writing to William Penn of Madame Farmer, says “she is a woman of great business ability, and tact.”

Madame Farmar died in late 1686, leaving her estate to her surviving 14-year-old son Edward Farmar. Beginning in the early 1690s, Edward began buying land and selling parcels of the original 5000 patent in 100- to 200-acre plots. The sales served two purposes, one of which was to raise money to cover his expenses, and the other was to satisfy one of the agreement terms when the land was purchased from William Penn. Penn had stipulated that the property was to be subdivided as it was never his intention to re-create a large feudal estate in America as existed in England and Ireland.

In a letter from William Penn to James Logan, Penn references Edward’s desire to confirm ownership of 100 acres in the Manor of Springfield and to sell him an additional 100 acres for £100, a request not satisfied until 1713.

London 28th 5 m 1702
“…pray quiet ed. Farmer, J. Growden, &c: till my son comes, unless I should have more time to [be] perticuler now, w’ch is doubtfull, the winde being faire, after long westerly winds… For the land, It is asking me so much mony out of my pocket. Nor will I let it goe for 4 or 500 acres, but to reduce his other pretentions, & give security for the overplus of the value, if any. And in case it ever was a part of the Mannor of Springfield, I can part with such a quantity. But more of this per my son; only tell ed. Farmer no body else, if not he, shall have a foot of the land requests of me. vale.”[8]

With all of the land buying and selling, Edward has not sold enough property in forty-four years to satisfy William Penn’s agreement with his father Major Jasper Farmar and his brother Jasper Farmar, Jr. as evidenced by the minutes of the Assembly on 11th day 12th month 1734/5:

“That the late Prop’r was pleased to Grant to his father and Uncles who were purchasers of the Tract of 5,000 Acres of Land since called White Marsh the Priviledge of two Fairs every Year and a Market once a Week to be kept on the said Tract of Land provided that within five years they should procure twenty familys to settle and dwell there, which he confesses was not complyed with…”[9]

Edward was commissioned as one of the Justices of the Peace for Philadelphia County on 02 September 1701, and again on 04 September 1704.[10] It was an office he would hold for twenty-six consecutive years to 1727, and again continuously from 1728 until his death in 1745 for a span of over forty years.

For Edward, the office gave him the opportunity to work with his 25-year-old nephew Thomas Farmar, the son of Edward’s brother Jasper Jr. and Widow Katherine, who had made the trip to Pennsylvania at the age of ten on the Bristol Merchant. Thomas was personally appointed by William Penn as the High Sheriff of Philadelphia City and County on 20 June 1700 and was appointed again in 1701.

Part of his duties was to act as a water bailiff with the power to execute all legal process against any person, ship, or goods upon the Delaware River. Believing that the commission infringed upon his authority, Governor Robert Quary of Carolina complained on 14 November 1700 to the Lords of the Admiralty and the responsibilities were removed from Thomas.[11] As High Sheriff, Thomas was to keep the peace and enforce the law, while his uncle Edward Farmar as Justice of the Peace would have tried the cases and meted the punishment to those Thomas arrested. Among his other duties was to collect taxes, a task he did not do well for fear of making himself unpopular with the citizens who did not like the levies. After Edward Shippen,[12] Nathan Stanbury, Isaac Norris, and William Carter made a complaint to the Council on 03 February 1702, the responsibility was then relegated to William Tonge who was appointed on recommendation of the Governor and Council as “under sheriff” to collect the taxes and do it promptly.[13] Additionally, John Furnis was also employed by William Penn in 1701 to collect the £2000 tax in the town, “after Thomas Farmer had failed to discharge his Duty therein.”[14]

Thomas held the office until he resigned his commission in August 1703 with a desire to move back to England as noted in the Council minutes.

“Thomas Farmar High Sheriff of the City and County of Philadelphia acquainted ye Board that having a design to transport himself to England he must crave leave to lay down his said office, and therefore requested the Board that another might be appointed.”[15]

Another Farmar-Penn connection occurs on 22 August 1751, when 27-year-old Lady Juliana Fermor, Edward’s third cousin-twice removed, marries 49-year-old Thomas Penn, the son of William Penn, in St. George’s Church in Hanover. A section has been included in the book Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh.

[1] Penn, “William Penn’s Journal of His Second Visit to Ireland,” p.59.

[2] Penn, “William Penn’s Journal of His Second Visit to Ireland,” p.59, p.62, p.63, p.65. Penn’s use of the abbreviations “F.” or “ff.” may also reference Major Jasper, but have been omitted. References to “M. ffarmer” and other various spellings denotes Major Jasper, whereas the omission of “M.” may be to Jasper’s brother John.

[3] Farmer, “Thomas Farmer, Jamestown Adventurer:  His History, Descendants, & Ancestors,” p.15-16. Major Jasper Farmar’s grandfather, George Fermor, and Thomas Farmer’s father, John Farmer of Cookham, were second cousins as both were the great grandchildren of Thomas Richards alias Fermor. It is highly questionable if Major Jasper (born 1610) knew Thomas Farmer (born 1593) as Major Jasper was age six when Thomas departed for Virginia in 1616. It is possible that during the return trips Thomas made to England, that he did meet Major Jasper, or news of Thomas’ stories in America from other relatives may have reached Major Jasper.

[4] Bean, History of Montgomery County, p.1139.

[5] Mann, “Fort Washington Historic Environs,” p.203 states “September 10, 1685” possibly due to a mistranslation between Julian and Gregorian calendars.

[6] Bean, History of Montgomery County, p.vii of Appendix. Nicholas More, a physician from London, arrived soon after William Penn, in 1682, and had conveyed to him by patent, 7th of Sixth Month, 1684, the manor of Moreland, containing nine thousand eight hundred and fifteen acres. About 1685 he commenced thereon the erection of buildings, where he lived and died, calling the place Green Spring.

[7] Bean, History of Montgomery County, p.1139; Hobson et al., Centennial Celebration of Montgomery County, p.53; Published in Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 4, p. 445.

[8] Dunn, et al., The Papers of William Penn, Volume 4:  1701-1718, p.179 & p.181. Joseph Growden claimed 14,000 acres between Poquessing Creek and Neshaminy Creek, but William Penn had agreed to a total of 10,000 acres if Growden could find his father’s deed, and only 5000 acres if not.

[9] Cook, “Farmar of Ardevalaine,” p.97. From the minutes of 11th day 12th month 1734/5.

[10] Reference Martin’s Bench and Bar of Philadelphia for additional dates and Justices.

[11] Dunn, et al., The Papers of William Penn, Volume 4:  1701-1718, p.75.

[12] Edward Shippen (1639-1712), a wealthy Quaker merchant, Mayor, Speaker of the Assembly, Chief Justice, and president of the Provincial Council. Born in Methley, Yorkshire, England, he removed to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1668 and then to Philadelphia in 1693-1694. His “Great House,” which was on Second Street, north of Spruce, and overlooked Dock Creek and the river beyond, was occupied for a time in 1699 by William Penn and his family during his second visit (Myers, Narratives of Early Pennsylvania, West New Jersey, and Delaware, 1630-1707, p.332).

[13] Browning, “Philadelphia Business Directory of 1703,” p.734; Scharf, History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, p.180.

[14] Roach, Colonial Philadelphians, p.50. “John Furnis,barber in 1701, had arrived in October 1683 with his father Henry Furnis, and relatives most of whom, including John , were indentured to Robert Turner for four years. Henry took up on rent in 1685 a 50 by 100 foot lot at the northwest corner of Vine and Second Street “in the Governor’s Land adjoining the city;” here he, a sadler by trade, was taxed on an estate rated at £30 in 1693. In 1701, when John Furnis applied for the headland due his relatives, amounting in all to 350 acres, he [was appointed by Penn].”

[15] Minutes of the Provincial Council, vol. 2, p.66.

Philip Farmer is currently assisting families break down their genealogical brick walls and find information on their ancestors. He is also the author and publisher of “Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh,” a 500-page, 155-year biographical history of the Farmer family’s immigration from Ireland into Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Harlan County, Kentucky.

“Very well written and researched…”
Ms. L. King

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Wife of Stephen Farmer, Nancy Russell?

Did Stephen Farmer Marry Nancy Russell?

In 1682, Major Jasper Farmar sent his son Jasper Jr. to purchase 5,000 acres in Pennsylvania. Jasper Jr. then made the return trip to Ireland to gather his family and sail again for Philadelphia in 1685. Like his father and his sister, he never arrived and was buried at sea.

Jasper Jr.’s son Thomas Farmar, who was ten years old, and nephew to 14-year-old Edward Farmar (Major Jasper’s son), would grow up on Staten Island after his mother, Widow Katherine, remarried a British naval officer, Captain Christopher Billopp.

On 20 June 1700, at the age of twenty-five, Thomas was personally appointed by William Penn to be High Sheriff of Philadelphia City and County. He was reappointed until he resigned his commission in August 1703, when he sailed to England and married his step-sister Anne Billopp, Captain Billopp’s daughter.

In 1705, Thomas returned to America and settled on Staten Island. The 1708 Census of Staten Island has Thomas, age thirty-three, his children, and “Nansie Farmar, a woman.” Nancy was a common nickname for Ann, Anna, or Agnes in the eighteenth century.

Fast forward eighty-two years to 1790 and we find Edward Farmar’s great grandson Stephen Farmer marrying Nancy Russell according to family tradition. Nancy’s background to include her birth date, birth place, parents, and siblings is just as elusive as Stephen’s.

Stephen and Nancy moved from Virginia, into Tennessee, into Kentucky, and back into Tennessee. When using the 1840 federal census in locating Stephen and Nancy’s residence, or determining if they had passed away, there is an enumeration for “Sarah Farmer” in Hawkins County, Tennessee with information that closely matches Nancy Russell, assuming her husband Stephen had passed away.

Up to 1840, Nancy’s name has not appeared on a birth certificate, marriage license, census record, land deed, or any other reputable proof that Stephen’s wife is named Nancy. Given that we have no record for a “Nancy Russell,” have we mistaken the name of Stephen’s wife, and her name is actually Sarah?

Perhaps her birth name was Sarah Ann Russell and she had the nickname Nancy?

More information can be found in the book Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh available now through our partner LuLu Printing.