Sgt. William Farrar, Sr.

A Patriot of the American Revolution for VIRGINIA. DAR Ancestor #: A038939

William Farrar (son of George Farrar and Judith Jefferson) was born Abt. 1718 in Farrar's Island, Chesterfield Co. Virginia, and died 1788 in Granville Co. North Carolina. Will: January 03, 1788, Granville County, NC. Will Probated: Aug 1788, Granville Co., NC. He named his wife and all his children.

He was probably the oldest living son as George, Jr. and Abel had predeceased their father. William married twice. First to Winifred Clark and second, in 1780, to Lucy Medley who is named in his will.

William Farrar, Sr. was the first son named in his father’s will. He probably received a grant of land for his military service.

On May 19, 1781, William sold his land in Virginia. In 1784, William purchased 500 acres in Granville County, North Carolina. William’s military service included: the French Indian War, sergeant, served under Major William Caldwell.

William Farrar was born in Henrico Co. Virginia and joined his father's family in their move to Mecklenburg Co. Virginia. He was a Sergeant in the French and Indian War, from Mecklenburg County under Major William Caldwell.

He later moved to Granville Co, North Carolina. While he remained loyal to Britain during the French and Indian War, his son George (and perhaps John as well) fought for independence in the American Revolution. After the Revolutionary War when most were struggling in an economic depression, William managed to prosper and increased his estate and livestock in Granville Co, NC.

On Aug. 5, 1760 he bought 100 acres on North side of Allen's Creek, Mecklenburg County, Virginia, very near brother Thomas Farrar and James Clark. In 1764 he was listed as a tythable in the St. James Parish of Mecklenburg - 1 person, 450 acres. Another land purchase of 200 acres is recorded in 1766. In 1780 he had 580 acres. In the 1782 Virginia Census he is listed in Mecklenburg Co., in the same district as his mother Judith Farrar, as the head of a family of 11 and 7 slaves. As he did not marry Lucy until 1780, his children would have been by his first wife, Winifred Clark. On May 10, 1781 he sold his land and in 1784 bought 500 acres in Granville County, North Carolina.

Source: Holmes, Alvahn. 'Some Farrar's Island Descendants' �1979 Huntsville, Madison Co. Alabama: James S. Farrior and Alvahn Holmes, 1979.

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