Ne Obliviscaris

52 Ancestors: Week 33, John S. and Nancy (Wilson) McFarland

Orginal post: 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

(26 Sept. 2026: added additional context to policing and political activities.)

John S. McFarland, son of Robert and Elizabeth (Sinclair) McFarland, was born in Delaware County, New York 10 April 18041 and died in New York City 1 April 1844.2,3,4,5 He married in New York about 1828, Nancy Wilson.1 She was born probably in Stamford, Delaware County, New York6 about 1811 and died in New York City 12 July 1844.7

John S. McFarland was serving as a policeman in New York City at the time of his death. The New York Evening Post calls him "Capt John S McFarland."3,4 He missed the modern organization of the New York City Police Department by a few months. During his time, it functioned as a night watch operating from 9 p.m. until sunrise. In 1844, the 12 captains were paid $2.25 per night. Along with their law enforcement duties, captains, in particular, were responsible for ensuring that the church bells were rung when fires broke out.8

The death register states John was living at 224 [West] 18th Street2 located in the 16th Ward which he leased from William Cairns beginning 1 May 1840.9 He was an active member of the Democratic Party serving as the inspector of elections for the 16th Ward on several occasions.10,11,12,13,14

The administration of his estate records "that said deceased has left him surviving his widow Nancy who is a Lunatic and is now confined in the Lunatic Asylum at Blackwells Island as a Lunatic and three children Sarah McFarland John McFarland and Richard McFarland." The children's grandfather, Robert McFarland, would be appointed their guardian.5 Two years prior, on 8 September 1842, his wife Nancy McFarland was admitted to the New York City Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell Island (now Roosevelt Island) by the police.15 She would die just a few months after her husband.

The following was written in a letter from John's brother David McFarland to John's grandson Benjamin F. McFarland:1

JOHN S. McFARLAND was born in Delaware County N Y April 10, 1804. Spent his youth on the farm. Went to Western N Y somewhere about 1825. Was taken sick with fever and ague and had to return to Delaware County. After regaining his health he went to the city of N Y where he went to work at the trade of a carpenter and although he never served time as an apprentice he soon became an expert workman. He worked as foreman of the carpenters in the old chemical factory until the company was dissolved and the business was discontinued. He afterwards worked some time as a pattern maker for a foundry. In all these occupations he was considered a first class workman and always regarded as a first class citizen. He was appointed a member of the police and served some time as a Captain of the force. When the system was reorganized for political reasons he was left. He married in the city of N Y about 1838 [sic] (I am not certain as to this date). Sarah [(McFarland) Goldtrap] or your father [R. M. J. McFarland Sr.] probably has the exact date. (Married) NANCY WILSON. They had 3 children: 1. SARAH 2. RICHARD M. J. 3. JOHN HENRY. He died April 1844. His wife died in the following year (1845).

Children of John S. and Nancy (Wilson) McFarland:1,5

  1. Elizabeth McFarland, b. 1830; d. Aug. 1832.
  2. Sarah McFarland, b. 30 Jan. 1832; m. William Goldtrap.
  3. Richard Mentor Johnson McFarland, b. 15 Nov. 1833; m. Jane Franklin.
  4. John Henry McFarland, b. Aug. 1837; m. Matilda Anna Jones.

  1. Letter from his brother David McFarland (1822-1902) to his grandson Benjamin F. McFarland (1864-1948); transcribed on Find a Grave, memorial 211709098.↩

  2. "New York, New York, U.S., Vital Records, Births 1847-1897, Marriages 1847-1903, Deaths 1798-1900," database and images, Ancestry, Manhattan > Deaths > Deaths Register: Manhattan > 1843-1845 > image 228, sheet 225, John S. McFarland, d. 1 April 1844.↩

  3. The Evening Post (New York City, N.Y.), 3 April 1844, p. 3, col. 1, death notice for Captain John S. McFarland, d. 1 April 1844; digital images, Newspapers.com.↩

  4. "U.S., Newspaper Extractions from the Northeast, 1704-1930," database and images, Ancestry, New York > New York Evening Post > Death > 1842-1844 > image 263.↩

  5. New York Co., N.Y., Petitions for Letters of Administration 44:81, John S. McFarland, filed 29 April 1844; digital images, FamilySearch, DGS 5522063 > images 158-163. Also available as "New York, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999," database and images, Ancestry, New York > Box 0008-28977, Vol 044, 1844-1845 > images 158-163.↩

  6. The almshouse ledgers indicate she was born in Stamford, Connecticut. There are no Wilson families residing there in the 1810 census, nor does there appear to be any Wilson births around 1811. Her son Richard M. J. McFarland's death certificate states his mother was born in New York. It seems very possible that Stamford may instead be the town in Delaware County, New York where the family lived prior to coming to Manhattan. In fact, her father-in-law Robert McFarland resided there in 1810. On the same page is recorded Ziab Wilson. Further research should be done to determine whether a relationship exists between them.↩

  7. "New York, New York, U.S., Vital Records, Births 1847-1897, Marriages 1847-1903, Deaths 1798-1900," database and images, Ancestry, Manhattan > Deaths > Deaths Register: Manhattan > 1843-1845 > image 234, sheet 231, Nancy McFarland, d. 12 July 1844.↩

  8. A. E. Costello, Our Police Protectors: History of the New York Police from the Earliest Period to the Present Time ([New York City]: by the author, 1885), 74-91; digital images, Internet Archive.↩

  9. New York Co., N.Y., Conveyances 405:248-249; digital images, FamilySearch, DGS 7178386 > image 263.↩

  10. The Evening Post (New York City, N.Y.), 10 April 1840, p. 2, col. 3, meeting of Democratic Republican electors from the 16th Ward; digital images, Newspapers.com.↩

  11. New-York (City) Tribune, 11 March 1842, p. 2, col. 3, inspectors of election appointed; digital images, Newspapers.com.↩

  12. The Evening Post (New York City, N.Y.), 24 Dec. 1842, p. 3, col. 2, meeting of Democratic Republican electors from the 16th Ward; digital images, Newspapers.com.↩

  13. The Evening Post (New York City, N.Y.), 29 Sept. 1843, p. 2, col. 6, meeting of Democratic Republican electors from the 16th Ward; digital images, Newspapers.com.↩

  14. The Evening Post (New York City, N.Y.), 30 Sept. 1843, p. 2, col. 7, meeting of Democratic Republican electors from the 16th Ward; digital images, Newspapers.com.↩

  15. Admissions Ledger, 1841-1843, pp. 301-302; Almshouse ledgers, 1758-1952, REC 0008, The Almshouse Department, vol. 103; New York City Municipal Archives.↩