The first official record I have found of James in Australia is his marriage certificate.
On the 25th of February 1925, James married Ivy Agnes Nesbit at Eaglehawk, near Bendigo, Victoria, Australia.
Ivy already had a son, Charles Victor, born on the 23rd of February 1923, who was adopted by Ivys sister May. There are two conflicting stories about the identity of Charles father. The first I heard was that his father was Mays husband Andrew Scott and the other story was that his father was James McFarland. James used to take my mother, Emily to see Charles regularly when she was a child.
The electoral rolls show the couple were registered for voting in the Eaglehawke/Bendigo Region.
Monday, May 16, 2011
James McFarland Emigrates to Australia
We don't know why James emigrated from Ireland but there are vague stories that the farm his father George owned was too small to subdivide between the brothers. Looking at the George and Elizas marriage date and James and Williams birth date, it seams likely there were more than two children in the family.
Northern Ireland was going through great political upheaval, wanting home rule. The third home rule bill was passed in 1912. On the Public Records of Northern Ireland website you can view quite a few McFarland signatures in the area where George and Eliza lived. This is the web address:http://www.proni.gov.uk/ulstercovenantsearch/ .
In 1914 World War 1 began and in 1916 the Easter rising occurred. After the World War 1 ended in 1918 the Irish Civil War began in 1922, ending in 1923.
Children of George and Eliza McFarland
The children I have been able to trace are:
1 ) Margaret 26/10/1895 - No certificate as yet
2 ) James McFarland born on the 14th of March 1897 in Letterratt, in the District of Plumbridge, Strabane, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
His birth certificate, which I obtained in the 1980s stated the 14th of March 1897 as his date of birth, however James always thought his birthday was the 5th of March 1897. On the Latter Day Saints site Familysearch.org he is incorrectly listed as being born on the
5th March 1897 in Summerfield, Victoria, Australia. His date of death is also incorrectly listed on this site as 11th of November 1986.
James McFarland died on the 11th of November 1966, in Echuca, Victoria, Australia.
3 ) John 30/04/1899 - No Certificate as yet
4 ) Mary 22/05/1901 - No certificate as yet
5 ) William McFarland was born on the 2nd of August 1903 in Letterbratt, in the District of Plumbridge Strabane, County Tryone, Northern Ireland.
William McFarland died on the 29th of March 1983 at Whiteabbey Hospital, Newtownabbey. His usual address was 67 Marshalltown Road, Carrickfergus, Antrim, Northern Ireland. His Marital Status: Widowed. His Occupation: Retired Greenkeeper. Cause of death: Cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction and bronchopneumonia.
George and Elizas McFarland Marriage Certificate
The first official record I have of George and Eliza is their Marriage Certificate I received in March 2007.
They were married on the 9th of November 1893 in the Badoney Presbyterian Church, in the Parish of Badoney in the county of Tyrone by licence.
George was of full age, a bachelor, a farmer and could sign his name. His residence at the time of marriage was Letterbratt. His fathers name was William and he was also a farmer.
Eliza was of full age, a spinster, signed her name with an X and at the time of marriage was residing at Ballyrasolleens (cant read it). Her father was John Patterson.
The marriage was witnessed by John Smyth and Mary Jane Dack. The celebrant was Jackson McFadden.
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