TWIGS TO TREES #52 SEPTEMBER 2023
Twigs to Trees
September, 2023
Mary Helen Haines
We have over 70 CMW members in the U.S. who descend from one immigrant ancestor, Robert McFarland (1675-1751) of northern Ireland, who came to Pennsylvania in 1719 with wife Jennet and 5 children. Their last child, Rebecca, was born and baptized in Pennsylvania in 1720. Forty-four men who descend from this line have tested their Y-DNA and share the haplogroup BY3019. BY3019 originated in Ireland in the 1650s, and is a downstream variant of BY7792 which is shared by people in Scotland and dates to around the 1570s. A CMW member asked me to organize a travel tour for members of this lineage so we could travel in the footsteps of our ancestors. Life happens, and we never did the tour, but I thought I would share with you the journey that could be taken, and how it connects up with the Heritage Trail that exists on our website. The trail starts in Pennsylvania then follows the path taken by Robert’s sons Robert Jr. and John Sr. as they moved south along what became The Great Road into western Pennsylvania, then south to Virginia, The journey follows John Sr. and his sons Robert and John Jr. as they left Virginia following the Wilderness Road into Tennessee. Then a mere 15 years later John Jr. and John III moved into North Carolina. Finally the trail moves across Tennessee to the Mississippi River to end in St. Francois County, Missouri where Senator John III died in 1820.
Driving the Heritage Trail Tour for the descendants of Robert McFarland (1675-1751)
The length of drives is assuming no stops, but I know that is impossible! Once you arrive at your destination, exact McFarland locations to visit are found in our Heritage Trail links below.