In 1939, R. Bretton wrote an article for the Halifax Antiquarian Society Journal describing how he had helped Dr Lillian K P Farrar of New York to trace her descent from the Farrers of Ewood. He also outlined how they had registered Dr Farrar's right with the College of Arms to bear the Arms accredited to William Farrer of Croxton, Lincolnshire in 1609.
More recently, Sue Farrar Thorne has researched the descendants of Jacob Farrar who married Hannah Hayward at Lancaster, Massachusetts in November 1668. The results of her meticulous work were published by Gateway Press, Baltimore, in 2001. For further information on the Descendants of Jacob Farrar Jr and Hannah Hayward of Lancaster, Massachusetts to 1825. Contact Sue Farrar Thorne, 881 East Brighton Lane, Frenso, CA 933720 0772 (559) 434-7725. sueandherb@aol.com
Jacob Farrar, great grandson of Henry Farrer of Hollinghey, married Grace Dean at Halifax in 1640. They had a son Jacob, but Grace died, possibly while giving birth. Shortly afterwards Jacob married his second wife Ann, and they started a family. All this occurred during the Civil War which culminated in the execution of King Charles I.
In 1652, Jacob, with his elder brother, John left England for America. They settled in Lancaster, which had been founded by John Prescott, a Cromwellian soldier whose children were baptised in Sowerby, and who is thought to have left England because of religious persecution. Jacob's family followed him to America and arrived in 1658. The following year Jacob was appointed to assist in marking out the bounds of the town.
Jacob's son, also called Jacob, married Hannah Hayward at Lancaster, Massachusetts in November 1668, and they subsequently had four sons. In 1675, Jacob (Junior) was defending the town when it was attacked by Indians led by the 'one-eyed chief of Nipmucks'. Seven of the defenders were 'slain and mangled in a most barbarous manner', including Jacob Farrar Junior. His brother Henry was also killed in an Indian raid the following year.
Much of the town was destroyed by raiding Indians and Jacob's widow took the children to Concord, Mass. Jacob (Senior) also left Lincoln with his wife, his remaining son, Joseph, and his daughter. They went to Woburn where he died in 1677.
George, who was only five when his father Jacob was killed by Indians, was brought up as a farmer. In 1692, he married Mary Howe and built a timber framed house which became their home. In 1936, the house was lived in by his descendant, Edward R Farrar, cousin of Dr Lillian K P Farrar of New York. Their intention was to create an endowment and bequeath the old family home to the Society for Preservation of Ancient Houses in Massachusetts; a memorial to Jacob Farrar who settled in America.
Mr Bretton approached the College of Arms to enquire if the descendants of Jacob Farrar were entitled to use the Arms which had been confirmed at the Visitation of Surrey in 1623 to William Farrer of Croxton. The College ruled that only the descendants of William possessed that right, and as Jacob was descended from William's brother, he did not have the right to use the Arms.
Arms grated to John Farrer
of Croxton in 1623
Reference:
Bretton, R A Recorded Pedigree of
the Farrars of Ewood, HAST 1939.
Notes on the Ewood pedigree by 'Frank' D B
Farrar.