The McFarland Clan in North America
Draft vesion of the Robert mcFarland Book on the McFarland genealogy is here.

One major update underway ios the conversion of the index numbering plan from the alpha-numeric scheme used by Daniel Y. McFarland in his book of 1910 to a strictly numeric one used by most genealogy sites today. [rwm]

As we gather information about branches on the family tree we will present that information here....

On the lighter side....
Those of you familiar with the area around Belfast, Maine, know of the WAUQUEEG River. Now known as the Passagassawauqueeg and for it's, shall we say, pungent aroma at low tide. What you may not know is the controversy that surrounds the correct pronunciation of said river's name.

Most say that it is pronounced PA-SAGA-SA-WAU-QUEEG, however others insist on PASSA-GASSA-WAU-QUEEG. This debate has raged for several hundred years. Delving into McFarland family history produces the answer.

It seems that a pair of McFarland Family brothers, from what most would call a relatively obscure branch of the family, were on a trip from Grand Manan, New Brunswick to Boston, Massachusetts in the late 1700's. This pair, Angelo and Tony McFarland, came upon the river in question, as they meandered south, and immediately noticed the odoriferous emanations from yon mud flat. Tony, turned to Angelo and exclaimed, "Hey Angelo, you passa gassa?” To which, the incensed Angelo replied, " No Tony! I no passa gassa. That's the Wau Queeg River.

And there you have it. Another bit of historical trivia from the McFarland Archives.


[ Descendents of Daniel McFarland in North America ]
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