Joseph McFarland was the son of William McFarland and Elizabeth Kirkpatrick. His bible lists his birth and death dates. He was born on February 4, 1761 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, died in Cedarville Township, Greene County, Ohio on November 3, 1839. In "Robert McFarland (1675-1740) of Ireland and Pennsylvania" it says he died at 78 years, 9 months, 25 days, however, according to his birth and death date, this is incorrect by 26 days. He is buried at the Baptist Cemetery in the Cedarville Church yard.
Joseph entered the Revolutionary War at age 14, and served seven years. He was a cousin of the William McFarland that married Rebecca White. Joseph married Rebecca White's sister, Margaret White in 1782, in Rockbridge County, Virginia. They were probably twins.
Margaret White was born May 8, 1763 in Augusta County, Virginia, and died on November 3, 1834, in Cedarville Township, Greene County, Ohio at the age of 72. She is buried alongside her husband. She was the daughter of John White and Catherine Evans.

Joseph and Margaret had the following children:

Katherine (3 Oct 1782 - 1 Jan 1869) m. John W. McFarland
Robert W. (1 Apr 1784 - 23 Aug 1869) m1. Mary A. _____ (- 9 Aug 1828), m2. Catherine Henderson (- 8 Aug 1850)
Mary "Polly" (1 Apr 1786 - 1830) m. Aaron Brewer
Capt. John W. (3 Apr 1788 - 24 Jul 1840) m. Rebecca McFarland
Arthur (3 Apr 1788 - 22 Nov 1834) m. abt 1810, Jane Claypool
Joseph E. (3 Sep 1790 - bet 3 Feb 1836 and 4 Sep 1840) m. Rebecca _____
Margaret (12 Jan 1793 - aft 1810) m. William Newport
Benjamin (20 Aug 1795 - aft 4 Sep 1840)
Tabitha (17 Jun 1797 - 4 Mar 1874) m. 3 Sep 1816, John McHatton White (1793-1866)
Martha (8 Nov 1798 - 11 Jan 1873) never married
James W. (3 Sep 1803 - ) m. M. A. _____ (Unisa Jane (1847-1847), Emily Loretta (1848-1851), Anna Belle (1858-1880))
Priscilla (8 Nov 1807 - 1883) m. James Currie
Thirza (23 Aug 1809 - 2 Feb 1865) m. Uriah Lawrence

The 1776-1779 taxlist records for Lack Township (now in Juniata County), Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, show a Joseph McFarland being taxed in 1776 for 60 acres of land, 2 horses and 1 cow. Our Joseph was only 15 years old, and could not have been the same person being taxed. The same tax records show a Joseph McFarlin being taxed in 1779 for 2 horses and 2 cows. Again, Joseph was only 18, and still off to war.
The 1784-1797, State of Franklin (now Tennessee), land records show for January 16, 1784, John McFarlan entered 228 acres on south side Nolachucky River, opposite the mouth of the Little Chucky River. The warrant was granted to Joseph McFarland on June 25 1784 (Book 1, page 199). In 1785, there is a Joseph McFarland listed in the Washington County, Virginia taxlist records, but I am not aware that he was in Virginia at the time. On September 20, 1787, the Greene County, Tennessee land records show a grant for Joseph McFarland of 228 acres on south side of Chuckey River (page 47, grant #352).

In May, 1790, the Greene County Common Pleas records show Joseph and James McFarland as jurors in the case of the State vs. David White (page 160). The same Common Pleas records show a deed recorded on August 6, 1792 for Joseph McFarland to John Robinson, for 114 acres, on south side of Nolachucky River, "being part of a grant of 228 acres, #352 in Sept. 1787, to Joseph McFarland" (page 260, Deeds Book 2, page 193). On the same date of August 6, 1792, a deed was recorded for Joseph McFarland to James McFarland, for 114 acres, on south side of Nolachucky River, "being part of a grant of 228 acres, #352 in Sept, 1787, to Joseph McFarland " (page 261, Deeds Book 2, page 203). On May 15, 1799, the same plot of land that Joseph sold to John Robinson, is recorded as being sold by John Robinson to James Cravens, for 114 acres, on south side of Nolachucky River, "being part of a grant of 228 acres, #352 in Sept. 1787, to Joseph McFarland" (page 268, Deed Book 3).

Having sold his property, Joseph moved his family from Greene County, Tennessee to Harrison County, Kentucky, where Joseph is found in the 1795 census. They settled near Cynthiana, north of Lexington. In 1800 the brothers Joseph, William, and Benjamin McFarland are all listed in the Harrison County, Kentucky taxlists.

In June of 1808, Margaret White is mentioned in a lawsuit in Augusta County, Virginia.

In 1810 Joseph is again found in the Harrison County, Kentucky census as Joseph McFarlin (Page 317 - 11301-22210) with 1 son under the age of 10 [James], 2 sons between 16 and under the age of 25 [John Arthur and Joseph), and himself between the age of 26 and under the age of 45 [however he was 49]. He also had 2 daughters under the age of 10 [Priscilla and Thirza], 1 daughter between the age of 10 and under the age of 16 [Tabitha], and his wife between the age of 26 and under the age of 45 [however she was 47].

In 1811 Joseph McFarland moved his family from Harrison County, Kentucky to Greene County, Ohio. In the 1820 census for Xenia Township, Greene County, Ohio, Joseph is listed (Page 147 - 000101-02101-2) with 1 boy between 16 and under 26 [James], and himeself over 45, 2 girls between 10 and under 16 [Priscilla and Thirza], 1 girl between 16 and under 26 [Tabitha] and his wife over 45.

Joseph is found in the 1825 taxlist for Greene County, Ohio, and in the 1830 Census for the Town of Xenia, Greene County, Ohio (page 300) with 1 male 70-80 [himself], 2 females 20-30 [Priscilla and Thirza], 1 female 60-70 [his wife].
In 1832, some of the children and their familes moved to Camp Point, Adams County, Illinois.