McFarland, Thomas Stuart

Thomas Stuart McFarland was born 1810 in Indiana. He and his father fought at Nacogdoches against Col. José de las Piedras where he was an aide to James W. Bullock, commander of the Texas forces. From October 3 to November 14, 1835, he also served in the company of Capt. John English but did not participate in the Siege of Béxar. He served in the company of Capt. William Scurlock from July 4, 1836, until October 4, 1836. He was chosen lieutenant colonel of the militia there in San Augustine in an election held on February 25, 1837. He died in May 1880. Two Texas Centennial historical markers honor McFarland.

Handbook of Texas Online

He is quoted in the 1872 Texas Almanac:

I was the oldest son of Gen. William McFarland, and was born at Lexington, Scott county, Indiana, on the 13th of June, 1810. My mother died 1816. My father moved to Louisiana in 1817, and after trying several localities, settled at Monroe, Ouachita parish, Louisiana.
From Louisiana I accompanied my father to Texas, and arrived in San Augustine county, (then Ayish District,) on the 4th of May, 1830. When the trouble arose in Texas, in 1832, which ended in the expulsion of the Mexican troops, I joined the forces of Eastern Texas, which rendezvoused at Neal Martin’s, eight miles east of Nacogdoches. After the organization, the commandant, Col. James W. Bullock, selected me as an aid. I was in the battle of Nacogdoches, on the 2d day of August, which lasted eight hours. I wrote and signed the articles of capitulation, when Col. José de los Piedras surrendered. In 1833 I obtained the site, and laid out the town of San Augustine. In the fall of 1835 I belonged to the army under Gen. S. F. Austin, before San Antonio. In 1836 I served in the army under Gen. Rusk, three months. In 1837 I was elected Lieut. Colonel of Militia in San Augustine. In January, 1838, I was married to Miss Elizabeth Eubank, of Virginia, and moved to this (San Augustine) county, then a part of Jasper county. In 1841 I was elected to the Senate, to fill a vacancy occasioned by the resignation of S. H. Everett, and served one session. I have served three times as Chief Justice of the county. My profession was surveying, though I have tried several kinds of business, but mostly merchandising and farming. In 1868 I was bankrupt. I have raised ten children; the two oldest sons served four years in the Confederate army. Respectfully submitted for correction. T. S. McFARLAND.

Texas Almanac for 1872; Survivors of the Texas Revolution