Dr William Macfarlane

1701 - 1791


Biography

Second son of John Macfarlane of Macfarlane and his second wife Helen, daughter of Robert, second Viscount Arbuthnot. Physician in Edinburgh. Succeeded his elder brother William in 1767. Married Christian, duaghter of James Dewar of Vogrie. Became heavily in debt due to luxorious living and gambling. Sold the family estates of Arrochar in Scotland in 1784 to Ferguson of Wraith for £28,000 who sold them to Sir James Colquhoun of Luss in 1821 for £78,000. Successed by his eldest son John, who became 22nd Chief of the Clain.

Inherited the Jamaican property of his brother Alexander Macfarlane in 1755, along with his elder brother, Walter Macfarlane (both q.v.). Sold the property to John Wallace in 1762, but appears to have retained Serge Island which was in the hands of trustees from at least 1782 onwards.


Sources

John Macfarlane, History of Clan MacFarlane (Glasgow, 1922) pp. 140-151.

Charles Rogers, The Book of Wallace ( Edinburgh, Printed for the Grampian club, 1839), Vol. I p. 106.


Further Information

Absentee?
British/Irish
Spouse
Christian Dewar
Children
Walter (1731-), Robert (1734-), Janet (1736-), Helen (1738-), Thomas (1739-), Rachel (1740-), William (1740-), John (1741-)
Occupation
Physician

Associated Estates (5)

The dates listed below have different categories as denoted by the letters in the brackets following each date. Here is a key to explain those letter codes:

  • SD - Association Start Date
  • SY - Association Start Year
  • EA - Earliest Known Association
  • ED - Association End Date
  • EY - Association End Year
  • LA - Latest Known Association
23/08/1755 [SD] - 02/08/1762 [ED] → Joint owner
1759 [EA] - 1762 [LA] → Joint owner
1781 [EA] - 1781 [LA] → Joint owner
1782 [EA] - 1791 [LA] → Other

Trustees of Dr William Macfarlane were in control of the Serge Island estate from at least 1782 until his death in 1792.

1759 [EA] - → Joint owner

Relationships (2)

Brothers
Brothers

Addresses (2)

Edinburgh, Midlothian (Edinburgh), Central Scotland, Scotland
Arrochar, Dunbartonshire, Argyll & Bute, Scotland