Husband of 1st wife MARY BROWN FARROW and 2nd wife Emphemia Brown. Son of John Thomas Farrow (1727-1776) and Rosannah Waters Farrow (1734-1782).
Mary B. _____ Farrow appears to be the first wife of John Farrow. Furnished below is an abstract of a petition for separtion filed by Mary B. _____ Farrow just as it appears on pages 148 - 149 of SC probate abstracts.

"FARROW, JOHN - - Late of Spartanburg, now of Laurens, and wife Mary.
Separation- - Badywine Waters of Sptg. for Mary. Alleges he took Emphemia Brown and left Mary. Mary had 11 children. Laurens
Equity Bx. D-5 1815
Laurens Equity 1820-1- -John Farrow - Complainent. Wife Mary B. Farrow- - had filed Bill for Legal Separation. Alimony- - her trustees are sued for trust property settlement.
5 Ch: Thomas F. Farrow
John F.
Mary Farrow -m- _________Summer
Sarah "
Hannah Farrow -m- ______Higgins"

Miss Brown and John Farrow went on to have seven children as recorded in "A Genealogical History of the Farrow, Waters and Related Families" by Audrey Doris Goolsby Farrow pg. 59.

List of Children of John Farrow:
1. Hannah Farrow, born in Laurens County, SC, married Palmer Higgins.
2. Mary Farrow, born Laurens County, SC, married a Mr. Jones.
3. Thomas Farrow, born circa 1780 married Mary A. Harris.
4. John Farrow.
5. Sarah Farrow.
6. Rebbeca Farrow, married John Moore.
7. Jane Farrow, married John Moore?

Revolutionary War Veteran.

Ordered that JOHN FARROW act as Constable for this County and qualify accordingly. From the Book "Spartanburg County, SC, Minutes of th County Court, 1785-1799, page 58.

In the book "Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution", by Bobby Gilmer Moss, it states that JOHN FARROW born 1 October, 1757, in Prince William Co., VA, while residing in the area that later became Spartanburgh District, he enlisted early in the fall of 1779 and served two months under Capts. JOHN FORD and THOMAS JONES and Col. JOHN THOMAS. He enlisted in the later part of 1779 under Capt. JOHN FORD and Cols. HAMPTON and THOMAS. In this tour, he spent two months stationed at Blackstock's Ford. About 1 March 1780, he enlisted under Capt. MARTINDALE and Cols. PRUVIS and BRANDON. He volunteered on 20 July 1780 under Capts. BENJAMIN ROEBUCK and THOMAS FARROW and Cols. THOMAS, WHITE and BRANDON. Part of the time, he was under Cols. CLEVELAND, SHELBY and CAMPBELL. He was discharged 1 July 1781. He re-enlisted that day and served under Capt. THOMAS FARROW and Cols. THOMAS, WHITE PICKENS and CASEY. He was engaged in numerous skirmishes with the Tories. When Capt. THOMAS FARROW was wounded by the Tories on the Tyger River on April 1, 1782, JOHN FARROW remained with him as a guard until he recovered. He was again under Capt. JOHN FORD and was in an engagement at Edisto Swamp. He was discharged on 12 April 1783. C. S.; A.A. 2312; A. A. 4123; X 3486.


Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements Pension application of John Farrow S21193 fn46SC Transcribed by Will Graves 7/20/06 rev'd 1/12/09 [Methodology: Spelling, punctuation and grammar have been corrected in some instances for ease of reading and to facilitate searches of the database. Also, the handwriting of the original scribes often lends itself to varying interpretations. Users of this database are urged to view the original and to make their own decision as to how to decipher what the original scribe actually wrote. Blanks appearing in the transcripts reflect blanks in the original.] State of South Carolina, Laurens District On this the sixteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand and eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas and general Sessions now sitting John Farrow a resident of Laurens district, State of South Carolina aged seventy five years and being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated—He entered the service in the Fall of "seventy nine" under Captain John Ford—was drafted for two months; lived on Ennoree [sic, Enoree] [River] in Spartanburg District South Carolina when he entered the service—marched under the command of Captain Ford to General Williamson's camp on the Hill opposite Augusta in Georgia; remained there a few days—started to join General Ashe's army but heard of his defeat and came back to General Williamson's camp under Captain Ford—was then [?] in Ford's company by General Williamson on the Beach [?] Island there to guard a crossing place—He was there under Colonel Thomas and remained there til his tour of service expired and came home. He then entered the service in the Spring of the year "eighty" under Captain John Martindale for two months—He substituted himself for a man by the name of Scales—marched under Captain Martindale and Major Bullock to Cupboard Creek near Augusta in Georgia. There Colonel Purvis had command—staid there two months and did nothing—returned home at the expiration of the two months. In the month of June or July in the year "eighty" he volunteered under Captain Roebuck and continued in the service off and on until after peace was made. He first marched after he returned to the Battle of Musgroves [sic, Musgrove's Mill]—was in the battle of Musgrove under Colonel Cleveland, Shelby and Campbell1
1 Of these officers, only Colonel Isaac Shelby was at the Battle of Musgrove Mill. The other two officers, along with Shelby, were among the officers at the Battle of King's Mountain. The principal officers at the Battle of Musgrove Mill were Col. James Williams of SC, Col. Elijah Clarke of Georgia and Col. Isaac Shelby of NC (that part which later became Tennessee). ; after the battle retreated into North Carolina through the mountains and there staid some five months—then marched back to Morgan's camp on Packolet [sic, Pacolet River]—there staid a few days and fell in under Captain Farrow [could be Farrar]. From thence [we] marched to the Cowpens under Morgan and was in the battle under Col. Thomas. After the battle [we] retreated under General Morgan into North Carolina then marched back under Captain Farrow into ninety six district; was there ranging about until General Green [sic, Nathanael Greene] besieged "ninety six"—then went under Colonel Brannan [sic, Thomas Brandon] to the
siege of ninety six which was conducted under General Greene. From ninety six [we] retreated back to Broad River under Colonels Brandon and John Thomas—There ranged about for some time and then fell under the command of Colonel Pickens and Colonel Casey—under these officers [we] went down to Orangeburg; crossed Edisto [River] and defeated the Tories camps; ranged about under Colonel Thomas til about the first of April—was in a fight with the Tories—his captain Thomas Farrow was badly wounded—was then ordered to guard his Captain til he recovered for about thirteen weeks—Then ranged about til peace was concluded—During a part of this time he enlisted under Captain Smith for one month to hunt for the Tories—He is confident that he served more than two years during the war and claims pay for the same—He was in the battles of Musgrove's Mill, Cowpens, and Tiger [sic, Tyger] River—was also in the siege of "ninety six" and had several skirmishes—He knew General Morgan, General Greene, recollects Colonel Washington & Colonel Marion—does not recollect the names of any continental regiments—He was born in Prince William County, Virginia on the first day of October "57"—Has no record of his age—has lived in Spartanburg and Laurens districts, South Carolina ever since the Revolutionary [War]—never rec'd any written discharge. He can prove as fact of his services by Captain Thomas Farrow [could be Captain Thomas Farrar] under whose command he served some time. He has no papers or documentary evidence of his services—James [?] and Mr. Gillam and Mr. Langston are his neighbors and can testify as to his character for truth and good behavior and reputation as a soldier of the revolution--He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State. Sworn to and subscribed the day & year above stated. S/ John Farrow S/ John Garlington, Clk [Alexander Kirkpatrick, a clergyman, and Robert Long gave the standard supporting affidavit.] South Carolina Laurens District
Personally came before me the subscribing Justice Captain Thomas Farrow2
2 and being duly sworn makes oath that John Farrow was a soldier of the revolution, that he served under this deponent, who commanded a company during the revolutionary war, nearly 18 [months?], that he was in the battle of Cowpens at the siege of Ninety Six, in the battle of the Tory Camps on Edisto and also in a battle on Tyger River where this deponent was wounded -- That this deponent has good reason to believe that the said John Farrow was in the battle of Musgrove's Mills and that he rendered other service to his country during our revolutionary struggle and that he knows him to have been a true friend to his country. This deponent also recollects that the said John Farrow was stationed on Beach Island for a tour of duty for five [?] months under the command of Colonel Thomas. Sworn to and subscribed the 19th day of October 1832. S/ John Garlington, Clk S/ Thomas Farrow South Carolina, Laurens District
Thomas Farrow S17946
Personally appeared John Farrow before me John Garlington, Clerk of the Court of Laurens District, who being sworn says that the following Statement of his Services in the Revolutionary War is Just & true.
That in all the different Terms of Service hereinafter stated he served as a private in regularly embodied corps of militia called into Service by competent authority and that during the time stated in each term of service he was not employed in any civil pursuit. That his Terms of Service were:
1st 2 months under Capt. John Ford in Col. John Thomas' Regiment in the Fall of 1779 in Ninety Six District South Carolina.
2nd 2 months in the latter part of 1779 & first of 1780 under Capt. John Ford in Col. John Thomas' Regiment within what was then called Ninety Six District South Carolina.
3rd 2 months March & April 1780 under Capt. John Martindale in Col. Thos. Brannon's [sic, Thomas Brandon] Regiment as a substitute in the place of Thomas Scales—Major Bullock belonged to the Regiment—Col. Purvis also was in command but did not belong to the Regiment. This Service was performed principally in the State of Georgia and Cupboard Creek near Augusta.
4th 5 months & 25 days from 20th July 1780 to 15 Jany. 1781 under Capt. Benjamin Robuck [sic, Roebuck] in Col. John Thomas' Regiment; the greater part of the time within the limits of Ninety Six District So. Carolina. A short period of this time was in North Carolina—during the Term of Service the Battle of Musgrove's Mill on Enoree River occurred in which he was engaged.
5th 5 months & 15 days from 15th Jany. 1781 to 1st July 1781 under Capt. Thomas Farrow in the Regiment commanded by Colonels Thomas and White. This Service performed in Ninety Six District South Carolina—During this Term the Battle of the Cowpens occurred in which he was engaged, also the siege of Ninety Six.
6th 9 months form 1 July 1781 till 1 April 1782 under Capt. Thomas Farrow in the same regiment & within Ninety Six District.
7th 1 year & 12 days from 1st April 1782 to 12th April 1783 under Capt. Thomas Farrow in the same Regiment: This Service performed principally in Ninety Six District, some in Orangeburg District So. Carolina.
That these periods making in all three years two months & twenty two days constitute the Service for which the applicant claims a Pension as a private—That his age at present is Seventy Seven years 1st October last and that he resided in what is now called Spartanburg District then being part of what then was Ninety Six District South Carolina when he enlisted [in] the Service: That he has resided in Spartanburg & Laurens Districts ever Since the War & lives now in Laurens District So. Carolina.
That the proof by which his Declaration is Supported in addition to the affidavit of Capt. Thomas Farrow already furnished is a certificate from the Comptroller's Office in the State of South Carolina which is herewith transmitted. The applicant says that he supposed all the other material facts necessary in his case will be found in his original Declaration and the amendments thereto and begs leave to call the attention of the Department mores especially to his Declaration marked 1 & his first amendment marked 2. S/ John Farrow
Sworn to & Subscribed before me this 11th May 1835,
S/ John Garlington, Clk., Laurens Dist.
South Carolina Laurens District
Personally appeared John Farrow Senior before me, who being sworn says, that the following amendment to his Declaration & proceedings generally made for the purpose of obtaining the benefit of the Act of Congress passed 7th of June 1832 is true to the best of his knowledge memory & believe.
As to the grade or rank in which he served, it was, throughout the whole term of his service that of a private --
His first term of service was as follows --
He entered the service early in the Fall of the year 1779 under Captain John Ford -- was drafted for 2 months & is confident that this term of his service was not less than 2 months as to the precise date of the month on which the aforesaid term of service commenced & ended he cannot now be particular -- but as to the time he is certain as above stated upon reference to his original Declaration he finds that the names of his officers are mentioned under whom he served at this time -- the places where these services was performed -- & that part of the time he was stationed & part of the march as he thinks will appear from his Declaration. His 2nd term of service commenced the latter part of the year 1779 & terminated early in the year 1780 & did not consist of less than 2 months & of this he speaks with certainty -- His Captain was John Ford -- Ford & his Company were under the command of Colonels Hampton & Thomas & for a large portion of this. They were encamped at Blackstocks Ford on Tyger River.
His 3rd Term of service Commenced in the spring of 1780 embracing the months of March & April -- applicant is certain that this term expired before the Fall of Charleston which to the best of his recollection was the 1st of May 1780 -- of this he is confident it did consist of less than 2 months.
His Captain at this time was a man by the name of Martindale -- Major Bullock & Colonel Purvis word the superior officers The other facts required as to this period of his service he finds are stated in his Declaration. His 4th Term of service commenced on the 20th of July 1780 as a volunteer under Captain Benjamin Roebuck & was under his command till the 15th of January 1781, on which day he fell under the command of Captain Thomas Farrow, for he distinctly remembers they were marching to the Cowpens on the 16th & that the battle occurred on the 17th of the same month.
This term embraces 5 months & 15 days Benjamin Roebuck was his Captain as aforesaid until he fell under the command of Captain Farrow as aforesaid -- the superior officers were Colonels Thomas & White -- During this period he was engaged in a desultory warfare against the Tories in larger or smaller companies as the exigencies of the times required. -- He was almost constantly traversing the Country -- always under the command of a Competent Officer & he believes entirely within the limits of that portion of Country then called Ninety-Six District.
His 5th Term of service he dates from the aforesaid 15th of January 1781 till the first day of July 1781, the time at which the siege of 96 was abandoned, making 5 months & 15 days. During this period he was commanded by Captain Thomas Farrow. His Colonels were Thomas & White. During this portion of this time he was stationed at 96. The residue traversing the country in pursuit of the British & Tories: His 6th term of service he dates from the first day of July 1781 till the first of April 1782 making a term of 9 months During this time he was under the command of Captain Thomas Farrow in skirmishing parties against the Tories in different parts of South Carolina -- but entirely
within the its limits -- the Colonels in command were Thomas & White. At Bryant's Mills on Tyger River to the best of his recollection, his Captain Thomas Farrow was severely wounded during the first days of April 1782, the day precisely he cannot now identify. After this incident, which occurred in an engagement with the Tories at the place aforesaid he & others of Captain Farrow's company remained with him as a guard until he recovered of his wounds, a portion of the time, which was not less than 3 months, at the house of Colonel White, the residue at that of Captain Farrow. During this 3 months Captain John Ford was deputed to act as Captain. For a portion of this time as the presence of the whole war detachment was not necessary for the purposes aforesaid, some of the man or otherwise engaged to wit in traversing the Country & in repelling the attacks of the Tories -- Captain Farrow received the Command as soon as he recovered & for the residue of the us last mentioned period he was engaged in protecting the Country generally from the ravages of the royalist who at this time were committing many depredations on the persons & property of the Whigs -- And during this period he was entirely within the limits of the State. White & Thomas still remaining the Colonels in command.
Throughout the whole period of his service he was attached to regularly embodied Course called out by competent authority to act by the State -- the service through out in the First Sparta Regiment.
Applicant would mention as a reason why his different terms of service follows each in quick succession that the Army was in fact the only place of security as well as the proper post of duty, the necessities of the Country imperiously requiring the services of its arms bearing citizens. Applicant upon reflection & upon a careful reference to his Declaration & previous proceedings [indecipherable word] the all the material facts required by the act to be stated, have been stated with as much accuracy & precision as he now can, & that if, there are still deficiencies he hopes the impediments arising therefrom will be obviated, from the failure of memory consequent on his advanced age & the lapse of time. From the time at which he entered the service as a militia man up to his discharge in the month of April 1783 he was engaged in no civil pursuit and or in any private occupation whatever.
This amendment sworn to & subscribed before me a Justice of the Peace by John Farrow Senior, as true to the best of his recollection & belief this the 11th July 1834
S/ Robert Cunningham, JP S/ John Farrow
[fn p. 37-39]
South Carolina Laurens District
Personally came before me the Subscribing Justice Thomas Farrow who being sworn in due form of law on his oath saith that sometime in October 1780 he entered the service under Colonel John Thomas and Thomas told him to take the command of the company (about 2 years before that Thomas had given him his first Continental commission) about the 10th of January following we joined General Morgan at Grindal Shoals on Pacolet River when we got to Colonel Morgan's Camps John Farrow was there and there he fell into ranks under me from there we marched to the Cowpens with Colonel Morgan and Colonel Thomas and Colonel White Colonel Roebuck and Colonel Washington we were in the battle there we marched with Morgan some distance and Colonel White with a part of the Regiment turned back to keep the Tories under I with
others [2 indecipherable words] then saw it necessary to Join Colonel Brannons [sic, Brandon's] men for safety for the Tories then were numerous and powerful we continued with Colonel White and Colonel Brandon till General Greene came and laid siege to Ninety Six we joined his camps when Greene retreated our Regiment staid in our own State sometimes we were after the Tories and British and sometimes the Tories and British were after us after having scrimmages till April 1782 when I got very badly wounded in a fight with the Tories then Colonel White ordered my men to guard me and moved me to his own house I only detained a few the rest then went under Captain Ford after about 4 months I got well enough to go into the service again and my men returned under my command and about February 1783 we joined Colonel Casey and other Colonels who marched to Orangeburg and helped to Defeat a great body of Tories in the Edisto Swamps we killed a good many of the Tories and destroyed their camps and when we marched back Colonel Casey told us we might go home if he wanted us he would let us know John Farrow was with me sometimes at Colonel White's where I lay wounded and sometimes with Captain Ford on short tours after I returned to the service he was with me Colonel Casey' verbal discharge was all I got in the whole tour -- that I think continued upwards of 2 years and I think that about half the duty we done in the revolutionary war and to the best of my Recollection I believe the above statement to be true.
Sworn and subscribed before made this 13 day of March 1833.
S/ Robt. Cunningham, JP S/ Thos Farrow
[fn p. 40]
South Carolina Laurens District
Personally appeared before me the Subscribing Justice of the peace Thomas Farrow who upon oath saith & deposeth that it comes within his knowledge that Colonel John Thomas Senior, General Williamson, Captain Ford, Colonel John Thomas, Junior, Captain Roebuck, Major Thomas Brandon, afterwards Colonel, Colonel Levi Casey, Captain James Dillard & Colonel William Henderson were during the revolutionary war lawful officers & called into the service by competent authority.
Sworn to before me this 11th day of July 1834.
S/ Robt Cunningham, JP S/ Thos. Farrow

The following information was provided by Vonnie L Cantrell:

Will you remove the line, "He was in the battle of Musgrove's Mill, King's Mountain and Cowpens to name a few." The statement is incorrect. The sentence reads as if Dr. Moss, for whom I have the greatest respect, documented that Farrow fought at King's Mountain. In "The Patriots at Kings Mountain," Moss named John, Samuel, Thomas, and Landon Farrow as "MEN WHO WERE POSSIBLY ON THE KINGS MOUNTAIN CAMPAIGN OR WERE POSSIBLY IN THE BATTLE." Lyman C. Draper did not mention any members of the Farrow family as having participated in the battle in his tome, "King's Mountain and Its Heroes."

Most telling: A close read of his Application reveals John Farrow made no mention whatsoever of King's Mountain. he never claimed he fought at King's Mountain. In fact, he testified that he was not in the vicinity. Per his Application for Revolutionary War Pension, S21193: "He first marched after he returned to the Battle of Musgroves [sic, Musgrove's Mill, August 18, 1780]—was in the battle of Musgrove under Colonel Cleveland, Shelby and Campbell1; after the battle retreated into North Carolina through the mountains and there staid some five months—then marched back to Morgan's camp on Packolet [sic, Pacolet River]—there staid a few days and fell in under Captain Farrow [could be Farrar]. From thence [we] marched to the Cowpens under Morgan and was in the battle [January 17, 1781] under Col. Thomas."

The Battle of King's Mountain was fought on October 7, 1780 in South Carolina. That was during the period Farrow had retreated in the NC mountains. His timeline dovetails perfectly: from August 1780 to January 1781 covers 5 months, the exact time he relates.

As did John Farrow, Landon Farrow and Thomas Farrow each filed an Application for Revolutionary War Pension . (W21088 and S17946, respectively: reference revwarapps.org.) All three fought at the Battle of Cowpens: not one mentioned King's Mountain.

Many assume that if a Patriot fought under a commander on one occasion, he fought under the commander in all battles when it wasn't the case. Shelby, Sevier, Williams, Clarke, and other military leaders fought in many battles and led companies consisting of a variety of soldiers, some who had volunteered and others who had been drafted. This has caused many assumptions and great confusion.

A footnote in the Application seems to be another source of confusion regarding John Farrow's military record:

1 Of these officers, only Colonel Isaac Shelby was at the Battle of Musgrove Mill. The other two officers, along with Shelby, were among the officers at the Battle of King's Mountain. The principal officers at the Battle of Musgrove Mill were Col. James Williams of SC, Col. Elijah Clarke of Georgia and Col. Isaac Shelby of NC (that part which later became Tennessee). It was, thus, the footnote referencing King's Mountain, not Farrow.