FARRIS, FERRAR, FARRAR
By Gladys Wheeler Farris

From a small town in Gascony, France, came the Farrises who settled near Versailles, Tennessee in the early 1830's. The town, Franceem, was also known as Ferriers due to the iron mines. From this and that his coat of arms bore six horseshoes, Gwalchelme de Ferriers took his name. It is said that he served as Master of Horse to William the Duke of Normandy, later known as William the conqueror. Gwalchelme arrived in England as a result of the Norman Invasion in 1066.

In the early 16th century, John Ferrar migrated to Hartford. He was related to Robert Ferrar, the bishop, and came from Yorkshire. His wife's name was Mary. John died in 1590. There were at least three children: Nicholas, John and Henry.

Nicholas Ferrar (1544-April 1620) an eminent merchant of London and a Member of the Virginia Company, traded extensively to the East and West Indies. Nicholas married Mary Woodenoth, daughter of George Woodnoth, Shevington. They had issue: Susannah, John, Erasmus, Nicholas, Captain William, Richard and Joyce. Nicholas and Mary were highly respected citizens and their portraits may be viewed in the Master's Lodge at Magdolen College at Cambridge.

Captain William Ferrar was the immigrant ancestor and the founder of the Farrar family in America. He was born in 1593 and came to Virginia on the ship Neptune in April 1618 and died before 11 June 1637, age 44. He amassed many thousands of acres of land by royal grants and purchases. His holdings included his home plantation of 2.000 acres in the James River known as Farrar's Island below Richmond, where the first four generations of the family lived in America. He married about 1625, Cecily Jordan, in Henrico Co., VA, Cecily was born about 1600 in England, emigrated to Virginia aboard the Swan in 1610; died Farrar's Island after 1637. Issue: Colonel William and Lt . Col. John.

Colonel William Ferrar (1625-May 1676) married Mary _________. Issue: Major William, Thomas, John, Martha and Cecily. Colonel William inherited Farrar's Island from his father.

Thomas Ferrar, born 1665, Farrar's Island, died in Goochland Co., VA at age 77. In 1686 he married Katherine Perrin, daughter of Richard Perrin, Henrico Co. They had eight children: Perrin, William,. Joseph, John, Martha, Mary, Sarah and Katherine.

William Ferrar, born Farrar's Island 1690, will approved June 1744, Goochland Co.. married Sarah ______, and had five sons: Perin, Thomas, Richard, William, and Joseph.

Richard Ferrar, born 1725, Goochland Co., died 1790, married first Elizabeth Saunders, second Susannah Sheltin and had issue: Stephen, Shadrach, Prisilla, Rene, Thomas, William, Richard, John, James, Charles, Betty, Nancy and Hezekiah. Of these at least four sons moved to Franklin Co., Tennessee, in 1811 — John, William, Richard and Thomas.

Richard Ferrar, born 1765, Louisa Co., Va, married in 1797, Martha McClalin of Hanover Co. Issue: Richard, Susie, Patty, Nancy, John and twins, Charles Blackman and a girl who died at birth. Charles B was brought by his mother on horseback and was almost lost as the horse had to swim a raging river. Shortly after their arrival in Winchester, Franklin Co., TN, Richard was kicked by his horse and died not long after. He and his wife, Martha, are buried in the Old Faris Graveyard on the Huntland Road about three miles from Winchester.

Rev. Charles Blackman (Kit) Faris was born 4 June 1809 in Louis s Co., VA. He left Franklin Co., TN and joined the Tennessee Conference and was sent to a large circuit in Rutherford Co., TN near Versailles. He was fond of a good joke and was a fine story teller. He was loved and honored by young and old. Many brought their problems and sorrows to him. It was said that he married and buried more persons than any minister in the county, if not the state. He was a reader of good books and built up a good-sized library. Dr John Mathews said of him in a book he published : "Charles Blackman Faris, according to the technique of the scholars, was not an educated man, but he was wonderfully magnetic in his association with individuals and his life was almost faultless. The people delighted to hear him preach as a singer, few surpassed him. He was considered one of the most useful men in the Conference. When he was sent to this circuit, one of his parishioners was Esq. John Ransom and his wife, Elizabeth, who was the daughter of Rev John Bowman, They were wealthy land and slave owners. They had a beautiful and accomplished daughter named Mary. The young preachers and a wealthy young man of Nashville became rivals for the hand of Mary. Mr Ransom was not blind to what was going on and he thought the Methodist preacher was first in his daughter's affections and though to advise Mary. He said, "Daughter, I have observed the attentions of the young preacher and this young man of Nashville. He is rich; he can provide you with a good home and all the comforts of life. When he comes to seel you, he drives a fine span of horses to a fine carriage. The young preacher is a gentleman--no fault to find with him, but he is a poor young man. He has no home to offer you. He can't provide the comforts you are accustomed to. If it was left to me to make a choice of a husband, I would not hesitate to accept this young man from Nashville." Mary said, "Father, if his horses were silver and his carriage gold, I would accept the Methodist preacher." Mary's father said, Daughter, I fear you will be making a great mistake, but if the preacher is your choice, I will not object." In due time, Charles B and Mary Ransom were married on 2 Oct 1839. It proved to be a very happy marriage and prospered both financially and spiritually. During his life he gave land for the Methodist Church near Versailles and also founded the Methodist Church at Barfield, know as Faris Chapel in his honor. Issue of this union: John Wesley, Richard, Alfred Ransom, Infant unnamed, Charles A., Mary Elizabeth, Susan, Dora and Fannie Alice. Rev C. B. Faris died 4 Aug 1887, and is buried in the Farris family plot at the home place hear Versailles.

John Wesley Farris born 30 Sept 1840, and is the first one to change the spelling of the Faris to Farris. He married Mary Anne Elisabeth Hopkins on 18 April 1866. She was the daughter of James Copeland Hopkins and Nancy Davis Adcock. Her ancestry may be traced to Jonathan Frost of Virginia who was killed in the American Revolution in 1780. It is probable that Mr Frost was of Quaker descent and loyal to the British.

John Wesley Farris served in the Confederate Army along side General Nathan Bedford Forrest in the Civil War. He was wounded in the shoulder and carried the bullet in his body to his death. In 1934 he was the only member of Co. S 24th TN Inf. Still living. He operated a saw mill on the Snail Shell Cave Road until his son Dewitt Hopkins Farris was old enough to take over. Dewitt purchased the land and moved the mill farther up the road. The business has become very prosperous. After Dewitt's retirement his son Sam C Farris bought and is carrying on successfully. John Wesley And Mary Anna had issue: Anna Mary, Susan E N, James Richard, Fannie Adelaide, John Wesley Farris Jr, Sarah Pearl, Lena Hopkins, Bessie Ransom, Cynthia Louise, Dewitt Hopkins, and Geneva Gray.

Dewitt Hopkins Farris, born 17 Oct 1889, married 29 Dec 1915, Nettie Woodson (2 Oct 1894-26 Nov 1973), the daughter of Limuel Fount and Mary Elizabeth Sudberry. Issue:
1 John Wesley Farris b. 3 Nov 1916, married 1st Annie Ruth Carlton, 2nd Josephine Ralston. No children.
2 James Hopkins Farris b. 11 March 1918, married Ella Gambill.
3 Dewitt Hopkins Farris Jr, b. 22 Oct 1919, married Mary Johnson. Two sons: Raymond Farris married Mildred McDaniel; James Farris married Gloria Jean Pinkston.
4 Limuel Fount Farris b. 14 Aug 1921 married Gladys Wheeler. Two children: Shirley Frances Farris and Deborah Elizabeth Farris. (See Gillespie family.)
5 Charles Blackwell Farris (22 Jan 1924-17 July 1926).
6 Sam Cox Farris, born 27 June 1927, married Sammie Carlton. Two children: Nettie Farris married Randal Thronberry; William Hopkins Farris married Linda Harris.
7 Alfred Garrett Farris (28 Nov 1925-24 Sept 1926)
8 Frank Corley Farris, b. 16 June 1927, married Bettye Gambill. Four children: Frank Corley Farris Jr; Brenda Ann Farris married Jimmy Burns; Larry Eugene Farris; Timothy Farris
9 Ellis Ransom Farris b. 18 July 1931, married Ruby Spray. Three children: Jimmy T Farris, Joan Farris and Douglas Farris.
10 Robert Irvin Farris b. 22 Sept 1932, married Sara Lyons. Three children: Cynthia Farris. Robert Farris and Anthony Farris

Cynthia Louise Farris (10 March 1887- 22 Nov 1980) married first Losey L Neely, with issue: John Neely and Mary Elizabeth Neely. Cynthia Louise married second, Jimmie D Woodson. Issue 7 children: J D Woodson, Margaret Sue Woodson, Leslie Fisher Woodson, Louise Woodson and Leila Woodson.

Ref: American's of Gentle Birth; Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 1,7.9; Original Lists of Persons of Quality 1600-1700; Hotten 1874; Benning Vol 1,11; Henrico, Louisa, Douglas Parish Register, Goochland Counties, Virginia; Franklin and Rutherford Counties TN records; Family Bible Records.