Phineas Farrand – the Friend of Man

An examination of the life of one man, solider Phineas Farrand, can reveal a great deal about the history of Morris County during the American Revolution.

Born in Newark in May of 1746, Phineas Farrand was a blacksmith in the ironworks of John Jacob Faesch. The Ford Faesch House was built by Colonel Jacob Ford, who would later go on to build Ford Mansion, General Washington’s headquarters during the winter of 1779-1780.

Phineas Farrand served throughout the war as a Lieutenant in the Morris County Militia. He fought under the leadership of many notable Morris County figures: Capt. Minard, Capt. David Bates, Capt. Jonas Ward, Capt. Abadiah Kitchel, Capt. Jacobus, and Colonels Ellis Cook and Sylvanus Seely. Colonel Ellis Cook operated a tavern at his house in present day East Hanover. The Half-Way House/Cook House got its name as it stood at the halfway point between western New Jersey and Newark,

Mr. Farrand died on October 5, 1822, in Hanover Township, and is buried in Vail Memorial Cemetery in Parsippany-Troy Hills.

Below is the text found on his headstone:
“In the various relations of life, his conduct was exemplary. He was a kind husband an neighbour. An unassuming professor of religion, he proved his faith by his works. Not narrowly confin’d to any particular sect but liberal in his views and sentiments he was the friend of man.”

 

Image: Headstone of Phineas Farrad, Vail Memorial Cemetery, Parsippany-Troy Hills. www.familysearch.org