hɪz ɡɹˈændfɑːðɚ, ˈɔːlsoʊ nˈeɪmd ɹˈɑːbɚt mək fˈɑːɹlənd, wʌzɐ ɹˌɛvəlˈuːʃənˌɛɹi wˈɔːɹ vˈɛɾɚɹən, ænd hɪz fˈɑːðɚ wʌzɐ wˈɔːɹ ʌv wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛlv ɹᵻkɹˈuːɾɪŋ ˈɑːfɪsɚ, məlˈɪʃə kˈɜːnəl, ænd dʒˈʌstɪs ʌvðə pˈiːs.
His grandfather, also named Robert McFarland, was a Revolutionary War veteran, and his father was a War of 1812 recruiting officer, militia colonel, and justice of the peace.