[3] One of their sons, James Thomas Farnan (1875–1916) played VFL football with St Kilda, and was killed in action, while serving in France with the First AIF.

He fought the West Indian Peter Jackson in the second Australian heavyweight contest using Marquis of Queensbury rules in Melbourne on saturday, 26 July 1884.

The ensuing mêlée was of such intensity, ferocity, and violence that it was an hour before some semblance of order was achieved.

A meeting of relevant officials was held on Tuesday, 23 September 1884, which declared Farnan and Jackson should meet on the Thursday (25 September) to arrange a re-match:[7] Due to his deranged mental state, he was committed to the Kew Lunatic Asylum in early March 1891.

[9][10][11] Bill was the 2008 Inductee for the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame Pioneers category.