Manuscripts Department
Library of the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill
SOUTHERN HISTORICAL COLLECTION
#3880
MICHAEL FERRALL PAPERS
Inventory
Abstract: Michael Ferrall (b. 1811), was a general
commission merchant of Halifax, N.C., and Norfolk, Va.
Included are four account books, 1845-1861, a
lettercopy book, 1844-1861, and correspondence, 1830-
1856 of Michael Ferrall documenting his commission
business; assorted papers, 1831-1832, relating to the
mobilization of the Halifax County militia during the
Nat Turner rebellion; miscellaneous volumes, including
the medical account book, 1865, of Dr. M. A. Wilcox of
Halifax County and the diary of Marshall Gary as a
student at St. Mary's College, Belmont, N.C., 1903;
and a history of the Jones, Eppes, Bond, Ferrall, and
McMahon families written in 1932 (7 p.).
Online Catalog Terms:
Accounting--Books of account.
Bond family--Genealogy.
College students--North Carolina--Social life and customs--
20th century.
Commission merchants--North Carolina--History--19th century.
Commission merchants--Virginia--History--19th century.
Diaries--North Carolina--History--20th century.
Eppes family--Genealogy.
Ferrall family--Genealogy.
Ferrall, Michael, b. 1811.
Gary, Marshall, fl. 1905.
Halifax County (N.C.)--Commerce--History--19th century.
Halifax County (N.C.)--Militia--History--19th century.
Jones family--Genealogy.
McMahon family--Genealogy.
Norfolk (Va.)--Commerce--History--19th century.
Physicians--North Carolina--History--19th century.
Saint Mary's College (Belmont, N.C.)--Students--History--20th
century.
Slavery--Virginia--Insurrections, etc.
Southampton Insurrection, 1831.
Wilcox, M. A., fl. 1865.
Size: About 70 items (1.0 linear feet).
Provenance: Received from the estate of Nannie Gary of
Halifax, N.C., in February 1969, and Joseph J.
McMahon of Richmond, Va., in June 1969.
Access: No restrictions.
Processing Note: This collection was processed with support
from the Randleigh Foundation Trust.
Copyright: Retained by the authors of items in these papers,
or their descendants, as stipulated by United
States copyright law.
Table of Contents:
Biographical Note
Series Descriptions
Series 1. Michael Ferrall Papers
Series 2. Halifax County Papers
Series 3. Volumes
Shelf List
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Michael Ferrall was born in County Longford, Ireland, in 1811.
He had five brothers, Thomas, James, Charles, Edward, and
Francis.
Michael Ferrall came to the United States and worked in the
merchandising business in Petersburg and Norfolk, Va. He began a
general commission business in 1830 in partnership with his
brother Thomas and with Dumas and McIlwaine in Halifax. Michael
bought out Dumas and McIlwaine's shares in the business in 1834
and his brother's in 1839. Michael began another general
commission business in 1845 in Norfolk, Va., and, in the next
year, he went into partnership with Edward and Charles Ferrall in
Halifax. He continued his business at least until 1861.
Michael Ferrall married Mary Elizabeth Eppes of Halifax. They
had one son who died in infancy and two daughters, Hibernia
Francenia and Harriet Anne. Hibernia Francenia married Dr.
Dominic James Maguire (b. 1835 in Ballyconnel, Ireland), who
practiced medicine in Halifax. Harriet's first husband was
Captain John Tormey, C.S.A., also a native of Ireland. Their
daughter, May Ursula, married into the Gary family. Harriet's
second husband was Joseph McMahon.
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series 1. Michael Ferrall Papers
1830-1969. About 35 items.
Letters to Ferrall from Fathers Timothy and John O'Brien in
Lowell, Mass., 1852-1856; bills and receipts for his daughter
Anne's education at the School of the Visitation Sisters at
Georgetown, Washington, D.C.; various business documents and
papers; and a history of the Jones, Eppes, Bond, Ferrall, and
McMahon families written in 1932 by Sister Claire Agnes, Mother
Superior of the Ursuline Convent at Columbia, S.C. See Series 3
for other Michael Ferrall materials.
Folder 1
Series 2. Halifax County Papers
1815-1960. About 35 items.
Halifax County militia papers and other Halifax County papers.
The militia papers, 1831-1832, consist of claims for payment
relating to the mobilization and service of the militia in the
insurrection of August 1831 in Southampton County, Va. (Nat
Turner Rebellion). The county court appointed persons of the
county to hear and consider the vouchers and claims. Also
included are lists of companies and payments dispersed. The
miscellaneous papers are of the Gary family and include a chart
of land accessments in Halifax in 1837 and a letter to Miss Gary
from a relative.
Folder 2 Militia papers
3 Miscellaneous
Series 3. Volumes
1844-1903. 9 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Chiefly account and letterbooks of Michael Ferrall, but also a
medical account book, diary, autograph book, and music book of
the Gary family.
Folder 4 Volume 1: 1844-1861, 400 pp. Letterbook of
Michael Ferrall with primarily business letters.
Folder 5 Volume S-2: 1845-1849, 116 pp. Account book of
Michael Ferrall with daily records of goods sold
on consignment.
Folder 6 Volume 3: 1854-1857, 115 pp. Account book of
Michael Ferrall with itemized personal accounts of
credit extended.
Folder 7 Volume 4: 1855-1859, 80 pp. Account book of
Michael Ferrall with daily cash account of goods
sold on consignment.
Folder 8 Volume 5: 1857-1861, 44 pp. Account book of
Michael Ferrall with daily cash accounts.
Folder 9 Volume S-6: 1865, 50 pp. Medical account book of
Dr. M. A. Wilcox of Halifax County.
Folder 10 Volume 7: 1903, 35 pp. Diary of Marshall Gary
while attending St. Mary's College, Belmont, N.C.
Folder 11 Volume 8: 1854, 60 pp. Autograph album of Hattie
R. Marshall.
Folder 12 Volume 9: Undated, 40 pp. Music book of Nannie
Gary.
SHELF LIST
Box 1 Series 1. Michael Ferrall Papers (folder 1)
Series 2. Halifax County Papers (folders 2-3)
Series 3. Volumes (folders 4-7)
Box 2 Series 3. Volumes (folders 8-12)
Items separated:
V-3880/S-2
V-3880/S-6