Ferrel, Ferrill, Farrell, Ferrell, Faral, and it's various spellings,  Rost, Svee, Carter,  Bryan, Pettit, Costley, Pierce, Tosh, Haynes, Brewer, Wiggins, Ragan, Todd, Bright, Brewer, Lanier, Walker, Bassano, Hale

Plantations, Slaves & War in the American Colonies

Descendents of Gabriel Ferrel and Anna Haynes have a legacy established in the American colonies. Ties to colonial plantations, slaves, Daniel Boone, Abraham Lincoln, the War of the Revolution and the Civil War enrich our colorful past; a history that is woven into the fabric of this family.

Ancestors for Gabriel Ferrel are significant to the early days on the North American continent and the birthing pains of this country.  Before that, his ancestors hold places in Western European history. Here, we take a look at Gabriel Ferrel forward, as he is the first in this line that we can find with the Ferrel surname.

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Gabriel & Anne Haynes Ferrel
Colonial America and the War of the Revolution

Gabriel Ferrel is our first known American ancestor, born c. 1741-43. He may or may not be our first immigrant ancestor. In theory, his family came from Longford, Ireland. Gabriel was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, enlisting in Lunenburg County, Virginia. He and wife Anne established a plantation on Goose Creek in Botetourt County, Virginia, where they raised wheat, flax, and tobacco, and were holders of slaves (noted in 1802 will). Gabriel and Anna Haynes Ferrel raised four children, Stephen, Mildred, Abner, and Elizabeth.            

The Virginia plantation was sold in the early 1900’s by descendents of Gabriel Ferrel to purchase Medical Hall Mansion, in Maryland.  Built in the 1700’s, Medical Hall was the home of Dr. John Archer, the first medical student to graduate in Philadelphia, and in the American colonies.  William Hanyes family website also Gabriel's will. 

Stephen & Nancy Tosh Ferrel
The Indian Wars, late 1700’s

A son, Stephen, born 1771, married Nancy Tosh in 1797, from a renown Roanoke, Virginia family. Their home was on the James River. Stephen Ferrel 1st served in Capt. William Preston’s Company in the Continental Army during the Wayne Indian Wars, 1792-1795. Stephen and Nancy raised a family of ten children: Melinda, Jonathan, Gabriel, Nancy, Edwin, Milton, Stephen II, Margaret, Mary, and Jesse Asbury. Stephen died in 1824. Years later, his wife Nancy received a 160-acre Bounty Land Grant for his military service.

Stephen II & Eliza Todd Ferrel
The Lincoln Years

Photo:  Found among other Ferrel photos, and identified as Stephen and Eliza.  However, it is not confirmed to be them and there is some debate due to differing descriptions of Stephen.

Stephen and Nancy’s son, Stephen II, was born in 1815, and married Eliza Jane Todd in 1840, daughter of Abraham Todd and Melinda Bryan. Eliza was a first cousin to Mary Todd Lincoln. Eliza's grandfather, George Bryan, helped settle Bryan Station in Kentucky and was a nephew to Daniel Boone and his wife Rebecca Bryan. Their grandson, George Bryan was our DAR Revolutionary War ancestor. See George Bryan DAR dedication information: 

Stephen and Eliza knew Lincoln well. Stephen stated that, “Lincoln was the most honest lawyer [he] ever knew or heard of.” Influenced by Lincoln, Stephen became a lawyer too. He was a soldier in the Civil War, but was discharged early due to a lung hemmorage following an injury. At the time of the Civil War, he was 53 years old. Children of Stephen and Eliza are: John Thomas, William Henry, James Madison, Virginia, and Edwin.  Stephen and John Thomas served in the same unit during their Civil War Service.

See Eliza's medieval history information: 

John Thomas Ferrel and Martha Susan Costley

Civil War, War of the Rebellion

Photo of John Thomas Ferrel and Martha Susan Costley Ferrel, post- Civil War

John Thomas Ferrel (the first born of Stephen and Eliza, in 1841) and wife, Martha Susan Costley “Mattie” settled in Boscobel, Wisconsin. John T. was a farmer and the town clerk. He was in all of the battles of his regiment during the Civil War. He fought in the Battle of Atlanta and received his lieutenancy after helping build a bridge over the Savannah River the night before the city was evacuated. A good soldier, he enlisted for a second three-year term. He survived a close call in a skirmish when the heel of his boot was shot off. During his service he followed General Sherman to the sea, through the Carolinas, and was in the Grand Review of the Grand Army down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C. at the war’s end. John T. was mustered out with the rest of his company.. He was still in his twenties.

The Civil War photo displays John Thomas Ferrel (presumed to be - standing far right) with the Wayne soldiers and Nancy, the Wayne matriarch. The soldiers are from Company K 12th Wisconsin Volunteers. The Waynes are descendents of Revolutionary War General “Mad” Anthony Wayne, and were family friends. Many Ferrels, including John Thomas Ferrel, are buried in the old Wayne Cemetery in Boscobel, Wisconsin.

For those interest in the Civil War history from that area, the G.A.R. Hall (Grand Army of the Republic - established for the soldiers who fought for the north), contains a wealth of Civil War memorabilia. This GAR Hall is the only remaining Civil War Hall in the state of Wisconsin. After the last Civil War veteran passed away in 1955 the GAR organization was discontinued. However, many dedicated individuals and volunteers work to preserve this historical hall. Several Ferrel descendants remain in Boscobel.