Comments on Letter from Charles Triplett O’Ferrall to Helen O’Ferrall

by Albert H. Spinks

Charles T. O’Ferrall wrote a letter to his aunt, Helen O’Ferrall, dated January 19, 1903. (A transcription of that letter is provided on this website) This document is an attempt to identify the people mentioned in that letter.

First some known background material. Charles T. O’Ferrall was son of John O’Ferrall of Berkeley Springs, VA (now WV) and Jane Green, John O’Ferrall’s 2nd wife. Following are the known children of John and Jane O’Ferrall documented p. 13 of “The Berkeley Journal” in the 1850 Census.

Charles Triplett O’Ferrall, b. 1840

Jane A. O’Ferrall, b. 1842

Catherine G. O’Ferrall, b. 1845

Joseph Plunkett O’Ferrall, b. 1847

Cecilia T. O’Ferrall, b. 1851

Laura C. O’Ferrall, b. 1853

Charles Triplett O’Ferrall was married twice. In 1865, he married his first wife, Annie McLean, a widow with no children. She was born in 1842 and passed away in 1879. Her gravestone exists in Woodbine Cemetery in Harrisonburg, VA. In 1881, Charles T. O’Ferrall married Jennie Knight Danforth, a widow. This is documented in “Men of Mark of Harrisonburg” found in the Harrisonburg, VA, public library. From the Charles T. to Helen letter she had at least one boy before marrying Charles T.

Following is a listing of the known children of Charles Triplett O’Ferrall, based on grave stones and records at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Va., and on the 1900 census records for Virginia.

Children of Charles Triplett O’Ferrall (21 Oct 1840--22 Sep 1905) and Annie McLain (26 Apr 1842--8 May 1879) (widow of George Frisby Hand) My records indicate that they were married 8 Feb 1865. He is buried in Hollywood Cem., Richmond, VA; she, in Woodbine Cem., Harrisonburg, Va.

1.

Robert McLain O’Ferrall (29 Aug 1871-1 Nov 1918); married Eleanor Tuggle (18 Feb 1872--7 Nov. 1942). They are both buried in Hollywood Cem., Richmond, Va.

2.

Charles Triplett O’Ferrall, Jr (1872-1947); married Irene B. (1873-1933). They are both buried in his father’s lot in Hollywood Cem., Richmond, Va. No grave stones have survived.

Children of Charles Triplett O’Ferrall and Jennie W. Knight (5 June 1846--14 June 1908) (widow of Danforth). The 1900 Census indicates that Charles O’Ferrall and Jennie Knight Danforth married in 1881. They are both buried in Hollywood Cem., Richmond, Va.

1.

Frank Knight O’Ferrall, (Feb 1882--18 Aug 1965). Married Daisy Payne (1885--21 Mar 1958). They are both buried in his father’s lot in Hollywood Cem., Richmond, Va.

2.

Helen W. O’Ferrall, born Dec. 1883 in Virginia

3.

William Carter O’Ferrall, (26 Apr 1885--23 Apr 1968); married Virginia Underwood (28 Nov 1890--4 Mar 1974). Both are buried in Hollywood Cem., Richmond, Va.

4.

Mabel B. O’Ferrall, (24 Apr 1890--28 Feb 1917). Married J. Stanford Hutcheson. She is buried in her father’s lot in Hollywood Cem., Richmond, Va.

Children of Jennie Knight and first husband, Danforth

1.

John B. Danforth, born April 1877 in Virginia

The 1900 census records indicate that Jennie Knight had 6 children, of which only 5 were living in 1900.

It should be pointed out that any conclusions derived below are somewhat speculative but based upon the best available information.

On p. 3 of the letter, Charles speaks of Jennie and Kate having passed away. Later on he speaks of burying Jennie alongside our mother in his cemetery plot in Harrisonburg, nearby to Annie. I have been to that cemetery. I found a marker for Annie, but none for Jane Green O’Ferrall or any other O’Ferralls. But there are blank spaces in the plot that must contain graves for which Charles failed to put up permanent markers. In the letter, Charles said that Kate passed away in NC, place of grave unspecified. Anyway, I believe Kate to be Catherine G. O’Ferrall, b. 1845, shown above as Charles’s sister. Jennie could be identified as one of several people. One would be a sister to Charles that I am not aware of. Second she could be one of the sisters given above who was given the nickname of Jennie. And third, Jennie could be a daughter of Jennie Knight, the sixth child listed in the 1900 census as not living at that time. I would bet on the last possibility.

On page 4, Charles speaks of Laulie, still living in Bedford Co., on a farm, and mother of a number of children. I tend to believe that she is Laura C. O’Ferrall, b. 1853 and shown above as sister to Charles.

On page 5, Charles speaks of Plunkett being in San Francisco when he last heard from him. Obviously this would be Joseph Plunkett O’Ferrall, b. 1847, and a brother of Charles.

Near the top of page 5 he shifts over to describe his immediate family; that is, wife and living children.

Charles first speaks of Jennie’s health as being pretty good.

Midway of p. 5, Charles speaks of Helen, blond, nineteen years old, and being a debutante. This would be above Helen W. O’Ferrall, born Dec. 1883. Note that Charles said that Helen’s picture appeared in the New York Herald. I wonder if a copy of that paper is still archived.

On p. 5, Charles speaks of Frank. Frank is 21, attended a Business College, and works for a large mercantile house in Richmond. This would be above Frank Knight O’Ferrall, born Feb. 1882.

Toward the bottom of p. 6, Charles speaks of Willie. Willie is 18 and is attending VPI, studying Electrical and Civil Engineering. Charles hopes Willie will follow that up with a study of law. This would be above William Carter O’Ferrall, born April 1885 .

In the middle of page 7, Charles speaks of Mabel, who is eleven. This would be above Mabel B. O’Ferrall, born April 1890.

On page 7, John Danforth is identified as Charles stepson, and definitely a son of Jennie’s from her first marriage. This would be John B. Danforth, born April 1877. This identifies Jennie’s first husband as Danforth. John is 25, a graduate of V. P. I. in electrical and mechanical engineering, and is employed with The Richmond Passenger Railway and Light Company.

At the bottom of p. 7, Charles discusses Robert, who is a clerk in the American National Bank. This would be above Robert McLain O’Ferrall, son of Charles T. by his first wife Annie McLain.

On p. 8, Charles describes Charlie, who is superintendent of Mines for a company in West Virginia. He is married. This would be above Charles Triplett O’Ferrall, Jr (1872-1947), son of Charles T. by his first wife Annie McLain.

Throughout the letter, Charles speaks of Helen O’Ferrall’s son Charles, who recently lost his wife but is left with a young daughter. This would be Charles Asher O’Ferrall, son of John William and Helen O’Ferrall of Miss. Charles Asher O’Ferrall married Helen Harvey Wainwright 11 SEP 1901. The had daughter Helen Wainwright O’Ferrall 3 JUL 1902 and mother Helen passed away 16 days later. Thus is the background of one of the paragraphs of Charles T. O’Ferrall’s letter.

Toward the end of the letter, Charles T. O’F speaks of Mamie who evidently took charge of her father’s business. Though I can’t fit her in, she must have been a daughter of Gen. John William O’Ferrall, who passed away in 1895.

And finally Charles speaks of Laurie, who it appears is in the Enterprise, MS, area, and is crippled. Charles T. did have a half sister, living near Enterprise, who had to walk with a cane but her name was Eliza Mary Frances O’Ferrall Hand. Hard to get Laurie out of that.

It is interesting that Charles T. O’Ferrall, in the salutation, addresses the recipient as “My dear Sister” and the letter shows that he is very fond of her. However, Helen O’Ferrall (who married Gen. John W. O’Ferrall) to my knowledge was not his sister but his aunt by marriage. Charles and Helen were about the same age, being born in the early 1840’s. Calling relative “Sister” or “Brother” seems to have been common in the late 1800’s even when the person referred to was not really a blood sister or brother.

My wife and I spent several days in Richmond in mid June of 2001. We visited Hollywood Cemetery and the Virginia State Library, concentrating on the census of 1900 and on applicable deed records. Much of the information provided above came from that trip. We found that at the time of death, Charles T. O’Ferrall lived at 903 Park Ave., which we gathered was an exclusive section of town at the turn of the century. Today the Virginia Commonwealth University Library is located where 903 Park used to be, but many of the beautiful old homes in the Park Ave. area have survived and are being well kept.

We looked for the O’Ferrall country home, “Dundee”, in the deed records. We did find the deed for its sale in 1904, that gave a land description. However, we ran out of time and were not able to look for the home itself (Maybe can do on next trip).

I am sure there is much more information available about this interesting family. I would suggest looking in the 1880 census and in the 1910 and 1920 censuses. One could look into marriage records for information on Helen W. O’Ferrall. It would be interesting to know what she did with her life.

I would love to commuicate with someone from this branch of the O’Ferrall family. If any of you read this, please contact me by one of the methods shown below.

Albert H. Spinks

3129 Sutton Place

Burlington, NC 27215

336-584-8134

aspinks3@triad.rr.com