David Farrell American Civil War Collection

Collection

Identifier: 150-030

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection primarily consists of items related to the American Civil War between 1863 and 1865, such as Muster Roll records, hospital notes, correspondence between officers, personal diaries, and equipment inventories. One of the diaries contains firsthand accounts of David Farrell's life as a soldier in 1864. The thirty-nine Muster Roll records also include details of names, ranks, roles, and statues of members of the Middlesex Rangers and the 10th Pennsylvanian Reserve Regiment. This collection also includes the official documentation concerning David's time as Justice of the Peace.

Material concerning the Farrell/Marsh family includes original land deeds in West Middlesex, Pennsylvania, and original government paperwork concerning the Marsh-Shaw family's life, death, and marriage. There is also a selection of miscellaneous materials concerning the Farrell-Shaw family's everyday life, such as railroad tickets, postcards, and religious memorabilia.

Dates

1861 - 1980

Conditions Governing Use

The items in this collection are protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use these items in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for educational uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

See In Copyright-Educational Use Permitted on RightsStatements.org for more infomation.

The Slippery Rock University Archives assumes no responsibility for copyright infringement by users. Contact the Archives at rockarchives@sru.edu for more information.

Extent

.54 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection follows the life of David Farrell and members of the Marsh and Shaw family. The collection holds material that David collected throughout his life, mostly during his time serving in the Union Army during the American Civil War between 1861 and 1864. David collected materials such as Muster Records, personal diaries, and personal and professional correspondence. This collection also holds materials that his descendants have collected, mainly documenting their family lineage and property holdings from the 1950s and 1980s.

Bibliography

David Farrell was a West Middlesex, Pennsylvania native whose family had immigrated from Ireland to the U.S. in 1846 when David was nine. During the American Civil War, David Farrell fought on the side of the Union Army in the 10th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment as a member of the Middlesex Rangers. He fought in the Battle of Gettysburg and the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. After the war, he moved back to West Middlesex, where he served as the town's IRS agent, Justice of the Peace, Notary Public and Postmaster until he died in 1913.

William Perry Shaw married Agnes Farrell, David Farrell's daughter. He appeared to have a close relationship with his father-in-law, lending/giving money to each other on various occasions. They were both members of the Order of the Odd Fellow together. William Shaw served during World War I. William and Agnes had three children, one of them being Rosanna Shaw-Marsh.

The last family heavily featured in this collection is the Marsh family. Rosanna Shaw-Marsh took great pains to keep records documenting her family's legal history, which the materials can see in this collection. These materials include land grants, wedding and birth certificates, and various affidavits.

Processing Information

The original material was housed in a black-painted metal box that kept the contents in great condition. The materials were cataloged in their original order. Then, it is processed and put in acid-free folders and categorized by series. The handwritten notes, letters, and diaries were transcribed with notes added about penmanship and writing habits. Since some of the material was left in a folded state, some documents cannot be opened fully. Other items such as clothing buttons, medals, and other small items where put into boxes with tissue paper.