Ferebee Genealogy Collection, 1860s-1990s
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Brief Description:

A genealogical collection of the Ferebee family, created by Annie Adelia Ferebee and continued by her niece, Sarah Cason Ferebee. This collection contains their research manuscripts, notes, photographs, correspondence, obituaries, articles, and Sarah's personal copy of the Ferebee book with her many notations. Most of the items in this collection are photocopies and research copies acquired from various sources.

The Ferebee Genealogy Collection includes information organized by Annie that her family compiled in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The collection also includes mid-1930s correspondence in which Annie mailed letters to the Ferebees descended from John Ferebee, Gentleman (circa 1630-1705) and his eldest son Thomas Ferebee (1682-1739). Also included are records from Annie’s and Sarah’s genealogical trips throughout Virginia and North Carolina where they researched records, interviewed relatives, and discovered family gravesites. The collection includes genealogical research and notes on the male Ferebee line, started by Annie Ferebee, and successively published in 1954 by Sarah Ferebee in the book Ferebee Family. Remarkably, this duo of family genealogists also researched the female lines of the Ferebee family; their research notes on the female lines are also included.

The collection contains comprehensive research dating to 1360 England with the ancestors of John Ferebee, Gentleman; his lineage is covered in the first part of the Ferebee book. The American lineage starts with John Ferebee, Gentleman, surveyor of the City of Norfolk in 1688. The first 54 sections were researched by both Annie and Sarah, and the remaining sections were added by Sarah and published in 1954. Sarah also did extensive work on both sides of her mother's family, Annie Terrell Cook Ferebee (1863-1826). From the handwriting, some of the notes may have been done by Mrs. Ferebee. Sarah Cason Ferebee was dedicated to recording, correcting, and compiling information on the Ferebee family up to her passing at the age of 97. All of this research is included in the Ferebee Genealogy Collection.

Ferebee family members also assisted with this collection through the years. Notebooks and diaries of family research trips are included in this collection. The first item in the Ferebee Genealogy Collection is an alphabetical index of names with book Section #s and their corresponding box and folder number, which was compiled by the finding aid author.

Held at:
Sargeant Memorial Collection
Slover Library
235 East Plume Street
Norfolk, VA 23510
Phone: 7574317429
Email: localhistory [at] norfolk.gov
Record Series Number: 001/01/MSS 0000-012
Created by: Ferebee, Annie Adelia (1878-1941), Ferebee, Sarah Cason (1894-1991)
Volume: 27.0 Boxes
Acquired: 03/24/2005. Connolly Phillips donated an additional box of genealogy research materials to SMC on July 22, 2016.
Arrangement: The first part of the collection contains the research for the Ferebee Family book. The book is divided into Sections #1 through #64, and the research is filed the same way. The second part of the collection is research for the female lines filed alphabetically. The third part of the collection contains additional notebooks, calendars, photographs, and the Ferebee Family Bible, ending with an oversized assortment of genealogical charts and diplomas.
Biographical Note for Ferebee, Annie Adelia (1878-1941) : Annie Adelia Ferebee was the daughter of George Emory Ferebee (1834-1896) and Sarah Ann Cason (1838-1908). Born at Broad Bay Farm, Princess Anne County, Virginia on February 18, 1878, Miss Ferebee never married. Throughout the 1930s, Ferebee was active in contacting, visiting, recording, and researching all elements of the Ferebee genealogy. She also researched the female lines of the family. Ferebee died on November 28, 1941 in Norfolk, Virginia and was buried at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Norfolk, Virginia.
Access Restrictions: This collection is open to all researchers.
Subject Index
Family trees
Ferebee family
Genealogy
Genealogy--Research
Norfolk (Va.)
Virginia--Genealogy
Genres/Forms of Material
Bibles
Booklets
Calendars
Certificates
Clippings (information artifacts)
Daguerreotypes (photographs)
Diaries
Diplomas
Genealogies (histories)
Maps (documents)
Notebooks
Obituaries
Pedigrees
Photocopies
Photographs
Sketches
Languages of Materials
English [eng]
Rights/Use Restrictions: The status of copyright for these materials is governed by Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U. S. C.) Copyright restrictions may apply.
Acquisition Notes: Mrs. Betsy Ferebee Phillips by donation
Related Publications: Ferebee, Annie A. and Sarah C. Ferebee. Ferebee Family. Norfolk, VA: Sarah C. Ferebee, 1955.
PreferredCitation: Ferebee Genealogy Collection, MSS 0000-012, Sargeant Memorial Collection, Norfolk Public Library, Norfolk, Virginia.