Hi Cheri,
Your family McCarthy/ Ferry sounded familiar and I checked my files to see what I had saved on this research.
Sorry to say all that I find are the census from Mc Carthy and Ferry family.. no correspondence.
Perhaps you have saved the e-mails.
Just doing a quick scan of the census:
1870_ Allentown 6th Ward Pennsylvania
Ferry Daniel.. 28 Ireland
Isabella 31 Ireland
Bridget 2 Penna
Mary 1 Penna
Ferry John 19 Ireland... If I recall this is a brother to Daniel
By 1880 the family had moved to Milwaukee, Wis.
As for Timothy Mc Carthy..
1870 Census Providence RI
Found a William Mc Carthy family.. parents born Ireland children all Rhode island.
There is a Timothy McCarthy found in th 1880 census
State Reform School ,Ramsey, Minnesota _
Born_ Rhode Island _parents_ Ireland..
I have each of the census from 1870 through 1930.
Tim always gives his birthplace as Rhode Island.
Take Care,
jelora