Pemberton Hall was built by Col. Isaac Handy (d. 1762).[2]
During the American Civil War, the Hall was the home of Allison Parsons, a Southern sympathizer. Despite the Federal troops encamped in Salisbury, Parsons insisted on firing a cannon upon the receipt of news of each Confederate victory. After Parsons ignored orders to cease the firings, U.S. Army soldiers raided Pemberton Hall intent on silencing the cannon. Their efforts were thwarted by Parsons, who had buried the cannon before their arrival. "In addition to the cannon firing which provoked the raid, Parsons used Pemberton Hall as a rendezvous for Eastern Shore Confederate sympathizers.".[3]