Shenandoah County Library Archives

Shenandoah County Library Digital Archives

Ben Ware

Files

Dublin Core

Title

Ben Ware

Subject

Enslaved Person-Virginia-Shenandoah County
Woodstock (Va.)

Date

January 10, 1837

Contributor

Eryn Kawecki

Relation

Wife Unidentified Slave, EnslavedPerson:20010
Child Unidentified Slave, EnslavedPerson:20011

Identifier

EnslavedPerson:20009

Person Item Type Metadata

Birth Date

Unknown

Birthplace

Shenandoah County, Virginia

Death Date

Unknown

Occupation

Enslaved Person

Biographical Text

Lived in Woodstock, Virginia.

Ben was first enslaved by Adam Dirting, but was then willed to Adam's son, Adam Dirting, Jr. When Dirting, Jr. reached the age of majority, he released his claim on Ben and gave Ben to his younger brother, John Dirting. John sold Ben to Michael Barr on December 31, 1833 for $200. Barr immediately set Ben free, but the deed of emancipation was not admitted until July 11, 1836.

Ben petitioned the state government to stay in Virginia and to purchase the freedom of his wife and child (who were both at the time enslaved by Michael Barr).

Ben's petition included a letter from Alexander Anderson (the delegate-elect of Shenandoah County), a petition of citizens certifying Ben to be "honest, upright, industrious, sober & economical man," and letters from his previous enslavers. According to the petition, Ben was born and raised in Shenandoah County.

Bibliography

Ben: Petition, Shenandoah County, 01-10-1837, Legislative Petitions Digital Collection, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.

Additional Information

Enslaved by Michael Barr.

Citation

“Ben Ware,” Shenandoah County Library Archives, accessed March 29, 2024, https://archives.countylib.org/items/show/15080.

Comments

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