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.
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 December 24, 2024, https://archives.countylib.org/items/show/15080.
Comments