Who is John Barr

[Jim Woodall]

In testimony of M J Pope who testified around Jun 2, 1865 (see Evening Star dated 02 Jun 1865 pg 2) regarding Azterodt:

"Witness recollects that some one came to his stable in April to sell a dark-bay horse, blind in one eye. Witness could not identify Atzerodt as the person; the person looked some like Atzerodt in the face but if he was the man he is not near as stout now as he was then. It was in the afternoon, and the horse was left at witness' stable for two or three hours. The man went away with a man named John Barr, who had been drinking. The person left an umbrella at witness' stable, but witness does not know if the man got it afterwards."

Is this testimony correct or corroborated by others? If so, who was John Barr?

It looks like John H Barr testified on Jun 5 corroborating that he and Atzerodt went to the stable where Atzerodt took out the horse after drinking with John at Pope's restaurant, eating at John H Barr's house, and drinking some more at the restaurant apparently on the 12th of April.

"I have seen Atzerodt, the prisoner at the bar, once before. I was coming from my work at the Navy Yard one evening, and stopped at Mr. Pope's restaurant, and there met this gentleman. I did not know him at the time, but we had several drinks together. I proposed to him to go home and take supper with me, and he did so. After supper, we went back to Mr. Pope's restaurant, and had, I think a couple of drinks. We then went out, returned to the restaurant again, and took two more glasses, and from there went to Mr. Pope's stable. The gentleman took his horse out, and I saw him get on and ride off. That is the last I saw of him. By referring to my book, I can tell the exact day on which this occurred, because I know the work that I did that day; I made two spring blocks for Sanderson & Miller. I find it was the 12th of April."

Has anyone dug up any info on whether John H Barr and Atzerodt knew each other further?

[Dennis Urban]

The June 2 testimony was by Matthew J. Pope. By Pope's testimony, Barr was known to Pope, who worked at the nearby Navy Yard, but it does not seem that Atzerodt was known to Pope. Seems like the contact between Barr and Atzerodt was incidental except for the fact that Barr took Atzerodt home for supper. Stranger things have happened between folks who meet up at the bar. At his trial testimony, Barr refers to seeing Atzerodt "once before" and "I did not know him at the time." I believe we have to take Barr at his word. The curious issue is why Atzerodt was trying to sell a horse used in the escape two days before the assassination. Booth, Herold, and Powell all needed horses to make their getaway.

[JMadonna]

Didn't need the horse for the getaway. It was easier to steal a rental.

[Dave Taylor]

For what it's worth, John H. Barr died on December 3, 1892 and was buried with his wife in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. He's buried in the same section as Mary Surratt but when Kate and I checked the section we did not see any Barr headstones. It's likely he was either unmarked or his stone has been lost over the years.

[Jim Woodall]

Thank you Dennis Urban, JMadonna, Dave Taylor for your comments regarding John H Barr and interpretations on his contacts with Atzerodt and where he is buried.

Background on John H Barr:

He seems to be the first son of Chloe Jenkins and Thomas Barr. Chloe Jenkins is the sister of Sarah Ann Jenkins (my 4th great grandmother) whose family (siblings, nephews and nieces, and her own descendants) have had various contacts with the Surratts and other families of the conspirators both before, during, and after the assassination including:
1) sponsoring of the Surratt boys for baptism
2) putting up the Surratts when the house burned
3) where the Surratts were apparently married
4) sister-in-law who was sister of Sarah Talbert who married Richard Neale
5) Richard Bosieau who covered the trial and hanging for the paper
6) and apparently a nephew who met Atzerodt for the first time 2 days before the assassination
7) other stuff

So, that now makes for Sarah Ann Jenkins and 3 of her siblings' families who interacted with Mary Surratt or other conspirators.

Incidental contact? Could be. But I would believe John Barr would have known who the Surratts were already. Maybe not Atzerodt??

Further thoughts?