Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Barrot, Elie January 16, 1897
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Virginian-Pilot  January 17, 1897
TAKEN HOME

Elie Barrot Passes Away After a Long Life.

As the clock in the steeple of St. Mary's Catholic Church chimed out the hour of 1 
o'clock yesterday afternoon, there passed peacefully away in the arms of his last 
long sleep a man, who for over ninety years had been a citizen of Norfolk - Mr. 
Elie Barrot.

Mr. Barrot was born in Porto Rica, in the West Indies, in 1802. About three years 
afterward, the exact date is not known, but it was at the time of the rebellion in 
San Domingo, his parents, who had come to the island from France, were compelled 
to flee from the West Indies, and with their little boy, as refugees, sought the 
hospitable shelter afforded by the busy little borough of Norfolk.

HIS MARRIAGE.

There was at that time a large and nourishing colony of French refugees in 
Norfolk, most of the members of which were engaged in mercantile pursuits. Among 
these was a Monsieur Bonnaud, with whom, in his early youth, Elie Barrot was 
employed as clerk. He had, in the meantime, lost his mother by death, and had been 
adopted by a kind French lady by the name of Le Masurier, living at that time on 
her beautiful country place back of what is now Berkley. This place is now known 
as Montalant, after a family which afterwards owned it, and who still have 
descendents here.

While still quite a young man, Mr. Barrot married his employer's daughter, Miss 
Mary Bonnaud, a beautiful and talented lady, with a passion and a genius for 
music. She was for a long time organist for St. Mary's Catholic church and died in 
March, 1887, leaving behind her a useful and beautiful life and hundreds of 
devoted friends.

AS A BANK CLERK.

For perhaps a quarter of a century prior to the evacuation of Norfolk during the 
late war, Mr. Barrot held the position of discount clerk in the State Bank of 
Virginia, which was situated where Burruss, Son & Co. now have their 
establishment. With the close of the war, Mr. Barrot’s long and faithful services 
came to an end, though he was afterwards employed for a few years at the Marine 
Bank. Still, he preferred to pass the evening of his useful life at his own home, 
No. 38 Holt street, surrounded by his books and the enjoying companionship of a 
few dear and faithful friends. After the death of his wife, he went out but 
little. Time had brought him no children and, in the city, he had no living 
relative. His wish was to live and die in his old home, and in this he was 
gratified.

Up to within ten days ago, he was enjoying his usual good health, but suddenly he 
began to fail, and though troubled with no organic disease or malady of any kind, 
except old age, death was surely approaching. The end came yesterday at the hour 
named, and with him to the last were several of his oldest and best friends.

HIS BEAUTIFuL CHARACTER.

Personally Mr. Barrot was economic, temperate, gentle, retired and cultured. He 
was known and loved by all the old residents of the city, and it is not a stretch 
of imagination to say that he had not an enemy in the world. For the best part of 
his life he had been a devoted Catholic, having been a member of St. Mary's, ever 
since it was built. His beautiful Christian character and many splendid traits 
endeared him instinctively to all who knew him. He was, with perhaps only one 
exception, the oldest man in the city, and the last of the once prosperous French 
colony of so many years ago.

The funeral will take place from St. Mary's Catholic church at 10 o'clock tomorrow 
morning.

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