Roye writes, in his capacity as Chief Justice of the Republic of Liberia, to Washburn thanking him for the donation of Washburn's two volume work "Washburn on Real Property" 

       "Dear Sir,

            Your valued favor the Donation of "Washburn on Real Property," in two volumes "to the Chief Justice" for the benefit of the Republic was received on the 7^th inst. through his Excellency Pres. D. B. Warner I thank you very much for them they are the light in which, I think, every conceivable form of description of Title to real property may be viewed - I beg to inform you I shall endeavor; its merits to be understood, appreciated and the vols. To be adopted as essential for the use of our Courts."

      Roye was born into a prosperous African American family in Newark, Ohio. His father John Roye, managed a ferry across the Wabash River at Terre Haute, Indiana and acquired considerable land in Terre Haute as well as Vandalia in the neighboring state of Illinois. As a result of the family's financial standing, young Edward was able to attend Oberlin College. Upon the premature death of his father, Roye relocated to Terre Haute where he established the community's largest barber shop, boasting a 79 foot high barber pole and tried his hand at other businesses. In 1846, attracted by the American Colonization Society, Roye immigrated to Liberia to escape American prejudice, and set up business as merchant. Within three years after his arrival he became active in Liberian politics. He was the fifth President of Liberia from 1870 to his overthrow and subsequent violent death. He had previously served as the fourth Chief Justice of Liberia from 1865 until 1868. He was the first member of Liberia's True Whig Party to serve as president.

American National Biography, volume 19, pp., 19-21