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Formerly enslaved Matilda Johnson petitions the Freedmen's Bureau for the return of her children and household goods, after which the agency waived her right to her children
Series of complaints around property rights and apprenticeship for Black residents of Anne Arundel County. Of special interest are the two complaints by Matilda Johnson relating to her children and household goods being held illegally by James Boyle.…
Free Black pastor Benjman Howard reports on having been arrested and sold by the state of Maryland for preaching
Benjman Howard, apparently intended for D.C. Assistant Commissioner C. H. Howard, reporting that he had been a preacher in Annapolis and bought a house there in 1857. Was arrested in 1862 for preaching and jailed until Feb. 1863 when he was sold away…
Free Black resident of Baltimore seeks help retrieving property taken by the family of his former enslaver
Formerly enslaved Black resident of Baltimore L Meads to Gen. Lew Wallace reporting having been turned off of his property by the nephew of his former enslaver and requesting advice on how he might retrieve his property.
Free Black Woman Barbara Diggs petitions for the release of her children, who were bound out against her will
Statement of Barbara Diggs, a free woman of color, whose children "are slaves of Dr. Featherbridge of Talbot Co Md" he "claiming the right of binding them to him." File includes a massive number of enclosures, mostly dealing with apprenticeship and…
Free person of color Thomas Brown, apprenticed to a secessoinist, takes refuge in Annapolis
Thomas Brown, a free person of color apprenticed to Grafton Hall, a secessionist, seeks protection in Annapolis because he is afraid that Hall will punish him for giving information to Union troops "that had led to the capture of rebel arms."
General Edward A. Wild reports on an apparent scheme to defraud Black recruits of a portion of their pay by listing them as deserters
General Edwd. A. Wild to Col. C.W. Foster (A.A.G.), In the Field, Chapin's Farm, VA identifying an evident scheme to defraud Black recuits of a portion of their pay by declaring them deserters despite having failed to notify them of their recruitment…
General Henry H. Lockwood attempts to break up the abusive apprenticeship system on the Eastern Shore, but is countermanded by headquarters
Extract from Samuel B. Lawrence (AAG 8th AC) to Henry H. Lockwood (Comdg. 3rd sep brig) from Special Order No. 112 breaking up the widely abused apprentice system that bound formerly enslaved children to their former enslavers against the wishes of…
General Joseph Hooker directs his subordinates to send Black men into rebel territory to search for their families and gather military intelligence
Capt. Joseph Dickinson (AAG) to Brig. Gen, Daniel E. Sickles ordering the sending out of all Black Marylanders who will be likely to gather information on the rebel forces on the south side of the Rappahanock. They have families on the other side of…
General William W Morris acknowledges orders to fire a salute in Baltimore celebrating the end of slavery in Maryland
Bt Brig Genl W W Morris to Major James R Ross (AAAG) acknowledging receipt of orders to fire a salute from Federal Hill in celebration of the free state of Maryland following the passage of the new state constitution abolishing slavery.