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Baltimore Independent Blues record book

 Item
Identifier: MS 3274

Abstract

This collection contains a record book of the 5th Maryland Militia, known as the Baltimore Independent Blues. Spanning the years 1811-1823, the volume contains the constitution for the company, regulations concerning parades and uniforms, meeting resolutions, records of court martials, and lists of commissioned and non-commissioned officers.

Dates

  • 1811 - 1823

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

The reproduction of materials in this collection may be subject to copyright restrictions. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine and satisfy copyright clearances or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections. For more information visit the MCHC’s Rights and Permissions page.

Biographical / Historical

The Baltimore Independent Blues was a volunteer militia company formed circa 1809, "to aid in the maintanance of the rights, liberties, and independence of [the] country..." In 1814, the company was commanded by Aaron R. Levering and served during the Battle of North Point on September 12.

Extent

1 Volumes

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Frederick S. Koontz, June 1995.

Related Materials

MS 1846, Eichelberger, George S.: Certificate of membership, 1814, November 18.

MD2533, Decker, Jacob F.: Membership card, 1816, June 17.

Scope and Contents

The Baltimore Independent Blues record book contains 62 pages related to the administration of the 2nd Battalion of the 5th Maryland Militia, circa 1811-1823. The book contains the constitution of the company, which itself consists of 23 articles detailing the rules and regulations of membership. Some examples include: procedures for the election of officers and members of the Committee of Finance, proper conduct for parades, and uniform regulations.

The volume also contains lists of commissioned and non-commissioned officers, as well as lists of privates and their places of residence. On several occassions, the privates listed their names in the book themselves, as opposed to a clerk, as each entry is written in a different hand.

Also included are the meeting minutes, describing the results of elections and certain decisions made. For example, "At a meeting of the Baltimore Independent Blues held on Friday the 13th of May 1814...resolved that Mr. George Elliot be authorized to draw on the treasurer of the company for the costs of a jacket, waistcoast, and pantaloons, in lieu of those articles loaned by him to Mr. Bunya, a volunteer to aid the company's band on a particular occassion which have since been lost."

The record book also contains miscellaneous entries, such as a list of persons who have received muskets and their addresses, as well as lists of members fined as delinquints at court martial meetings. The most common punishment was a fine of $1.

The business of the meetings was primarily recorded by the Secretary company. Over the years, these men included Matthew H. Murray, Charles Crook, and John L. Barry.

Title
Guide to the Baltimore Independent Blues record book
Status
Completed
Author
Mallory Harwerth
Date
2022-11
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the H. Furlong Baldwin Library Repository

Contact:
H. Furlong Baldwin Library
Maryland Center for History and Culture
610 Park Avenue
Baltimore MD 21201 United States
4106853750