Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Freeman Woodland (b. circa 1846 - d. ?)
MSA SC 3520-7908
USCT Soldier, Kent County, Maryland

Biography:

    Freeman Woodland was born a slave around 1846 in Kent County, Maryland.1 He was owned by James H. Hurtt of Georgetown in Kent County.2 Hurtt recorded that he became possessed of Woodland "by birth (I own his mother)" in 1846.3 On January 1, 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln enacted the Emancipation Proclamation, many African-Americans viewed this as an opportunity to fight for their freedom in the Union Army during the Civil War.4 Woodland was to be manumitted by James H. Hurtt at the date of his enlistment in the Union army. In the manumission, Hurtt wrote "whereas my slave: Freeman Woodland has enlisted in the service of the United States" and "his freedom to commence from the date of his enlistment."5 The manumission was officially acknowledged in the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Kent County on May 21, 1864.6 

    According to the Act of 1864, Chapter 15, Section 4, "to the owner of every negro slave who shall agree to the enlistment of his slave as above, the sum of one hundred dollars shall be paid when such owner shall file with the proper authority a good and valid deed of manumission."7 Hurtt, like many slaveowners, may have viewed this as their final opportunity to receive compensation for the loss of their slaves as the institution of slavery was rapidly deteriorating. Not only were slaveowners entitled to compensation, but free blacks and slaves also counted towards the state quota, which meant many slaveowners could have protected their family members from having to join the war.8 On August 11, 1864, Hurt was due to receive a bounty compensation of $100.00 since his slave, Freeman Woodland, joined the Union army.9

    Freeman Woodland was mustered into Company G of the 19th U.S. Colored Troops on January 10, 1864 by Col. Birney and was credited to Kent County.10 The regiment was organized by Brigadier General William Birney in Benedict, Maryland on December 15, 1863.11 While at Benedict, Maryland, the regiment received instruction until they were ordered to Baltimore City on March 1, 1864.12 The majority of the men from the 19th regiment were from Southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore of Maryland.13 On April 17, 1864, Woodland was transferred to the Navy in Baltimore, Maryland.14 On January 15, 1867, Woodland was mustered out of the service in Brownsville, Texas.15

    Under the Act of 1864, Chapter 15, Section 4, manumitted slaves were entitled to "fifty dollars, when he shall be mustered into service, and the like sum when he shall be honorably discharged from service" provided that each volunteer was credited to the county or city where they resided, which Woodland would receive.16 On February 15, 1867, Woodland received his final payment for serving in the Union army.17

    Before Hurtt was eligible to receive a bounty, he had to prove his loyalty to the United States. On February 24, 1864, Hurtt signed an oath of allegiance claiming he had "never joined, or been concerned in, any insurrection of rebellion" against the United States.18 On the same day, two witnesses, Joseph Dozier and Joseph Price, testified that Hurtt was "unquestionably loyal to the Government of the United States."19 Hurtt attempted to claim compensation under the "provisions of General Orders, No. 329, 1863," for his slave Freeman Woodland.20 However, Hurtt had his compensation agreement refused on July 12, 1865 "because of the disloyalty of the claimant (Hurtt), who was arrested for rejoicing over the death of President Lincoln, and uttering treasonable sentiments."21 Despite being considered loyal to the United States in 1864, Hurtt was found disloyal one year later for his actions regarding Lincoln's death. 

    Woodland's life has been difficult to trace since his discharge. It's unclear when he died and if he went back to Kent County to reside or moved eleswhere.


Endnotes:

1. Ancestry.com. U.S., Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1861-1865. Company G. 19th Regiment. Freeman Woodland. Company Descriptive Book. Image Number 660.

2. COMPTROLLER OF THE TREASURY (Bounty Rolls) 1864-1880. Volunteers. Freeman Woodland. Reel: SR 4438. [MSA SM183-1] Page 192.

3. Ancestry.com. U.S., Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1861-1865. Company G. 19th Regiment. Freeman Woodland. Slave Title. Image Number 667.

4. Agnes Kane Callum. Colored Volunteers of Maryland, Civil War: 7th Regiment United States Colored Troops 1863-1866 (Baltimore, MD: Mullac Publishers, 1990.), 1.

5. Ancestry.com. U.S., Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1861-1865. Company G. 19th Regiment. Freeman Woodland. Manumission. Image Number 671.

6. Ibid.

7. ARCHIVES OF MARYLAND ONLINE. Supplement to the Maryland Code, Containing the Acts of the General Assembly, Passed at the Sessions of 1861, 1861-62, 1864, 1865, 1866, and 1867. Vol. 384, Ch. 15, Section 4. Page 31.

8. Ibid.

9. COMPTROLLER OF THE TREASURY (Bounty Rolls) 1864-1880. Freeman Woodland. Page 192.

10. ADJUTANT GENERAL (Muster Rolls) 1864-1865. Slaves Mustered into U.S. Colored Troops. Freeman Woodland. 19th Regiment. Company G. Location: 02/05/04/045. MdHR Number 50,055-51. MSA S936-51.

11. L. Allison Wilmer, J. H. Jarrett, and Geo. W. F. Vernon. History and Roster of Maryland Volunteers, War of 1861-65. Vol. 2 (Baltimore, MD: Guggenheimer, Weil & Co., 1899), 206.

12. Ibid.

13. Ibid.

14. Ancestry.com. U.S., Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1861-1865. Company G. 19th Regiment. Freeman Woodland. Muster Out Roll. Image Number 663.

15. Ibid.

16. ARCHIVES OF MARYLAND ONLINE. Passed at the Sessions of 1861, 1861-62, 1864, 1865, 1866, and 1867. Vol. 384, Ch. 15, Section 4. Page 31.

17. COMPTROLLER OF THE TREASURY (Bounty Rolls) 1864-1880. Freeman Woodland. Page 192.

18. Ancestry.com. U.S., Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1861-1865. Company G. 19th Regiment. Freeman Woodland. James H. Hurtt Oath of Allegiance. Image Number 673, 674.

19. Ancestry.com. U.S., Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1861-1865. Company G. 19th Regiment. Freeman Woodland. Slave Title. Image Number 668.

20. Ancestry.com. U.S., Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1861-1865. Company G. 19th Regiment. Freeman Woodland. Claim Certificate. Image Number 672.

21. Ancestry.com. U.S., Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1861-1865. Company G. 19th Regiment. Freeman Woodland. Slave Claim. Image Number 666.


Researched and Written by Tanner Sparks, 2013.

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