Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)


John Baggs (b. circa 1820 - d. ?)
MSA SC 5496-38928
Property Owner, Talbot County, Maryland

Biography:

     John Baggs was born around 1820 and was a property owner in Talbot County, Maryland.  The 1850 slave schedules shows that Baggs owned eight slaves.  As the clerk of the circuit court of Talbot County from 1867 to 1873, Baggs was able to acquire substantial wealth.  According to the 1870 census, Baggs had a total real estate value of $15,000 and a total personal estate value of $500.

    One of Baggs' slaves, Asbury Hughes, escaped from the property with the intention of joining the United States Colored Troops.  Hughes fulfilled his goal and served in Company A of the 4th regiment under the name of George Alfred.  According to the testimony of Hughes, in John Chase's pension file, his reason for enlisting under an alias "was to prevent being traced by my owner, I being at the time of my enlistment, a slave owned by Mr. John Baggs living near Trappe, Talbot County, Maryland."  After he was discharged, he went back to his original name of Asbury Hughes.

    By May 29, 1875, Baggs found himself in legal trouble as the Denton Journal published that he was indebted to the state for the sum of $650 as he was indicted by the Grand Jury under the law of 1872.  The law of 1872 states that "any clerk, register of wills, sheriff collector of taxes, or notary public, shall neglect to pay over any moneys collected for the State for the space of six months after said moneys are collected, he shall be deemed a defaultor.  Baggs was arrested, but released after he made bail and arrangements for a "speedy payment."  With the arrangements made, he was released him from the indictment and avoided imprisonment.

    Baggs married Mary A. Burchenal circa 1848 and they had nine children together, according to the 1870 and 1880 censuses.  The 1880 census shows that John and Mary moved their family to Baltimore, Maryland, presumably after John was arrested in Talbot County, Maryland.  According to the 1880 census, John went on to become a "Clerk in Court House".  Mary A. Baggs passed away on August 10, 1901.  It is unclear when John Baggs passed away as he left no will but according to records, it was before his wife, Mary.

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