American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography, including The Larry Ness Collection of Native American Photography

Partly-printed document, 1p, 3 x 8 in. (creasing, light soil and toning). A summons, stating in part: "To J.L. McCombs const. for Caroline Co. Greeting Summon Wm. Baynard Negro to be and appear before me the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, on the 25th day Sept. to answer unto Francis E. Smith admr of Saml G. Smith Decd in a plea of Debt and have you them and there this summons." Signed by James B. Steele, Justice of the Peace. Docketing to verso "Summons No. 472 / Francis E. Smith / admr of / Sml G. Smith Dec / vs / Wm. Baynard."

A document which sheds light on how the legal system impacted the African American community before the Civil War. According to the Maryland States Archives, William Baynard was born free and never enslaved. Still, he likely would not have been able to offer testimony on his own behalf before a court, as Maryland like other slave states generally restricted free Black testimony against whites. It is possible that the William Baynard represented here is either "William R. Baynard" of Caroline, Maryland, who enlisted on 19 September 1864 with the 20th Regiment U.S. Colored Infantry, or William S. Baniard [Baynard] of Caroline, Maryland, who enlisted on 14 February 1865 with the 38th Regiment U.S. Colored Infantry.