Franklin Johnson

An illustration for recruitment of U.S. Colored Troops during the American Civil War.

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Quick Facts

Place of Birth:

Towson MD

Date of Birth:

1823

Place of Death:

Philadelphia

Date of Death:

September 24, 1864

He paid the ultimate sacrifice in fighting for his country, his family, and his rights in the American Civil War.

Franklin Johnson (1823-1864), was listed as a servant in the 1860 census at Hampton. Though it is possible that Frank was Bill Bussey/Johnson’s son, this cannot be demonstrated through the records from Governor Ridgely’s estate. There is documentary evidence, however, related to Esther (Hester) Gully/Baker who married Franklin Johnson, who was working at Hampton by 1860. Esther (Hester) Gully/Baker (1829-lv. 1890) was the only daughter of Jim and Catherine (Kitty) Gully who were part of the 1841 Hawkins purchase. Almost immediately upon her arrival at Hampton in 1841, Esther adopted the surname Baker and is recorded with this name in Hampton records. She had a son Henry Baker born in June 1849. The marriage of Esther and Franklin was carried out on December 24, 1856 in Hampton mansion by a white Presbyterian minister, R. C. Galbraith, who provided the religious services for the enslaved at the behest of Eliza Ridgely. Franklin and Hester had four children together.

In spring 1864 during the Civil War, he enlisted as a Union soldier in the U.S. Colored Troops (39th US Colored Infantry). Tragically, Franklin Johnson died while serving the Union, during this regiment’s very active role during the Overland Campaign. During the Siege of Petersburg, he survived the horrific mine explosion and subsequent atrocities at the Battle of the Crater in late July only to die of disease on September 24 at a hospital in Philadelphia. By the end of the Civil War, there were 175 USCT regiments, containing 178,000 soldiers, approximately 10% of the Union Army. The mortality rate for these units was exceeding high. One of every five Black soldiers in the conflict died, a 35% higher rate than other troops.

In late 1864, Hester applied for a widow’s pension in order to help support herself and her four children (Frances, Elizabeth, Rachel, Franklin). Her successful claim was supported by both her parents and Edward Humphrey, all of whom had come to Hampton in 1841. Hester subsequently moved to Baltimore to earn a living post-Emancipation working as a laundress. She lived for about 25 years on Sarah Ann Street, a small alley street running west from Greene Street between Saratoga and Mulberry in West Baltimore.