Ambrose Baker

After the war

On 3 December 1864, Mary Ann Baker, his widow,applied successfully for a widow's pension (3, 17, 20). Her address then was No. 6, America Place, 4th St, below Vine Street, Philadelphia Pennsylvania (3).

In 1870, his widow was living in the 14th ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (19). She was living with John G Deal, and is named 'Mary A Deal' (19). She was also living with her children Rachel, Ambrose, Henry and Sarah (19).

However, ME Jenks, a special agent, who lived near her, investigated her apparent remarriage, taking several statements near the end of October 1878 (3).

Mary Ann Baker 44 years old, residence No. 9 Diligent [?] Ave, Philadelphia (3). In a statement given on 20 Oct 1878 she swore she had never remarried, but admitted she had "continuously cohabited" with John Deal for ten years, since about 1868, and had one child by him, 10 [?] years old (3). When other people addressed her as Mrs Deal, she responded, but she never openly acknowledged him as her husband, and never took his name (3). She probably would have been married to him long ago if she hadn't wanted to lose her pension (3).

Another statement was given by her daughter-in-law Isabella Baker, 25 years old, residence rear 923 Hamilton St Philadelphia Pennsylvania (3). Isabella married Ambrose Baker Jr on 19 August 1874 (3). She believed Mary Ann Baker and John Deal were not married (3). She and her husband lived with them part of 1876, all of 1877, and part of 1878 (3). Their relations with each other were the same as if they were married (3). They have one daughter, Sarah Deal, about 11 years old. Mary Ann Baker was addressed solely as Mrs Deal (3).

A third statement was given by Mary Johnson, 38 years old, residence 600 Loraine St Philadelphia (3). She swore that the statements in Isabella Baker's statement were true (3).

A few days later, on 24 October 1878, Anna Maria Meyers gave a statement (3). She was 57 years old, and lived at rear 918 Hamilton St Philadelphia (3). Mary Ann was known solely as Mrs Mary Deal, and she took for granted that they were married (but had never discussed it) (3). All their acquaintances recognize them as husband and wife (3). She is not entitled to a pension (3).

John Deal also appeared on 24 October (3). He was 59 years old, and lived at No 9 Diligent Ave., Philadelphia Pennsylvania (3). He began living with Mary A Baker in 1865, has lived with her continuously since, and has one child who will be 12 next January (3). He never married her by any legal ceremony (3). Mary Ann is addressed as Mrs Deal but he has no knowledge she ever gave anyone permission to so address her (3). He had told friends that he wasn't married, but didn't talk much about it (3). He wanted to marry her, but she refused (3).

On 5 November 1878, the Commissioner of Pensions ordered her pension ended, and she was dropped from the pension rolls on 30 November 1878 (3).

(Information about other cases in which someone received a pension they were allegedly not entitled to is available.)