A native of Baton Rouge, Andrew Baker nonetheless has deep roots in Natchez.

And in his role as king representing the Pilgrimage Garden Club, he is carrying on a family tradition of involvement in Natchez Spring Pilgrimage.

Indeed, his great-grandmother, Margaret Marshall, was one of the founders of the Pilgrimage.

“I’ve been coming to Natchez since I was little,” Baker said by phone from Baton Rouge, where he is a student at Louisiana State University. “I used to come to spend summers there with my grandmother at Lansdowne.”

Devereux Marshall Slatter, his grandmother, said she has fond memories of her grandson’s visits, especially when he was a small boy.

“He is a sweet, thoughtful boy,” Slatter said. “When he was little, he would tell me these very funny stories.”

Baker remembers walks about the estate when he was younger. Today, he enjoys keeping horses at Lansdowne and riding them when he visits.

A history major, Baker likes the Spring Pilgrimage activities. As a member of the 2006 court, he learned more about the pageant and was pleased to be asked to serve as king this year, he said.

“And it’s nice to meet all the Natchez friends of my family,” he said. “I like getting to know the people there.”

Baker, the son of Burk and Lisa Baker of Baton Rouge, hopes to travel some after graduation and then to work in the family business, Burk Baker School of Real Estate, a Louisiana company with locations in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Metairie, Monroe and Mandeville.

“Andrew was hesitant about being in the court last year because he didn’t know any of the other people,” his mother said.

“However, after the first night they were great friends, and he had a lot of fun. When the opportunity to be king came up, he was excited to do it because he had such a good time last year and likes Holly so much.” Holly Hall is PGC queen.

The king’s sister, Anna Baker, was queen in 2000. His aunt, Marsha Colson, was queen in 1968. And his uncle, George Marshall IV, was king in 1954.

The Pilgrimage tradition since the first year in 1932 is that the king of the pageant should wear the uniform of a Confederate general.

Slatter said when the family began to search for someone to make the uniform, they found a company in Corinth that specializes in uniforms for Civil War re-enactors.

“His uniform is beautiful,” Slatter said. “It is a really correct uniform, and the little boys (pages) had theirs made there, too.”

San-Jay Creations put the family in touch with C&D

Jarnagan Co. in Corinth, Lisa Baker said. The styles, fabric and colors are all based on authentic uniforms.

“Andrew’s uniform is a reproduction of a uniform worn by Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan as pictured in the book ‘Rebels and Yankees, The Commanders of the Civil War’ by William C. Davis,” Baker said.

“The double-breasted frock coat is made of Confederate gray wool. It has off-white wool collar and cuffs and gold piping down the front. The collar has the general’s insignia sewn on.”

Other details include Waterbury Confederate States officers’ buttons and a buff silk knit sash.

Baker’s uniform also will include an authentic sword, one that he is borrowing from his grandmother’s house.

“That sword has been sitting in the corner of the dining room for as long as I can remember,” Slatter said. “But no one ever bothered to find out whose it was.”

No matter. It is a family sword. Baker will use it with pride, in one more way connecting his family history to the 75-year-old Natchez Pilgrimage.