09 May 1907

Mosby, John S., 1833-1916

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sam Chapman

Written on stationery of the Department of Justice. Discusses Grant's endorsement of Lee's pardon after the war, and Johnson's refusal to grant it. He discusses politics during the Reconstruction era. He comments "there was more vindictiveness shown to me by the Virginia people for my voting for Grant than the North showed to me for fighting four years against him." Various politicians and judges mentioned.

GLC03293

10 March 1863

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Presidential authority to the Secretary of State to affix the seal for warrant on the pardon of Jonathan C. Boyle].

GLC03824

25 June 1789

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Delay of execution for Edward Johnson for two weeks].

Signed by Governor of Massachusetts Hancock and countersigned by Secretary of the State John Avery. Johnson was to be hanged for burglary but "humbly supplicated for further time to prepare for death." Suspension of his sentence was granted for two weeks. Paper seal attached.

GLC03792

10 October 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Levi Underwood

Convicted of larceny and sentenced to one year in prison. Justice associates suggested Executive clemency, and recommended a pardon. Levi was granted a full and unconditional pardon by Lincoln (c/s Seward)

GLC03650

January 14, 1818

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Henry F. Doyhar for keeping a billiard table without a license].

Countersigned by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams. Fined $150. Pardoned because of his misunderstanding of the licensing requirements and his indigent circumstances.

GLC03655

January 2, 1912

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Document signed

Title: [Presidential commutation of sentence of Robert Sawyer, convicted of murder and sentenced to death, 10 November 1905]

Sawyer had been convicted of murder on the high seas in the U.S. Circuit Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. He was originally sentenced to death, but that sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. Taft commuted his sentence so it would expire immediately. No reason was given for commutation. Countersigned by J.A. Fowler as Acting Attorney General. This is a printed document with blanks filled in by hand. Accompanied by red paper seal.

GLC03579.01

February 15, 1936

Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Nelson H. Peach, with warrant

Pardon countersigned by Attorney General Homer S. Cummings. Accompanied by the transmittal warrant and the original envelope.

GLC03581

16 July 1963

Kennedy, John Fitzgerald, 1917-1963

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Otelia Pendergast re: convicted of violation of section 265

GLC03590

16 May 1876

Lee, Samuel Phillips, 1812-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Maury re: pardon and restoring political rights to C.S. Naval Officers.

GLC03694

26 May 1863

Townsend, E. D. (Edward Davis), 1817-1893

Document signed

Title: General Order #147 re: reversing dismissal, remitting death sentence of Private

Reversing a decision against Lt. John C. Walsh, 28th Reg. NY Vols.

GLC03721.02

12 July 1865

Lee, Stephen D., 1833-1908

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Oliver O. Howard

Howard was head of the Freedmen's Bureau. Asking for Howard's assistance in his pardon application. "I write this truly trusting the war has not changed your feelings towards me personally..."

GLC03722.01

22 August 1865

Lee, Stephen D., 1833-1908

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Oliver O. Howard

Howard was head of the Freedmen's Bureau. Lee reponds to Howard's letter (not present) of 26 July 1865 in which Howard declined to take an interest in his pardon application. He describes his motives in fighting for the Confederacy and refers to the South's failure.

GLC03722.02

October 1794

Chase, Samuel, 1741-1811

Document signed

Title: [Recommending pardon of Philip Holton for manslaughter].

Recommends pardon of Philip Holton because of his youth, his good character and his peaceable behavior. Written as chief judge of the general court of Maryland.

GLC03727

25 March 1865

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Robert Barnett by Abraham Lincoln]

Barnett was arrested during the New York Draft Riots and convicted of discouraging enlistments, he was pardoned due to poor health. Endorsed on verso on the date of Lincoln's death. (c/s F.W. Seward)

GLC03912

28 November 1865

Semmes, Raphael, 1809-1877

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John M. Kell

Kell was first officer of the Alabama from 1862 to 1864. Writes to Kell to answer his question about taking the pardon, to thank him for naming his first-born son after him, and to tell him of the disposition of prize money from the ship. Semmes states that he had not been offered a pardon, did not mean to ask for one, and would refuse one if it were offered to him.

GLC04021

10 May 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: Authority to affix the seal to pardon of James Brady, for theft of mail

Brady had been convicted of stealing from the mail and sentenced for two years imprisonment. After serving nearly two-thirds of his sentence, he was pardoned by Lincoln for penitent and exemplary nammer.

GLC03966

17 July 1860

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Jacob Smith for mail tampering].

Pardon is countersigned by Acting Secretary of State William Henry Trescot. After serving his sentence, Jacob Smith continued to be imprisoned in Philadelphia for nonpayment of his $500 fine. He was pardoned by Buchanan after this was petitioned by citizens of Dauphin County (where the offenses took place) and by Pennsylvania Senator William Bigler.

GLC03984

1 November 1836

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Richard W. Davis for cruelly and inhumanly beating a Negro in Georgetown].

Countersigned by Acting Secretary of State Asbury Dinkins. Pardoned by Jackson after serving his one-month prison sentence because Davis was unable to pay a fine of $10 and court costs, and on the recommendation of the judge and the district attorney that he was a fit subject for clemency.

GLC04211

14 June 1830

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Document signed

Title: [Remitture of the forfeiture of the sloop Nun to master Winthop S. Baker, whose ship was siezed for importing slaves].

Countersigned by Secretary of State Martin Van Buren. The sloop Nun was seized in the territory of Florida. Jackson, in consideration of the premises, "divers other good and sufficient reasons," and on payment of costs, orders remission of the vessel and further orders that a "nolle proseque" be entered in all suits against her.

GLC04469

24 June 1848

Polk, James K. (James Knox), 1795-1849

Document signed

Title: Pardon of John Paterson, John Smith & Peter Johnson, convicted of larceny on high seas.

Convicted of larceny on high seas; sentenced to 4 months imprisonment and a fine of $30 each. Pardoned after serving prison sentence, as "they are seafaring men, dependent upon their monthly wages for support, have no property, and are wholly unable to pay the fine...". (c/s James Buchanan)

GLC04470

9 May 1865

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Mary Catharine Berry by Andrew Johnson]

She was convicted of larceny, and sentenced to one year. She was later pardoned because she was young at the time she committed the crime. (c/s W. Hunter)

GLC04474

5 November 1866

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of William Dulaney, convicted of larceny].

Dulaney, was convicted of larceny and sentenced to serve two years in imprisonment. He was later pardoned after serving almost a year of his prison term for good behavior and by recommendation of a number of citizens. Countersigned by acting Secretary of State William Hunter.

GLC04475

19 September 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Lincoln endorsement on a letter from Samuel Holloway]

Letter written by Samuel Holloway to Abraham Lincoln requesting release of his son George W. Holloway, a prisoner of war. States that his son was induced to join the Confederate Army without his knowledge. He is now in the hospital and will not recover unless released. Conveys that his son repents his mistake and is ready to swear allegiance to the Union. Begs Lincoln to save his boy's life, offers to pay bond money, and also offers to be taken as a hostage in his son's place. Certification on third page dated 20 September 1864 states that George W. Holloway is between 16 and 17 years…

GLC04484

4 November 1866

McLaws, Lafayette, 1821-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gov. Charles J. Jenkins

Notifying Governor Jenkins of President Johnson's full pardon he granted the ex-Confederate General Lafayette McLaws and that he may resume the duties of court clerk in Richmond County.

GLC04479

19 August 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of Arthur O'Bryan, who had been convicted in the District of Columbia of attempted bestiality in August 1857].

Pardoned by Lincoln near the end of his sentence because of his exemplary behavior in prison, because he had been decent and well-behaved, but was drunk when he committed the offense, and at the request of a large number of respected citizens. Countersigned by Secretary of State William H. Seward.

GLC04335