April 13, 1836

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Document signed

Title: [Patent for Benjamin Smith's improvement in the door lock]

Signed by Andrew Jackson as President. Countersigned by John Forsyth as Secretary of State and Benjamin Franklin Butler as Attorney General. Smith's description of his improvement is signed by William Wolcott Ellsworth and Charles Russ as witnesses. Notation states "Engrav'd by J.V.N. Throop, Washington, D.C." Sealed and bound with green ribbon and accompanied by a paper seal.

GLC00059

April 5, 1831

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Document signed

Title: [Patent for Richard Willcox's improvement in metallurgical operations for accelerating and improving the manipulations of metals in general with the use of anthracite coals in particular]

Signed by Jackson as President. Countersigned by Martin Van Buren as Secretary of State and John MacPherson Berrien as Attorney General. Signed by Jacobs and Sanford as witnesses to Willcox's description of his metallurgical system. Includes a one page diagram of Willcox's invention. Several scraps of pink ribbon accompany this document separately.

GLC00062

November 14, 1826

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Document signed

Title: [Patent for William Willis' improvement in the two-cylinder atmospheric steam engine, or generating steam engine]

Signed by John Quincy Adams as President. Countersigned by Henry Clay as Secretary of State and William Wirt as Attorney General. Willis' description of his improvement is signed by Horace Atley and Robert Browne as witnesses. Contains a receipt for thirty dollars attached to the back of page one signed by Thomas Tudor Tucker, United States Treasurer. Sealed and bound with blue ribbon and accompanied by a paper seal.

GLC00065

January 25, 1871

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Alexander Marioli, convicted of assault and battery.

Convicted of assault and battery; sentenced to pay a $10 fine and court costs. Pardoned by recommendation of several citizens, to his extreme poverty, dependent family, and his inability to thus pay the fine. (c/s Hamilton Fish)

GLC00060

21 June 1792

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Samuel Davis for unlading two bales of cotton without a permit].

Countersigned by Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. Davis was convicted in Massachusetts. No reason given for pardon.

GLC00068.01

December 16, 1816

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Document signed

Title: [Delay of execution of Clinton Adams and Randal Terrier]

Countersigned by Secretary of State James Monroe. Adams and Terrier were convicted of highway robbery in June 1816. Respite was granted until 21 February, 1817. No reason mentioned for respite.

GLC00068.02

27 May 1818

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Felix McNamare for felonious act]

Signed by James Monroe. Countersigned by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams. Pardoned since McNamare had served a large portion of his two-year sentence and there were circumstances tending to the mitigation of the offense. Accompanied by a paper seal.

GLC00068.03

5 July 1834

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of William Collins for larceny]

Countersigned by Secretary of State John Forsyth. Collins was pardoned in June 1834 on condition of paying costs of prosecution. Pardoned by Jackson due to the inability to pay prosecution fees.

GLC00068.04

26 July 1847

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

Document signed

Title: Pardon of John Krause, convicted of assault with intent to kill.

Convicted of assault with intent to kill and sentenced to 2 years hard labor. Pardoned since he was penitent and the citizens of Georgetown had requested pardon. (c/s James Buchanan)

GLC00068.06

December 31, 1851

Fillmore, Millard, 1800-1874

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Samuel Prince, convicted of over-boarding his ship "George Turner."

Convicted of over-boarding his ship "George Turner"; sentenced to pay a $50 fine for each of the 24 passengers who were in excess of amount allowed [$1200 total] and court costs. Pardon is a remission of forfeiture while still upholding the above stated fines. (c/s Daniel Webster)

GLC00068.07

July 3, 1865

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of George M. Murrell of Lynchburg, Virginia, who had participated in the Confederacy].

George M. Murrell is pardoned by Andrew Johnson conditonal on his taking the oath of 29 May 1865, that he no longer make use of slave labor, and that he pay all costs of any proceedings against him in the past. Printed document with blanks filled in by hand. Document is printed, but the clauses on slavery are written in hand. Countersigned by Secretary of State William H. Seward.

GLC00044.06

August 24, 1865

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of I. H. Payne of Fauquier County, Virginia, for taking part in the rebellion].

Countersigned by Secretary of State William H. Seward. Payne is pardoned by Andrew Johnson conditional on his taking the oath of 29 May 1865, that he no longer make use of slave labor, and that he pay all costs up to the date of acceptance of this warrant. Includes printed letter of transmittal signed by Seward, with a black (mourning) seal. Collateral file has leather valise/pouch and clerical transmittal envelope.

GLC00044.07

May 6,1809

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Michael Bright and eight others for obstructing justice].

Countersigned by Secretary of State Robert Smith. Pardoned by Madison because their crimes arose from a sense of duty, not disobediance. The recipients of the pardon were Michael Bright, James Atkinson, William Cole, Charles Westfall, Samuel Wilkins, Abraham Ogden, Daniel Phyle, Charles Horey and John Knife. They were convicted in Philadelphia.

GLC00045.01

June 5, 1812

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Caleb Overton for selling "spiritous liquors" without a license].

Countersigned Secretary of State James Monroe. Sentenced to pay a fine of tobacco and court costs. Pardoned since the crime was unintentional and he was of good character.

GLC00045.02

January 12, 1814

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Joseph Butler for larceny].

Countersigned by Secretary of State James Monroe. Convicted of larceny in the District of Columbia in April, 1838. Butler had been sentenced to be "publicly whipped 54 stripes" and pay a fine and court costs. Madison pardoned him because he continued to be imprisoned, as he was too poor to pay the fine.

GLC00045.03

May 23, 1818

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Enoch Spaulding for breach of the peace]

Countersigned by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams. Pardoned from paying fine and court costs and freed from imprisonment due to his poverty and his family's dependence upon him.

GLC00045.04

July 1, 1823

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Daniel Easterbrooks for smuggling coffee]

Countersigned by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams. Easterbrooks was convicted in Bristol, Rhode Island, in 1822 and pardoned since it was his first offense, expressed regret for the crime, and was unable to pay the fine.

GLC00045.05

December 11, 1829

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Document signed

Title: [Remission of balance of sentence of Orrin Sherman for stealing money from the U.S. Mail]

Sherman's sentence was remitted upon payment of costs by President Jackson because he had shown repentance. Accompanied by a four page petition dated September 1829 with signatures, testimonials and a one page certification of Connecticut citizenship by Connecticut Governor Gideon Tomlinson, dated 31 October 1829. Name on Jackson's remission is spelled "Schearman."

GLC00045.06

January 13, 1848

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

Document signed

Title: [Presidential authority to the Secretary of State to affix the seal to the pardon of Samuel Howard].

Convicted of passing counterfeit coin; sentenced to 3 years imprisonment. Pardoned due to age, previous honesty, family's dependence, small amount of counterfeited money involved, and judge's request. Countersigned by Secretary of State James Buchanan. Also, includes petitions and receipt of pardon.

GLC00045.08

June 24, 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) "Duplicate" written on top.

GLC00045.09

March 3, 1849

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

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Seth B. Horton, convicted of violating a seamen protection act. Includes petitions, transmission letters and pardon receipt.

Horton, late master of the Barque "T.O. Brown," was convicted of violating a seamen protection act [3rd Section, 9th Chapter, concerning consuls and vice consuls] of Feb. 1803. Conditionally pardoned because the violation was not willful, Horton must pay court costs. (c/s James Buchanan) Signed on Polk's last day of office.

GLC00045.10

May 25, 1849

Taylor, Zachary, 1784-1850

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Nelson C. Marselis, convicted of robbing from the mail. Includes petitions, certifications and pardon receipt.

Marselis, a postal clerk, was convicted of stealing from the mail. No reason for pardon. (c/s John M. Clayton)

GLC00045.11

January 27, 1852

Fillmore, Millard, 1800-1874

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Bernhardt Taucke, convicted of over-boarding his Brig "Caroline." Inlcudes certification letter.

Taucke's vessel, the Danish Brig. "Caroline," was seized for it being over the 11 passenger limit. Remission of fine of $150, which has been noted on p. 3 by P. Riley of Boston. (c/s Daniel Webster)

GLC00045.12

March 23, 1855

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Charles Bentz, convicted of perjury.

Convicted of perjury; sentenced to 4 years imprisonment in March of 1851. No reason for pardon. (c/s William L. Marcy)

GLC00045.13

November 22, 1855

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Document signed

Title: Pardon of John Marders, convicted of assault.

Convicted of assault; sentenced to 3 months imprisonment and to pay a $1 fine and court costs. No reason given for pardon. (c/s W. L. Marcy)

GLC00045.14