September 25, 1780

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

The letter mentions companies engaged in promoting the development of the West, the attack on St. Augustine, Florida, the military draft, and Virginia's claims in Ohio. On the letter there is a penciled quotation in later hand on bottom annotating "Hotspur" in Pendleton's letter (quotation from Shakespeare).

GLC00099.047

October 1, 1780

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

The letter provides news of George Rogers Clark's expedition in Illinois and Indian conflicts. Also, mentions French fleet and southern military affairs. Docketed by Madison.

GLC00099.048

October 8, 1780

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

The letter mentions Portsmouth, VA, public executions in Britain and actions of the British fleet and British government. Signature was partially cut along top but not removed from leaf.

GLC00099.049

October 22, 1897

McKinley, William, 1843-1901

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Dora Lincoln, convicted of prostitution [or of operating a brothel].

Convicted of "keeping a disorderly house" [a term once used to refer to prostitution]; sentenced to 2 months imprisonment with an additional 2 months imprisonment added after being unable to pay the $25 fine also accrued. Pardoned after serving almost 2 months of the term. No reason for pardon mentioned. (c/s Joseph McKenna)

GLC00045.37

December 22, 1903

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of James Clark, who was convicted of larceny]

Clark, alias W. Perry Martin of Texas, was pardoned by Roosevelt six years after he completed his sentence for stealing a horse, in order to restore his civil rights since he had "conducted himself in an exemplary manner." Partially handwritten. Countersigned by Acting Attorney General Henry M. Hoyt. With transmittal document and envelope.

GLC00045.38

July 3, 1914

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Albert Holtzman of West Virginia for white slavery and kidnapping women for the purpose of prostitution.

Partly printed document. (c/s J.C.McReynolds [Attorney General])

GLC00045.39

January 28, 1929

Coolidge, Calvin, 1872-1933

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Marshall Barton Fales to restore civil rights.]

Convicted of swearing a false affidavit for pension claim. Pardoned for good conduct in prison and abiding the law since release. Attempted obliteration of name.

GLC00045.40

May 11, 1932

Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Joseph Burzenski.

Convicted of violating prohibition. Pardoned because he helped stop an escape. Burzenski's name has been blotted-out once at the top. (c/s Wm. D. Mitchell [AG])

GLC00045.41

April 6, 1945

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

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Peter Joseph Glynn.

Convicted of violating liquor tax act. (c/s Francis Biddle [AG])

GLC00045.42

May 27, 1946

Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Peter Robert Clark (c/s J. Howard McGrath [AG])

Convicted of piracy on the high seas: pardoned since his jail sentence had been commuted, his fine paid and his probation served. (No other reason mentioned.)

GLC00045.43

January 31, 1964

Johnson, Lyndon B., 1908-1973

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Fred G. Steele (c/s Robert Kennedy [AG])

Convicted of interstate transport of firearms; pardon to commute the 5-year sentence at once to 6 months; no reason for pardon.

GLC00045.44

September 8, 1974

Ford, Gerald R., 1913-2006

Typed document signed

Title: Granting pardon to Richard Nixon: A Proclamation

Signed by Ford in 1974 in black felt-tip pen. Explains that a trial against Nixon could not begin for a year or more and that, "the tranquility to which this nation has been restored by the events of recent weeks could be irreparably lost by the prospects of bringing to trial a former President of the United States....exposing to further punishment and degradation a man who has already paid the unprecedented penalty of relinquishing the highest elective office of the United States." This copy is a souvenir copy of Congressman Seymour Halpern. Numbered 4311 by hand in lower right corner of…

GLC00045.45

November 14, 1831

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Letter signed

Title: to Thomas Swann

Requests the details of a case involving a wrongly issued search warrant to determine whether a pardon will be granted.

GLC00045.46

July 2, 1852

Fillmore, Millard, 1800-1874

Letter signed

Title: to John C. Crittenden re: complaint about a pardon petitioner to his Congressman. Includes pardon petition, petition appeals, and medical report.

Appeal of a pardon for Ameal Brea, convicted of "..forging a soldier's discharge ...". Fillmore says "the Man's offense is great" and all too common. While going on to state that he would be willing to pardon Brea from imprisonment due to supposed dire health reasons, Fillmore finds the physicians report most unsatisfactory in form, manner and content, leading him to cast doubt on the report and the physician. His decision is to "...suspend further action in the case until more satisfactory information can be furnished on this point."

GLC00045.47

December 19, 1951

Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972

Typed letter signed

Title: Memo to Attorney General re: possible pardon of John Carson

Typed on White House stationery. Stamped and dated by A.G. office. No mention of crime.

GLC00045.48

December 14, 1861

Jackson, Thomas J. "Stonewall", 1824-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Eggleston Johnston

General Jackson, in command of Valley of the Virginia (Shenandoah Valley) discusses his attempts to damage the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. He informs General Johnston, Commander of the Department of Northern Virginia, that he has not been successful in damaging the Canal, but has captured several prisoners from the 17th Indiana Regiment. Jackson hopes to reverse the flow of water through a dam, or to make a small break in the canal. He plans to march with Gannetts' brigade the following Monday and hopes to prevent Washington, D. C. from receiving coal from Cumberland, Virginia during the…

GLC00046

December 21, 1841

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Plumer, Jr.

Adams praises Plumer's volume of poems and describes his own journal writings as "volume after volume of trash." In retrospect, Adams wishes he had focused his energies on producing a great historical work. He deems Plumer's style of recording time and memories in a "poetical record" superior to the usual diary form. Some of Plumer's verses remind Adams of his own thoughts, and he praises the poet for giving them permanent existence. Plumer was a former New Hampshire congressman.

GLC00047

April 1, 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: Promotion of Ward Marston to Lieutenent Colonel in the Marine Corps.

Promotion of Ward Marston to Lieutenent Colonel in the Marine Corps. Countersigned by Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles. Partially printed from an engraving courtesy of American Bank Note Co. New-York. Accompanied by a paper seal.

GLC00048

February 12, 1813

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of marines Thomas Potts and George Allen for desertion].

Countersigned by Secretary of State James Monroe. Potts had been convicted of desertion in June 1812. Allen had been convicted of desertion in August 1812. Both had been sentenced to be shot. Pardoned by Madison for "divers good causes and considerations."

GLC00049

September 12, 1865

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: Presidential pardon and authority to the Secretary of State to affix the seal to the pardon of C. L. Sayre, for taking part in the rebellion.

Sayre, took part in the "late rebellion" against the United States government. He was granted full pardon and amnesty by President Andrew Johnson for all offences he committed. Countersigned by Secreatary of State William H. Seward.

GLC00050

April 16, 1867

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Document signed

Title: Pardon of John Bowman, convicted of larceny. Includes petitions and receipts.

Convicted of larceny; sentenced to 1 year imprisonment. Pardoned because of his previous good character, recommendations of citizens and his eight years service in the U.S. Army. (c/s William H. Seward)

GLC00051

August 24, 1936

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

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Joseph Beren, alien (c/s H. Cummings [AG])

Convicted of perjury in an immigration proceeding: pardoned so that he might be allowed to reapply for readmission if deported.

GLC00052

September 26, 1812

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Printed document signed

Title: Privateer's commission for the sloop Union during the War of 1812

Signed by Madison as president and countersigned by James Monroe as secretary of state. Partly printed document commissioning the privateer, under the command of Captain Oliver Hicks and Lieutenant William Rust, to "seize and take any armed or unarmed British vessel, public or private, which shall be found in the jurisdictional limits of the United States or elsewhere on the high seas." Notes that the sloop weighed nine tons, was mounted with one gun, and was manned by a crew of seven. Document accompanied by a paper seal.

GLC00053

September 8, 1974

Ford, Gerald R., 1913-2006

Typed document signed

Title: [A Proclamation : pardon of Richard M. Nixon]

Prepared in 1977, after Ford's term of office. Explains that a trial against Nixon could not begin for a year or more and that, "the tranquility to which this nation has been restored by the events of recent weeks could be irreparably lost by the prospects of bringing to trial a former President of the United States....exposing to further punishment and degradation a man who has already paid the unprecedented penalty of relinquishing the highest elective office of the United States." This is a souvenir copy.

GLC00054

July 17, 1879

Hayes, Rutherford B., 1822-1893

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Catherine Bailey, convicted of larceny.

Convicted of larceny; sentenced to 2 years imprisonment. Pardoned since delayed proceedings lengthened her imprisonment [she had already been imprisoned 16 months], and by recommendation of several respectable citizens. Also, pardoned due to her advanced age. (c/s William M. Evarts)

GLC00055