November 19, 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Authorization for the Secretary of State to affix the United States seal to President Lincoln's proclamation]

A docket in pencil indicates that this document refers to a proclamation to lift a blockade from ports in Virginia and Florida. This document is printed and all handwritten text is underlined.

GLC00030

May 5, 1805

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas M. Randolph

A business letter concerning the management of Monticello while Jefferson served as president. Jefferson writes that he cannot increase an employee's wages from 60 pounds to 100, and asks Randolph to find a replacement. Thomas Randolph and Jefferson's daughter Martha married in 1790.

GLC00032

March 31, 1787

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Printed document signed

Title: [Society of Cincinnati membership certificate for George Ogier]

Countersigned by Henry Knox. Washington as president of the Society of the Cincinnati, attests to the membership of George Ogier. Partially printed. Notations in bottom left and right corners stating artisans of print as Aug. L. Belle, Del. and J.J. LeVeau, Sculp.

GLC00033

January 10, 1849

Hamlin, Hannibal, 1809-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jabez True

Informs that Rufus McIntire has been appointed marshal of Maine and states that President James Polk advised him of this beforehand. Mentions former President John Tyler and Zachary Taylor, who would be inaugurated president two months after this. "We once were Tylerized, I trust we shall not be Taylorized." Discusses what the various sectors of the Whig party think Taylor's course of action in office may be. "Ultra Whigs fear he will be the second edition of Tyler -- and the Taylor Whigs fear he will be ultra -- Northern Whigs are afraid of him on our territory & that he will veto the…

GLC00034

January 15, 1862

Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant, 1818-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Jordan

Lists eight items he intends to have General Samuel Cooper pay special attention to during his inspection. Advises Jordan not to cast blame on anyone when talking to Cooper. Notes accusations against himself that he is usurping power. Venting his disaffection with Confederate leaders, he writes: "Bah! What men to direct affairs in our struggle for Independence! Compare them to Washington, Lafayette...?" Beauregard was then commanding general of the Potomac District, Department of Northern Virginia. Jordan was on Beauregard's staff through much of the Civil War; at the time he was a colonel…

GLC00039

November 20, 1816

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Autograph document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of a group of Quakers for refusing to bear arms in militia].

Countersigned by Secretary of State James Monroe. Intended for Joseph Hollingsworth, William Ellicott Jr. and Sr., Thomas Hartley, Levi Hartley, Samuel Hartley Jr., and Seneca Parry, who were arrested in Maryland. Partially filled out.

GLC00043.02

December 27, 1811

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Letter signed

Title: to Thomas Rutter

Secretary of State Monroe transmits to "The Marshal of the District of Maryland" a printed copy of the record of the third Congress of the United States. Monroe states that he knows Rutter will find it gratifying since Rutter "participated in the Labors of this work." Rutter was marshal in Maryland from 1804 to 1817.

GLC00043.03

February 23, 1813

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Letter signed

Title: to Thomas Rutter

Secretary of State Monroe transmits a printed copy of a notice to foreign nationals living near coastal areas. Rutter was marshal of Maryland from 1804 to 1817.

GLC00043.04

March 12, 1813

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Letter signed

Title: to Thomas Rutter

Secretary of State Monroe elaborates on what course of action is to be taken involving "peculiar and extraordinary cases of hardship, and where the character and deportment of the parties entitle them to peculiar consideration..." Rutter was marshal of Maryland from 1804 to 1817.

GLC00043.05

November 13, 1816

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Letter signed

Title: to Thomas Rutter

Secretary of State Monroe asks the Marshal of Maryland for details of the cases against Joseph Hollingsworth, William Ellicott Jr. and Sr., Thomas Hartley, Levi Hartley, Samuel Hartley Jr., Seneca Parry. These men were Quakers who had refused to bear arms and been arrested, and consequently petitioned for a presidential pardon.

GLC00043.06

November 20, 1816

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Letter signed

Title: [Transmittal letter for blank pardon form].

Possibly for a group of Quakers arrested for refusing to bear arms. Writing as secretary of state.

GLC00043.07

December 7, 1816

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Letter signed

Title: to Thomas Rutter

President Monroe urges U.S. Marshal Rutter to promptly list the names of the customs officers who must appear as trial witnesses in Richmond in the case of the Brig Romp.

GLC00043.08

November 22, 1816

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Document signed

Title: [Presidential appointment of Thomas Rutter as Marshal for the District of Maryland].

Countersigned by Secretary of State James Monroe. Appointment is from 22 November 1816 until the end of the next session of the Senate of the United States.

GLC00043.09

October 30, 1835

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Joseph Richmond for embezzlement]

Countersigned by Secretary of State John Forsyth. Deputy postmaster of Middletown, Maryland, Richmond was convicted of embezzling the U.S. Mail in November 1834 and was sentenced to ten years in prison. Richmond, young and of previous good character, was pardoned after recommendation by one of the judges at his trial, Elias Glenn, and Baltimore prison warden, Joseph Owens.

GLC00043.10

March 30,1846

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

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Robert Baker for engaging in the slave trade].

Countersigned by James Buchanan. Baker, 1st mate on the Brig "Montivedio", was convicted of engaging in the slave trade between Africa and Brazil and sentenced to serve 6 months in prison and pay a $500 fine and court costs. Pardoned after serving twelve months in prison because of his poverty (inability to pay the fine) and excellent conduct.

GLC00043.11

July 13, 1847

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

Document signed

Title: Pardon of George Miles, convicted of mutiny aboard the Barque "Agnes." Also, includes petitions and receipts.

Miles, "...convicted of a revolt on board of the barque 'Agnes'..."; sentenced to pay a $1 fine and courts costs [$25], and be imprisoned for ten days. Pardoned after serving his prison sentence since he was too poor to pay his fine. (c/s James Buchanan)

GLC00043.12

July 13, 1847

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

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Lewis Huskey alias Edward Cairns, convicted of mutiny aboard the Barque "Agnes." Also, includes petitions and receipts.

Huskey [a.k.a. Cairns], "...convicted of a revolt on board of the barque 'Agnes'..."; sentenced to pay a $1 fine and courts costs [$25], and be imprisoned for ten days. Pardoned after serving his prison sentence since he was too poor to pay his fine. (c/s James Buchanan)

GLC00043.13

September 24, 1850

Fillmore, Millard, 1800-1874

Document signed

Title: Pardon of William Jenkins alias William Ryall, convicted of counterfeiting. Includes petitions and transmission letters.

Convicted of passing counterfeit coin; sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. Pardoned for "...divers good and other sufficient reasons...". (c/s Daniel Webster)

GLC00043.14

April 5, 1851

Fillmore, Millard, 1800-1874

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Daniel Brown, convicted of counterfeiting.

Convicted of passing counterfeit coin; sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. Pardoned for "...divers other good and suffiecient reasons...". (c/s W.S. Derrick)

GLC00043.15

November 17, 1851

Fillmore, Millard, 1800-1874

Document signed

Title: Pardon of John Alguner, convicted of counterfeiting.

John Alguner convicted of passing counterfeit coin. Executive clemency granted by Millard Fillmore, pardoned for "...divers other good and sufficient reasons...". Countersigned by Daniel Webster, Acting Secretary of State. Accompanied by a paper seal.

GLC00043.16

July 28, 1854

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Document signed

Title: Pardon of August Kesling, alias August Kesting/Kestenger, convicted of transmitting forged federal documents.

Convicted of transmitting forged federal documents; sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. Pardoned for "...divers other good and sufficient reasons..." (c/s William L. Marcy)

GLC00043.17

July 12, 1855

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Document signed

Title: Pardon of the owners of the Steamer "Osiris," convicted of endangering lives of passengers by not having sufficient amount of life preservers.

Convicted of endangering lives of passengers by not having sufficient amount of life preservers; sentenced to pay $500 fine and additional $71.30 for violation of U.S. transportation safety law of 30 August 1852 [5th Section]. Conditionally pardoned, in that the $500 fine be remitted while the law violation penalty [$71.30] and other court costs be paid. (c/s W.L. Marcy)

GLC00043.18

May 3, 1858

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Document signed

Title: Pardon of George Kirk, Edward Burr, & George Carroll, convicted of defrauding the revenue.

Convicted of defrauding the revenue; each sentenced to pay a $400 fine and court costs and to be confined until paid. All pardoned due to their inability to pay fine. Signed by James Buchanan. Countersigned by Lewis Cass. Accompanied by a paper seal.

GLC00043.19

December 30, 1859

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Thomas Wilson, convicted of 2 counts of assault weapon against crewmen on the Schooner "Exchange."

Convicted of 2 counts of assault [one with a dangerous weapon] aboard the Schooner "Exchange" while at sea; in one case, sentenced to 1 year and 3 months imprisonment and in the case involving weapon, sentenced to 2 years hard labor and to pay $1 fine and court costs. Pardoned due to insanity. (c/s Lewis Cass)

GLC00043.20

December 16, 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of Rasmus Benson who in Maryland in September 1862 was convicted of inflicting cruel and unusual punishment on a seaman].

Pardoned by Abraham Lincoln because Benson had been imprisoned for failure to pay the fine, because Benson's offense against the Criminalizing Mutiny on the High Seas Act (March 3, 1835, c. 40, sec. 1 and 2) was of a technical nature, and because the U.S. Attorney who prosecuted the case had petitioned on his behalf. Countersigned by William H. Seward.

GLC00043.21