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

October 19, 1870

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

Document signed

Title: Pardon of William B. Philips, convicted of embezzling money from the post office.

Convicted of embezzling money from the post office; sentenced to 6 months imprisonment and to pay a $3454.78 fine. Pardoned for his "...good character, pliable nature, poverty, the punishment already suffered, and the fact that his bondsmen have paid in a large portion of the money taken...". (c/s Hamilton Fish) One bust engraving of Grant included.

GLC00043.22

June 30, 1879

Hayes, Rutherford B., 1822-1893

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Justus J. Gude, convicted of stuffing the ballot box.

Convicted of putting tickets in ballot box (stuffing it), while serving as an election judge in a Baltimore congressional election; sentenced to 1 year imprisonment and a $5 fine. Pardoned since further imprisonment would endanger his life. (c/s William M. Evarts)

GLC00043.24

1862-1865

Various

Header Record

Title: Presidential Pardon collection no. 2. [Decimalized .01-.07]

[Lincoln and Johnson] [decimalized 00044.01-00044.07]

GLC00044

July 24, 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Presidential pardon of Felix Mullen, who had been convicted in February 1862 in the District of Columbia of burglary].

Felix Mullen was pardoned by Abraham Lincoln because Lincoln had been petitioned by the jury who had tried the case, who told him that they rendered their verdict upon a misconception of the law. Also his conduct while incarcerated had been good. In his petition, Mullen had asked to be pardoned so that he could return to the 10th New Jersey Volunteers. Countersigned by Secretary of State William H. Seward.

GLC00044.01

January 4, 1776

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Jay

Hamilton writes that he meant to send this letter by the last post but missed it. Informs that a proclamation has been issued to dissolve the old assembly to elect a new one. Reports that the Tories are saying they will dominate the election but he believes the Whigs will prevail. Indicates that he would like Jay to come but that his presence is not absolutely necessary. Addressed to Jay in Philadelphia, free franked in New York.

GLC00007