December 14, 1842

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Autograph letter signed

Title: to E. S. Johnson

Andrew Jackson replies to Johnson's letter, which informed him of the Democrat's victories in Massachusetts. He congratulates Johnson, and praises Massachusetts. Referring to Federalism and Whiggism in that state he writes, "We can now truly say that the old coon is really dead, & all humbugery with it."

GLC00084

August 15, 1835

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Letter signed

Title: to Hubbard Taylor

Written in the hand of Dolley Madison, signed by James Madison. Discusses his views on politics. Writes "I join in all your good wishes, for more tranquility and harmony in our public affairs; which will always be best promoted by a course avoiding the extremes to which party excitements are liable." Advises that he is in his 85th year, "the infirmities belonging to which are added inroads on my health, which among other effects have so crippled my fingers as to oblige me to use borrowed ones." Envelope has a free frank signed by Madison.

GLC00086

November 12, 1845

Van Buren, Martin, 1782-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to J. & W. Gelsey & Co.

Business letter discussing farm produce from his estate, Lindenwald. Written from Lindenwald on blue paper.

GLC00089.02

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 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 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 26, 1860

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Moses Lowenstein for keeping a bawdy house].

Countersigned by Secretary of State Lewis Cass. Lowenstein was convicted in December 1859 in Washington, D.C. He was a resident of New York City imprisoned in Washington for being unable to pay the fine imposed upon him by the courts. After receiving a petition from Lowenstein, and supporting petitions from Lowenstein's daughter, Franzisca, citizens, and justices of the peace Charles Walter and Thomas C. Donn, Buchanan pardoned Lowenstein.

GLC00061

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

May 28, 1846

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Document signed

Title: [Patent for Matthias Baldwin's combination of the steam whistle and the boiler]

Signed by James Buchanan as Secretary of State. Countersigned by Edmund Burke as United States Commissioner of Patents. Baldwin's written description of the combined steam whistle/boiler is signed by E. W. C. Green and John White as witnesses. Contains a one page diagram depicting Baldwin's invention. Sealed and bound with a light blue ribbon (frayed and torn) and accompanied by a light green paper seal. Elaborate engraved seal at the top of the first page, annotated with the names Henry Stone, Pxt. and Bannerman, Sc.

GLC00063

September 13,1853

McClelland, Robert, 1807-1880

Document signed

Title: [Patent for Matthias Baldwin's improvements in steam engine cut-off valves]

Signed by Robert McClelland as Secretary of the Interior. Countersigned by Charles Mason as Commissioner of Patents. Baldwin's written description of his improvement is signed by Henry Simpson and Daniel McKinley as witnesses. Includes a one page diagram depicting Baldwin's invention. Contains a blue paper seal and light blue ribbon. Top of the first page is decorated with a detailed patriotic engraving along with the notes: Drawn by A.A. Von Schmidt and Eng'd by W.H. Dougal.

GLC00064

1860-1869

Pearce Family

Header Record

Title: Collection of Pearce family correspondence [Decimalized .001-.152]

Correspondence of the Pearce family of Ohio. Includes letters of Ebenezer (Eben) Pearce, Edgar Pearce, the Reverend William Pearce, and other family members. Letters contain accounts of the Battles of Shiloh and Corinth, as well as of Lincoln's assassination. Transcripts available for many letters.

GLC00066

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

20 March 1839

Van Buren, Martin, 1782-1862

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of William Field for violations of maritime law]

Countersigned by Secretary of State John Forsyth. Field, master of the schooner Boston, was convicted of illegally landing a seaman and for omitting to deposit his register at the U.S. Commercial Agency at the port of Aux Cayes in Haiti. Since he acted without willful negligence or wish to defraud, penalties were remitted and released from prosecution on payment of costs.

GLC00068.05

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

04 November 1858

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Charles Barrett, convicted of murder.

Convicted of murder; sentenced to death. Sentence commuted due to Barrett's youth, and because the crime was unintentional, not premeditated, and was done in "...a moment perpetrated under the maddening effects of intoxicating liquor...". (c/s Lewis Cass)

GLC00068.08

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

April 2, 1847

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

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Thomas Gardner, convicted of burglary. Also, includes petitions and receipt of pardon.

Convicted of burglary; sentenced to 3 years hard labor at a penitentiary. Pardoned due to Polk's petition by the jury and judge, and for "...divers other good and sufficient reasons..." (c/s N.P. Trist)

GLC00045.07

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