Pardons, paroles, and clemency files, 1857-1861.

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Pardons, paroles, and clemency files, 1857-1861.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/122562292

The Governor of Ala. may grant pardons and reprieves, and remit fines and forfeitures in criminal and penal cases. This series consists of petitions and letters to Gov. A.B. Moore from prisoners, their families, friends, and others seeking clemency. Many petitions also contain affidavits from the convicting judge, jury, and state solicitor, as well as statements from the Inspectors of the Penitentiary which attest to the prisoners' good conduct in prison. The majority of pardon requests are for the the crimes of larceny, carrying a concealed weapon, assault and battery, manslaughter, and murder. There are a number requesting pardons for persons convicted of adultery, negro-stealing, and gaming with slaves. Of particular interest is the case of Hannah, a slave woman convicted of arson in Montgomery Co., Ala. in 1857 and sentenced to death. Because he thought she might be pregnant and thus ineligible for execution, the sheriff ordered a team of six physicians to examine Hannah. Unable to state definitely whether or not she was pregnant, the team recommended that the Governor order a stay of execution of four months, by which time her true condition would be more evident. A subsequent petition requesting a full pardon for Hannah contains the signatures of George Goldthwaite, William Knox, James R. Powell, William W. Screws and Thomas H. Watts, among others. Also contained is a series of letters and petitions requesting clemency for Jake, a slave belonging to Raphael Semmes. Jake had been convicted of nighttime burglary in Mobile Co., Ala. and was sentenced to death. He was later pardoned on the condition that his owner remove him from the state. Also included is a letter from William Lowndes Yancey requesting a pardon for Seaborn Flanigan, convicted of stealing a mule. Percy Walker's name appears on a petition requesting clemency for Godfrey, a slave boy under sentence of death for murdering a child. The names of Edward C. Bullock and John Gill Shorter appear on a petition for the pardon of Francis J. Cobia, convicted of manslaughter in Henry Co., Ala. A significant number of petitions are for the remission of fines and forfeitures, principally from persons whose bonds were forfeited after the bonded party failed to appear in court.

Originals: 1 cubic ft. (2 archives boxes).Copies: 2 microfilm reels.

Alabama Department of Archives and History

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 6765291

Alabama Department of Archives and History

Related Entities

There are 16 Entities related to this resource.

Godfrey, of Winchester, approximately 1050-1107

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6z69h1n (person)

Epithet: wife of the Reverend Charles John Melville Godfrey British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000702.0x000310 Epithet: Prior of Pontefract British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000702.0x00030e Epithet: Mr British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000702.0x00030d ...

Screws, W.W. 1839-1913.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w68d8q22 (person)

Moore, A. B. 1807-1873.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6989106 (person)

Flanigan, Seaborn.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w66f4mc2 (person)

Watts, T. H. (Thomas Hill), 1819-1892

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w60c50qx (person)

Jake

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6j18wzg (person)

Hannah

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w62g6gbt (person)

Walker, Percy, 1812-1880

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6x710nh (person)

Alabama. Governor (1857-1861 : A.B. Moore).

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w67j068k (corporateBody)

Goldthwaite, George, 1810-1879.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w67t52tr (person)

George Goldthwaite, born in Boston, was a lawyer, chief justice of the Ala. Supreme Court, and U.S. Senator. He was a resident of Montgomery, Ala. and died in Tuscaloosa, Ala. From the description of Letter, 1843. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122558047 ...

Semmes, Raphael, 1809-1877

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6zs35td (person)

Officer in the U.S. Navy and in the Confederate Navy, from Mobile, Ala. From the description of Papers, 1861-1872. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 20313995 ...

Cobia, Francis J.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6sz570d (person)

Knox, William, 1800-1869.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6b65c9g (person)

Bullock, Edward C. 1822-1861.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6p07v4t (person)

Powell, James R. 1814-1883.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6wq9qf2 (person)

Yancey, William Lowndes, 1814-1863

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6w38039 (person)

American lawyer and politician. From the description of Autograph signature clipped from the register of Brown's Hotel, Washington, D.C., 1857 Mar. 24. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270584435 Lawyer, Ala. legislator, and secessionist. From the description of Letter, 1858 June 15. (Filson Historical Society, The). WorldCat record id: 49479565 Attorney, editor, and politician, William L. Yancey was for many years a resident of Greenville, South Carolina. ...