Case files of applications from former Confederates for Presidential pardons ("Amnesty papers")

Notes

On "this microfilm publication are reproduced applications for pardon, 1865-67, submitted to President Andrew Johnson by former Confederates excluded from the provisions of his amnesty proclamation of May 29, 1865, together with affidavits, oaths of allegiance, recommendations for executive clemency, and other accompanying papers"--Introd.

"...A Presidential pardon would restore a citizen to his former civil rights and would also provide immunity from prosecution for treason and from confiscation of property... Also important in restoring former Confederates to full rights of citizenship was an act of May 13, 1884 (23 Stat. 21), which provided that prospective Federal jurors and civil officers no longer had to swear that they had never engaged in rebellion against the United States"--Introd.

"The principal body of records reproduced in this microfilm publication consists of approximately 14,000 files containing pardon applications and related papers submitted to President Johnson, 1865-1867, by persons excepted from his amnesty proclamation of May 29, 1865, together with a few applications submitted to President Lincoln by persons excepted under his earlier proclamations. The majority of applications are unsworn statements by petitioners, but there is a large number of statements sworn before a magistrate. Included with each application is an oath of allegiance signed by the petitioner and, in many cases, recommendations from prominent citizens for clemency or letters from relatives or friends containing pleas for compassion. Applications received by the President through governors of Southern States bear their endorsements. In some instances, there are notations by the President or his assistants indicating action on a particular case. The individual files often contain considerable information on a pardon applicant's background, his activities during the war years, and his attitude in defeat. Approximately half of the applications are from individuals excepted under the proclamation of May 29, 1865, because of their ownership of property valued at more than $20,000"--Introd.

"In group 1, filed at the end of the alphabetically arranged records under each state, are various types of special files. For most states there are applications bearing the names of two or more individuals (Two-or-more name files) and/or documents relating to the business of pardoning (Miscellaneous files). Under South Carolina there is also a separate alphabetically arranged group of amnesty oaths (Special file) for persons whose applications are not included in the alphabetical name file. In group 2 under the District of Columbia, there is a separate alphabetically arranged set of application files from persons excluded by the 10th exception (passing into the Confederacy from U.S. territory to aid in rebellion) but recommended for pardon by Mayor Richard Wallach"--Introd.

"The pardon application files are divided into three groups: (1) applications submitted by persons from the South (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia); (2) pardon applications submitted by persons from the North and West (California, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico Territory, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island); and (3) applications submitted by persons who designated no state or territory. Group 1, by far the most voluminous, is filmed on rolls 1-72; groups 2 and 3 are filmed on roll 73. Each of the first two groups is arranged alphabetically by state, territory, or district and thereunder alphabetically by surname of petitioner; the third group is arranged alphabetically by surname of petitioner"--Introd.

Beginning in 1867 Loyalty Oaths, or pardon applications, were taken by former Confederates, and provide the following: name of person, county of residence, numer of months of residence in the state, the exact birth date, generally the county and state of birth, and naturalization date and place.

Includes alphabetical name index to the pardon application files (on roll 1).

Microfilm of original records in The National Archives, Washington, D.C.

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Locality Subjects

Film/Digital Notes