William E. Arthur to Beriah Magoffin

Accession Number

KYR-0001-020-1891

Document Genre

Petition

Repository

Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives

Collection

Office of the Governor, Beriah Magoffin: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Petitions for Pardons and Remissions, 1859-1862

Item Location

MG23-311 to MG23-312

Place of Creation

Covington, Kenton County, Kentucky

Date of Creation

30 May 1862

Dates Mentioned

1862-05-30

1862-03

1860-03-03

1862-06-09

Covington Ky — May 30^th 1862
For the Governor

At the March Term, 1862, of the Circuit Court for the County of Kenton John Singer, Ann his wife, Rachel and Charles his son and Daughter, the two latter aged, respectively, 18 & 20 years, free Negroes, then residing in this City, were indicted under and in persuance of the 2^d~~[...]~~ ^3^d^ and 6^th sections of "An Act concerning free Negroes, Mulattoes and Emancipation" — apprroved March 3^d 1860, sec. 2^o Stantons R.S. p. 810-811= which Indictments are now pending and indetermined.

Many years ago, with the approbation of this community, an Act of our General Assembly "secured to John and his family certain enumerated principles in this Commonwealth and among others that of Council in this place where he has continued to reside to the present time — I have known John nearly all my life, and I am not aware that John has either in his own person, or in those of his family abused the privileges conferred upon them by the act mentioned, save and except ~~[...]~~ in the unfortunate, instances, which gave rise to the Indictments alluded to,

The public sentiment of this community, no less than the laws of the Commonwealth demanded and justify, the Indictment of John and his family= But, on the other hand, I think I may say, with equal confidence and with equal breadth of expression that the public sentiment of this Community palliates the Acts upon which the Indictments are founded on the belief, that John, and consequently John's family, were honestly mislead, by a misapprehension of their rights and duties, both as to the special law in their favor and the particular and more recent law, under which they have been Indicted —

I concur in every thing that has been expressed in the within petition in reference to the uniform propriety and probity of John's life — I think the Indictments in question, have already produced a salutory efect in the right quarter, and that the
affect will be rather increased than diminished, (in this particular instance), by extending a free pardon to these otherwise meritorious negroes —

I have written this note at the request of citizens and members of the Grand Jury, eminent for their public and private worth some of whose names appear signed to the accompanying petition and ^are^ well known to the Executive

W E Arthur
Aty Com'th

I heartily concur with the foregoing recommendation, having known John Singer since my residence in Covington. An honester, more accommodating, and gentlemanly "gentleman of color," it would be hard to find. I am satisfied his violation of law complained of was the result of mistake, not malice

R. Richardson

Kenton Cir Ct
Indictment against John Singer & others

Pardon Iss^dJune 9. 1862

To his Excellency Beriah Magoffin
Governor of Kentucky.

At the march Term 1862 of the Kenton Circuit Court, indictments were found against John Singer, his wife ^(Ann)^ and daughter about 18 years old named Rachael and his son Charles about 20 years of age, for going out of the state and returning and residing in Convington — they being free blacks.

Singer has been a resident Covington for nearly thirty years. He has raised his family here. He is a Barber, and has pursued his business, diligently and has been all the time a quiet, orderly, well behaved man — remarkable for his quiet unoffensive demeanor, and for the propriety of his life The same may be said of his family. Neither one of them have ever before been called to answer a charge for the breach of any law state or municipal before — and they all have the confidence and respect of all our people. They erred without being aware of the law and we are satisfied an act of great justice and propriety would be done on pardoning them this their first offence We respectully and earnestly ask that your Excellency will pardon them

Ja^s M Prestown

I think pardon will be act of mercy well bestowed on them

Jno W Finell
B M Foley
L F Daugherty
N, B, Stephens

T. R. Buster.
A C Ellis
G B Dudley
Jas, C, Gedge
John F Fisk
John S. Mise
J G Carlisle
John B Carey
S. C.Perrin
Jacob Ellinger
H. P. Rose
J A Goodson
A Z Greer
W^m Ernst
H. Myers I have known Singer eight years & I know no more quiet & orderly man than he.
J. B. Jones
J W Stevenson
M. J.Dudley
J Sanderson
C A. Withers
C. W. Stewart.
Jno C Herndon
C. Y. Martin
G W M^cDannold
F A. Avard
Chas. Assmann
R A Jones
Tho. B. Page
John T Lewis
Tho. Mise

A. Craig
A. H. Jameson
E B Lewis
H. Drexelius
D Westcott

(I sincerely desire and hope the governor will grant this pardon)

J. M. Wonall
F. Smith
J. Gray I have known the petiti-oners many years & alwas with credit to himself & this community (Singer)
John [Lamey]
Joe Clark
Tho^s D. Kennedy
Franklin Riggs

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