Petition

Leonard Farmer et al. to Thomas E. Bramlette

Place of Creation
Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky
Document Genre
Petition
Repository
Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives
Collection
Office of the Governor, Thomas E. Bramlette: Governor's official correspondence file, petitions for pardons, remissions, and respites 1863-1867
Box / Folder
BR8-271
CWGK Accession Number
KYR-0001-004-0167
Rights
This image and its transcription are freely available to the public. Images appear courtesy of Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Transcriptions and annotations were created by Kentucky Historical Society staff, volunteers, and interns. When referencing this document, please use our preferred citation.; The use of transcriptions, images, or annotations from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce any material on CWGK is required.
FTP Identifier
32203054
People
Pace, Francis
Todd, Harry Innes, Sr.
Jennings, Hezekiah
Garrard, James Henry
Jones, John, Jr.
Jones, John, Sr.
Farmer, Joseph
Farmer, Leonard
Farmer, Lewis
Farmer, Lewis, Jr.
Jones, Speed
Bramlette, Thomas Elliott
Farmer, William C.
Clem, William
Powell, [unknown]
Places
Frankfort, Kentucky
Organizations
Commonwealth of Kentucky
Harlan Circuit Court
Kentucky State Penitentiary
Dates
1861-04
1863-10-26
1863-10-26
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Citation

Leonard Farmer et al. to Thomas E. Bramlette, Office of the Governor, Thomas E. Bramlette: Governor's official correspondence file, petitions for pardons, remissions, and respites 1863-1867, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, https://discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/KYR-0001-004-0167 (November 12, 2026).

[Page 1]

To his Excellency Governor Bramlett,
Frankfort Kentucky

We, the undersigned Petitioners would respectfully inform Your Excellency that at the April Term of the Harlan circuit Court 1861, Francis Pace, a citizen of this county was convicted of the Crime of Bigomy and sentenced to Three years confinement in the Kentucky PenitentiaryWe, inform Your Excellency that at the time He was convicted He was verry young verry ignorant and verry poore, had but few Friends, had no counsel and in fact, He did not know what plea or what proof was necessary to Acquit him. We further inform Your Excellency that we, believe He was not guilty as charged and that if He had been tried fairley He would not of been convicted, but even should He be guilty we think Two years and Six Month at hard labour is severe a Punishment enought to satisfy the Commonwealth for the crime— We have never seen but one Woman who said she was his wife and if He had any other We think she is satisfied with his absence and denies his being her husband —

We, hope your Excellency will extend to the poor and needy that a Degree of Charaty which is vested in you by the Constitution.

We tharefore Hope and petition your Excellency to pardon the said Pace,

Leonard Farmer
John Jons Jr
William Clem
Lewis Farmer

Hy Jennings (Jailer)
Wm. C. Farmer

Lewis Farmer Jr

Jos. Farmer
Speed Jones
Jno Jones sr.

[Page 2]

Harlan Cir Ct
vs
Francis Pace
Bigomy
Pardoned
26th Oct/63

Oct 26th 1863

This Petition contains no sufficient reason for executive clemency. Where unjust conviction is relied upon, the evidence must be set forth that the Govr may form his own judgement; the application was rejected but from the representations and upon application of Col Jas Garrard, Esq Powell & theKeeper of the Penitentiary, a pardon is ordered.

Tho E Bramlette
Govr of Ky