John Burnett to Beriah Magoffin
1861-03-08
- Date of Creation
- March 8, 1861
- Place of Creation
- Kingston, Madison County, Kentucky
- Document Genre
- Correspondence
- 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
- Box / Folder
- MG19-169 to MG19-169A
- CWGK Accession Number
- KYR-0001-020-0751
- 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
- 32209159
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- Dates
- 1861-03-08
Citation
John Burnett to Beriah Magoffin, 1861-03-08, Office of the Governor, Beriah Magoffin: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Petitions for Pardons and Remissions, 1859-1862, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, https://discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/KYR-0001-020-0751 (November 13, 2026).
Kingston Madison Co
Kentucky
To
His Excellency
Beriah Magoffin.
Your Petitioner would respectfully State that he has been indicted by the Grand Jury of Madison Co for carrying concealed weapons and that he is now under bonds for his appearance to stand his trial the 2nd Monday in this month & that the facts of the case are these Your Petitioner lives in the neighborhood of Berea which place as your Honor is well aware is the Headquarters of a disaffected set people, some of whom had on several occasions threatened him and being true to himself and a loyal citizen to his native state He prepared himself to Repel any attack by them.
Happening at the House of One Todd who is the witness for agst him and who lives in that neighborhood
and the difficulties being mentioned by himself stating to Todd what he had been threatened believing sd Todd to be his Friend he told him he was prepared to Repel and in fact showed him his arms and also disagreeing to spend the day at his house asked sd Todd to lay them away till he went Home which he did. But the sd Todd was so much in the interest of the Abolitionists or at least so indiscreet that he told them and they had him sumoned before the Grand Jury a willing witness, and a true bill found for carrying concealed weapons. Believing that he was warranted in what he done, that a man has the Right not only but that it is his duty to defend his person or his Country at any and all times and against all foes but particularly against domestic traitors He prays Your Honor for to grant all proper Releif
He would Respectfully state to your Honor that He is a poor man so far as the money but is Rich in children who are dependent upon him for their living as it is by his Labor alone they have the necessaries of life and their name as well as his own He appeals to you for Relief Knowing as you must that now it is particularly hard for all who are like him to get employment. Relying upon your Justice & Mercy He hopes your Relief will be speedy and He will ever pray for your Happiness & prosperity and the success of those great principles of which you are the exponent I have the Honor to subscribe myself
Respectfully yours
John Burnett
Burnetts Case
no Judgt