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 November 11, 2025 Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives Office of the Governor, Thomas E. Bramlette: Governor's official correspondence file, petitions for pardons, remissions, and respites 1863-1867 KYR-0001-004-3193 BR41-351 to BR41-365

Lawrence County, Kentucky Lawrence County, Kentucky Petition English Version 1 of page "30": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "30": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 0 of page "29": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 0 of page "28": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 0 of page "27": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 0 of page "26": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 0 of page "25": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 0 of page "24": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 0 of page "23": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 0 of page "22": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 0 of page "21": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 0 of page "20": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 1 of page "19": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "19": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 1 of page "18": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "18": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 1 of page "17": Changes to page transcript. Version 1 of page "16": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "17": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 0 of page "16": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 1 of page "15": Changes to page transcript. Version 1 of page "14": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "15": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 0 of page "14": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 1 of page "13": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "13": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 1 of page "12": Changes to page transcript. Version 1 of page "11": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "12": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 0 of page "11": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 1 of page "10": Changes to page transcript. Version 1 of page "9": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "10": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 0 of page "9": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 1 of page "8": Changes to page transcript. Version 1 of page "7": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "8": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 1 of page "6": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "7": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 1 of page "5": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "6": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 1 of page "4": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "5": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 1 of page "3": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "4": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 1 of page "2": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "3": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 0 of page "2": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 1 of page "1": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "1": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile.
1

To His Excellency Thos E Bramlett Govenor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky Your Petitioners

Feel it their Duty to themselves Their neighbors and those For whome they Petition To lay before Your Excellency The case of of the Men Citizens of the State of West Va & Our Own State who were Engaged in the Hanging of Wm Wright James and John Lyons the murders of George Arthur.

On the night of the 27th of April last in Our County of Lawrence Our Fellow Citizens George P Arthur a Good man beloved and Esteemed by all that knew him was in the Hours of the Night Called from his Bed in his own House and Foully Wantonly and Cruelly Murdered Murdered by a Band of Outlaws and Assassins whose Boast after the Deed was that he was but one of their victims that had and would fall by their Hands

We know of

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Of no cause of Offense to these Desperodoes that made them thirst for the Blood of Poor Archer Save it was that he was a Firm and unyielding Union Man

The men who murdered him (during the War belonged to Cooks Guerillas who never Joined the Regular Confederate Army but who Preyed upon the unprotected Portions of the Country making their names Terrible by their Lawless acts and Vandalism

They Committed Murder Higway Robery Arson and Other Crimes that Decency Forbids us to Mention

The Terror of the Country the Peacable Citizens could not stay at home when they knew of the Presence of these Villians

But Actually Sought the Caves and woods Braving and Enduring the Cold of Mid Winter women and children deprived of the Comfort and Cheer of the Home beside the men through Fear of their Life the homes of

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that that is Dearer then Life their Honor

Nor were we Relieved of these Desperadoes by the Close of the war they Refused to Surrender They the Authority and Public Officers They by their own acts made themselves Outlaws Their Hands were against Evry Man and Every Mans Hand against them They forfeited that Right To Protection that the Good Citizen Has a right to claim from the Law

It is a fact that Shows the wanton Cruelty of these men that in the Winter of 1864 They Captured a Discharged Union Soldier and Made him climb a tree and then shot him until he fell out and then Bayonetted him

Upon the news of the death of Wright & the Lyones The whole community Felt Relief then left their Families and went to their work with Some Sense of Security For Life and Property nor it is too much to say that a General Feeling

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of Gratitude and Thankfullnes to those who Rid the Community of these Monsters Pervaded the People

In getting Rid of them People Did not think that the act was unlawful & might get those Engaged in it in Trouble They only felt that Each man woman and child in our Valley was safer than before

Not Your Excellency that we would countenance Mob Law or any violation of the Civil Law of the Land We do not Pretend to say that the men Engaged in this Transaction did not violate the Law we admit the Violation and that it was a Dangerous Exercise of the will of the People

But we beg that You will Permit us to Pleed that there was great Provocation for violence and that to Some Extent They the actors in this Matter were Excusable that there are very many and very Strong and Remarkable Palliating Circumstances that will address themselves To the

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strong Judgment and mercy of Your Excellency

Many of the men Engaged in the Hanging of Wright and his Co Murders were the Relatives of the deceased not by the Ties of Blood but by Marriage

They Saw that Young Widdow (To Some a Sister To Others a niece cousin or Aunt To all a Neighbor

Just Bursting into womanhood Just Entering on the Journey of Life who but a few days before was Happy in the Smiles of Her Husband now mourning over the Bloody Corse of him who to her was all in all the one most dear the most nesesary for Her Happiness and Welfare

They saw the Bloody corse of Archer His Form Rose up before them Pleeding for Vengence They Rembered Old Man Cooksly Milton Cneda and Coburn and others who had been shot down at their Homes by these men and their associates in Crime

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These men Wright and the Lyons acknowledged that they had Committed the Murder

The Jail was not Secure The Angry Passions of these men were Arroused Their Fears For They Had threated if they Escaped they would not leave one who had Hunted and Endeavored to arrest them worked upon them and they Gathered together 140 Citizens men who have always stood High in the Estimation of Community not a lawless lot of Desperadoes but Men who many of them Knelt at the Family Alter and Invoke the Blessings and Protection of Deity upon themselves their neighbors & Country

They counselled the Question was as said who next will Fall by the Hands of Such men Or if they Escape what Security have we for Life and Property

There was no one to Counsell Moderation and

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They at Last determined it was their Duty to Rid Themselves of the Impending Danger or chances of Harm from these men

The Deed is Done and although Many or all of those who Participated would not do so again and Regret it Yet it is as yesterday Past and can not be Recalled

And we as the Humble Citizens of the Sandy Valley Feel it our Sollem Duty To Earnestly Appeal To and Pray Your Excellency To Interpose (in behalf of these our neighbors and Friends and that we know to be good men)

And Grant them a Pardon For the offense (charged in the Severall Indictments Herwith Filed) of Hanging Three the most Desperate Desperadoes that Ever Cursed our Country

We humbly Submit the Forgoing Facts to Your Excellency and if You can Grant our Prayer we will Ever Rember You worthy the Profoundest and Most HeartFelt Gratitude

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Lawrence County Kentucky Charles Warren Clifton Dean James Workman Stranther F. Burgess John M Ferguson James P Tombin David V ^his X mark^ Moore John B. ^his X mark^ Moore John White Benjamin Forman Wm Prichard Jacob Lockleknead James Carnahan J C. Bussey R. D. Stratton Wm S. Bellomy C E. Crooks Thomas Boak Alvin White Selvyster Perrey James Boock L T Powell S Workman Wm Church James ^his X mark^ Howard Carles Stewart N. C. Waldeck Rufis Cobern Andrew ^his X mark^ Stewart David ^his X mark^ Byant Thomas Leakins Albert R. Steward Wm Bocock David Stewart A Stueat J P L C Greenvill Kinnire Henry Gilkison Samuel Burk John W. Fannan James H Curnutt Jesse Cyrus Phillip T Fannin M. D. J. Burns Jos H pright Buck Wells G R. Burgess J. P. B. C. R Depree Wm Johnson Jr John Jones Eli Stith Adam Snider David Byram Gerard Merrirt Jas M Rice A. W. Plymale

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John Lockwood

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Carter County Kentucky To his Excellency Thos E Bramlett Govenor of Kentucky

We Petitioners would Respectfuly and Earnestly Join in the Prayer of the Petitioner Lindsey Smith Joseph F Hatten and others Indicted for the Hanging of Wm Wright and the two Lyons the murders of Geo P Archer ) For there Pardon We know many of the men and know that they hav always stood as good citines and quiet and Peaceable men

Your Humble servents A B Carnahan G P Anglin C. W. Spangler G A Duncan W Huff G W Karens S Reed A. J. Kasee James Collier Daniel Friel John Clark Thomas Johnson J. J. Mcalister F Belmont Geo E Downing Burg F Waite P. Caril J. W. Martin A C Rhodes J. E. Rhodes George W. Kouns G. W. Kouns M. Bocook William Smith Elmadore Kenaday John Russell

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G M Suller John J Kouns Wm Davis B. S. McWharten Isaac Fannin Leander C Hazlett Robert Hazlett Mitche Stewart (one of the gran Jourors) Monterville M Bolt William R Stewart M M Kensley B F Hazlett H. Kerner M. T. Bolt Wm. D Bolt Isaac M. Bolt Louis P Fannin Isaac Belsher John Fannin (one of the gran Jourer) J. A. Baly Thomas L Fannin Wm Stewart Joseph ^his X mark^ Mowery Jeremiah Lambert Walter ^his X mark^ Green Lewis ^his X mark^ Easton Alfred ^his X mark^ Shepard Gabriel Riffe Peter Riffe J. P. Riffe William M Riffe John Riffe Cen Perlimus Lambert James Skeens Chrisly Savage John L. Savage William J Ross William Savage Thomas Barett John S Ross H. D. Price W H Shaw Alfred Bolt A B twart Charles Canterbury Chas Barrett R. Biggs Thomas ODaniels (one of the gran jourors)

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Grayson Carter County Ky Jas Prichard John Spense Elijah Rice greenvill Stuart H T Stewart Johnson ^X^ Stewart John ^X^ Ballow Charles W Rice William R. Clay J.. J.. Porter Wm H Jacobs Nate Stamper Johnson Harris D. P. Jacobs S. S. Bellow D. Killgore H. C. Jacobs Wiley Richard N. G. Flowers John S Jacobs W. R. Campbell J. C. Humphreys J W Jonson D. M. Williams William Hall John E Humphreys M. Edward Savoy Edward Savoy jr A. J. Bellomy D. M. Davis S. Osenton G. A. Lynn Horace P Biggs L. Dawson Ephraim B. Wilhort E P. Davis J B Ward H R Osenton W.. C. Holcomb Jos M. John P. Stephens John. T. Shepherd D M B. F. Shepherd M. L. Co W. A. Young Wm R. Shepherd Harvey A Wilhote James ^his X mark^ S Cott B F Crawford H. C. Ball William L Stephens George Frazier James Medders E hola Brook

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L. Collins J Hanes William Hatcher Joseph P Terry Andrew James J F Lacey A William T. T. Ward Samuel Meaders James Serten Elihu Boggs C p Mcguire F. Maguire Lions Geo. N Prichard L B Prichard G W Jesse Archibald Joh A Salter G Rise J J George W. Stewart Hiram Roach William Johnson A G Williams A. Rommen Walter Shearer Charles Bonet William R Evens g. H. Waugh D C. May John Damron W M Payne Marten Frilen William n Deel W. P. Hood John Watson Christian Kern James W. Deel Jesse Triplet J. M. Smalwood Wiles K. Lawns Arther Kitchen Henry Lucas M. Deel g W Payne John B. Lislin Flemon Sellman James Hase

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Henry Dunkel Louis C Queen Burwell Newman G. J. P. Carroll E P Burks Benjamin R. Haley John P Ruley Morgan Garrett David Bartram Jacob Marcum Eldridge Smith Thompson William M Skaggs William J. Dixon Burwell Ferguson J. M. Ferguson

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Boyd County Catletsburg Kentucky C H. Hampton Abraham Cyrus Thos J Ewing P M Jas Wise J L Ziggler Late Col 5 Va regt Ben Burk Frank Burning Zephariah Meek R M Weddington John D Mims Joseph Patton Jeremiah Wellman J. A. Klaiber Thomas Hally A Adams Milton Freese William H. May J N Bates H. Couby J Wesley Thornton Louis L. Kibbe A. F. Morse Wm Edy R Waterford H. B. Wellman John B. Wellman John H Smith Jr Edward E. Howe James W. Hagar C R Gross T W Tompkins A Carnahan J H Geiger V. M. Moore R. C. Burns Geo Gutterhay John H Ford C. L. McCornell D. W. Eba William Kenostman John Tunleaner J C Merrill A. P. Borders John McSorly K Eastham Alexander Smiley H Pennington G. W. Sparks H. G. Hager Ralp Stewart John D Ross W Honshell ^str^Telegraphs Frank Mott Abner James O N Brainerd Dr M. S. Pixley J. Bartram

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Geo. A. Knight clk Str Telegraph J S Mitchell " " " Jas R Crawford Pilot Str Telegraph A. R. Peirce Daniel Davis

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Names S. J. Yates Green McHenry Jno. D. Reinhart G C Ratcliffe M. F. Johnson D. C. L. C. C Jay H Northup Bryant Stubbins MD Geo W Gallup Wm F Moore G. R. B. Chapman D. Mitchell Benj Vaughn E. F. Colley Elisha Wellman C. R. Mims F. R. Moore. D. J. Burchett J B Hutchison Israel Hughes J W Gates H. C. Diamond Thos. Wallace Joshua F. Diamond Michael See Thos D. Marcum James C. Layne L. T. Small J. D. Foster Names F Moore M B Goble J A Abbott Wm Burchett Jailer L C Daniel J Whitley Jas E Wheeler H Hale A. E. Kendrick Chas Wilson Sr Matthew Drake Samuel Wellman John. F. Coleman Geo. W. Hutchison Sr J. W. Hale Martin adams John Wellman Reubin C Roberts G. W. Hutchinson Hays James W Shaman Geo W Hale Sen Robert Chambers Lewis Farechild Joseph Willbag Fred McHenry John McHenry William Layne

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Peter Sparks Jonathan McClend Reuben D. Wolfe E G Chapman John Travis Sec L E Late Alfred Workman Graham Wilson Asbury Haws Jeremiah Willman A R. Frazier R. H.. Kilgore J. D. Wellman William Gray A. C. Hutchison Samuel Mchenry Wm Vinson H. J. Conley K S Bootan J H OBrien Thos Young Perry Young J M Berry R. K. Oroark John Marshall Benj Castle Henry A. Scanes Thomas Osburn Pardon Morris

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John Griffith E M Smith Stewart Hevin Harmon Conley John C Miller G. W. Dixon H. C. Eastham

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Names 1 George Watkins 2 David Webb 3 Arnold Perry 4 John L. Belloups 5 A H Winson 6 M C Hodge 7 Stephen Lear 8 Evy F. Ballenger 9 James W. Perry 10 S. Z. Frasher 11 Solomon Tombtree 12 S. F. Mainard 13 Richard Robertson 14 Rolen Robertson 15 A M Selbree 16 Filson Blanton 17 Frank Maynard 18 James. H. Marcum 19 Thomas Workman 20 Thompson ^his X mark ^ Ratliff 21 David.C. Dammon 22 Wade.H. Thompson 23 F. M. Vinson 24 Elias Thompson 25 Samuel Jarrel 26 W. C. Rowe Names 27 Washington Jackson 28 John ^his X mark^ Eliot 29 Elisha Frasher 30 Wesley Wellman 31 John W. Frasher 32 David Bartren 33 Mitchel Wellman 34 William Wellman 35 Harmon artrip 36 Wm J P Wellman Z.. C. Vinson John Deskins John C. Chapat Solomon Rowe Lizzie B. Jennie L