<title type="main">Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Larkin (Slave of Jesse Yates), Indictment Edition created from new transcripts of this manuscript. Initial upload of this work's facsimile images and metadata to FromThePage for editing Kentucky Historical Society Digital Collections Administrator of the CWGK Migration transcription project on FromThePage Kentucky Historical Society Digital Collections Kentucky Historical Society Digital Collections made 6 edits between June 22, 2025 and June 22, 2025. Dynamic TEI export from FromThePage (version 22.10)

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 November 11, 2025 Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives Office of the Governor, Beriah Magoffin: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Petitions for Pardons and Remissions, 1859-1862 KYR-0001-020-1942 MG23-385 to MG23-386

Clark County, Kentucky J. T. Simpson (Larkin) (Clark County, Kentucky, enslaved person. Charged in Clark County with the crime of wounding with the intent to kill John Thomas.) N00017744 Categories: People

Clark County, Kentucky, enslaved person. Enslaved by Jesse Yates in Clark County in 1862. Charged in Clark County with the crime of wounding with the intent to kill John Thomas.

Relationships Slavery: Jesse Yates (Montgomery County, Kentucky, farmer. ) Legal: John Thomas (Clark County, Kentucky, farm laborer.) Legal: Clark Circuit Court Legal: James H. Ogden (Winchester, Kentucky, laborer and merchant) Legal: John W. Thomas (Clark County, Kentucky, saddler and marshall.)

KYR-0001-020-1942. KYR-0001-020-1943. Jesse Yates (Montgomery County, Kentucky, farmer. ) N00017823 1795? Categories: People

Montgomery County, Kentucky, farmer. Montgomery County, Kentucky, native. Married to Mary Yates. Father of William B. Yates, Lafayette Yates, Samuel Yates, Sarah Yates, Susan Yates, Oliver B. Yates, Robert Miller Yates, Mary Yates, and Emily Yates. Married to Prudence Hopwood in Montgomery County, Kentucky, on September 19, 1852. Resident of Montgomery County in 1830. Owned six enslaved persons in Montgomery County in 1830. Resident of Montgomery County in 1840. Owned twelve enslaved persons in 1840. Farmer in Montgomery County, Kentucky in 1850. Owned fourteen enslaved persons in Montgomery County, Kentucky in 1850. Farmer in Montgomery County in 1860. Owned seventeen enslaved persons in Montgomery County, Kentucky in 1860, including J. T. Simpson (Larkin), Emily [Unknown], Sally [Unknown], and Willis [Unknown].

Fifth Manuscript Census of the United States(1830), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Montgomery County, p. 13. Sixth Manuscript Census of the United States(1840), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Montgomery County, p. 272. Seventh Manuscript Census of the United States (1850), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Montgomery County, District 1, p. 23B. Seventh Manuscript Census of the United States (1850), Slave Schedules, Kentucky, Montgomery County, District 1. Eighth Manuscript Census of the United States (1860), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Montgomery County, p. 244. Eighth Manuscript Census of the United States (1860), Slave Schedules, Kentucky, Montgomery County, p. 86B. Birth and Death Records: Covington, Lexington, Louisville, and Newport (before 1911), KDLA, Frankfort, KY, Roll #994049, Montgomery Deaths, p. 3. Kentucky Birth, Marriage and Death Records (1852-1910), KDLA, Frankfort, KY, Roll #994049, Montgomery County Marriages. Kentucky Birth, Marriage and Death Records (1852-1910), KDLA, Frankfort, KY, Roll #994049, Montgomery County Marriages, 3. Kentucky Birth, Marriage and Death Records (1852-1910), KDLA, Frankfort, KY, Roll #994049, Montgomery County Births, p. 4. Kentucky Birth, Marriage and Death Records (1852-1910), KDLA, Frankfort, KY, Roll #994049, Montgomery County Births. p. 5. Kentucky Birth, Marriage and Death Records (1852-1910), KDLA, Frankfort, KY, Roll #994049, Montgomery County Births. Kentucky, Wills and Probate Records, 1774-1989, Kentucky County, District, and Probate Courts, Montgomery County Wills, vol. D-F, 1828-1874, p. 302-326. John Thomas (Clark County, Kentucky, farm laborer.) N00017824 1842? Categories: People

Clark County, Kentucky, farm laborer. Kentucky native. Son of Joshua B. Thomas and Permelia Thomas. Married to Catharine Thomas. Father of Florence Thomas. Farm laborer in 1860. Household owned one enslaved person in 1860.

Eighth Manuscript Census of the United States (1860), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Clark County, District 2, p. 831. Eighth Manuscript Census of the United States (1860), Slave Schedules, Kentucky, Clark County, District 2, p. 341A. Ninth Manuscript Census of the United States (1870), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Clark County, Precinct 4, p. 53B. Consolidated Lists of Civil War Draft Registration Records, Records of the Provost Marshal General's Bureau (Civil War), NARA RG 110, Clark County, KY, July 1863, p.26. William S. Downey (Bourbon County, Kentucky, commonwealth's attorney) N00006117 1824? Categories: People

Bourbon County, Kentucky, commonwealth's attorney. Indiana native. Married to Lucy Ann Embry Downey in Madison County, Kentucky on May 18, 1845. Father of Mary E. Downey. Married to Emily Jane Robinson Burbridge Downey in Scott County on January 28, 1858. Father of Willie H. Downey and Minna "Minnie" Shreve Downey. Attorney in Clark County in 1850. Owned four enslaved persons in Clark County in 1850. Attorney in Bourbon County in 1860. Commonwealth's attorney for the Thirteenth Judicial District from 1860 to 1866. Owned nineteen enslaved persons in Clark County in 1860.

Relationships Legal: William Emmett Simms (Kentucky Confederate soldier and politician) Legal: General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky Legal: Bourbon Circuit Court Legal: Madison Circuit Court Legal: Fayette Circuit Court Legal: William L. Taylor (Fayette County, Kentucky, hack driver and livery stable keeper) Social: David Ingles (Lexington, Kentucky, hack driver and dray man) Legal: Clark Circuit Court

Seventh Manuscript Census of the United States (1850), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Clark, Winchester, p. 41B. Seventh Manuscript Census of the United States (1850), Slave Schedules, Kentucky, Clark, Winchester, p. 307. Eighth Manuscript Census of the United States (1860), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Clark, Winchester, p. 871. Eighth Manuscript Census of the United States (1860), Slave Schedules, Kentucky, Clark, Winchester, p. 346A. Kentucky Marriage Records, Madison County Courthouse, Richmond, Kentucky, Madison County Marriages, Film 000183302. Kentucky Marriage Records, Madison County Courthouse, Richmond, Kentucky, Scott County Marriages, Film 000183225. Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1860, Legislative Document Series, No. 1 (Frankfort, KY: Jno. B. Major, State Printer, 1861), 355-59. Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1861, Legislative Document Series, No. 1 (Frankfort, KY: Jno. B. Major, State Printer, 1862), 303-08. Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1862, Legislative Document Series, No. 24 (Frankfort, KY: Wm. E. Hughes, State Printer, 1863), 298-306. Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1863, Legislative Document Series, No. 10 (Frankfort, KY: Wm. E. Hughes, State Printer, 1864), 301-06. Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1864, Legislative Document Series, No. 1 (Frankfort, KY: George D. Prentice, State Printer, 1865), 9-12. Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1865, Legislative Document Series, No. 1 (Frankfort, KY: George D. Prentice, State Printer, 1866), 9-12. Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1866, Legislative Document Series, No. 1 (Frankfort, KY: John H. Harney, Public Printer, 1866), 347-50. William C. Sympson (Clark County, Kentucky, farmer) N00017825 1800? Categories: People

Clark County, Kentucky, farmer. Kentucky native. Married to Mary Jane Irwin Sympson in Clark County, Kentucky, on February 22, 1825. Father of James Sympson, Frances E. Sympson, William C. Sympson, and Allan H. Sympson. Farmer in Clark County, Kentucky, in 1850. Owned seven enslaved people in Clark County in 1850. Farmer in Clark County in 1860. Owned fifteen enslaved people in Clark County in 1860.

Seventh Manuscript Census of the United States (1850), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Clark County, District 2, p. 40A. Seventh Manuscript Census of the United States(1850), Slave Schedules, Kentucky, Clark County, District 2. Eighth Manuscript Census of the United States (1860), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Clark County, District 2, p. 844. Eigth Manuscript Census of the United States(1860), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Clark County, District 2, p. 342B. Ninth Manuscript Census of the United States (1870), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Clark County, Precinct 6, p. 93A. Kentucky Marriage Records, Madison County Courthouse, Richmond, Kentucky, X County Marriages, Film #001943687, p. 216. Aylett Hawes Buckner (Winchester, Clark County, Kentucky, clerk and court clerk) N001787 1809-09-16 1867-09-01 Categories: People

Winchester, Clark County, Kentucky, attorney and court clerk. Kentucky native. Married to Charlotte Forsythe Buckner in Illinois in 1833. Father of Benjamin F. Buckner, Susan Buckner, and Daniel T. Buckner. Resident of Jacksonville, Illinois. Attorney in Jacksonville. Editor of the Illinoian in Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, in 1838. Attorney in Winchester, Kentucky. Member of the Whig Party. Clerk in Clark County in 1850. Clerk of the Clark Circuit Court from 1858 to 1861. Clerk of the Clark Circuit Court in 1865. Hired one enslaved person in Clark County in 1860.

Relationships Social: Stephen Burditt (Hancock county farmer) Social: Jacob Swearer (Hancock county farmer) Social: A. J. Logden (hancock county,ky) Social: S. B. Burnett (hancock county, KY) Social: Jeff Burnett (hancock county farmer) Social: J. H. Mathews (Hancock County, KY, petition signer) Social: Richard C. Walker (hancock county) Social: Wilfred Hayes (hancock county) Social: George H. Roberts (Hancock County, Kentucky, constable and farmer.) Social: Jeff Richey (hancock county farmer) Social: Thomas M. Wheatly (hancock county) Social: Thomas G. Lynch (hancock county) Social: Baird Sterett (Hancock County, KY, farmer) Social: Charles E. Price (hancock county) Social: Henry Paul (hancock county) Social: Thomas M. Newman (hancock county) Social: Thomas Ogden (hancock county) Social: John Swigurt (hancock county) Social: George Jarboe (hancock county farmer) Social: Sylvester Key (Hancock Co) Social: Henry E. Haynes (Hancock County, Kentucky, farmer) Social: R. G. Tift (hancock county, ky, schoolteacher) Social: William Sterett (hancock county, ky, farmer, politician, & atty) Social: Alexander C. Lindsay (hancock county, KY, farmer & home guard soldier) Social: Green Sterett (Hancock County, KY, physician) Social: W. G. Mays (Hancock County, KY, farmer) Social: William Clark (Hancock co, Ky, resident) Social: William Hawkins Tindle, Jr. (hancock county) Social: Thomas Clark (hancock county) Social: John K. Johnson (hancock county) Social: N. Stark (Hancock County, KY,) Social: John A. Clark (Hancock County, Kentucky, resident) Social: David Davison (hancock county) Social: Wayman Cooper (hancock county) Social: Thomas F. Tindle (hancock county) Social: William Cook (hancock county) Social: Charles Jefferson Sterett (Hancock Co med student & CS soldier) Social: John Probus (hancock county) Social: Benjamin Lynch (Hancock Co) Social: Frank Gist (hancock county) Social: Hawkins Tindle, Sr. (hancock county) Social: Robert Hardy (hancock county blacksmith) Social: Davis L. Adair (Hawesville newspaper editor) Social: William B. Tindle (hancock county)

Seventh Manuscript Census of the United States (1850), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Clark County, District 2, p. 41A. Eighth Manuscript Census of the United States (1860), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Clark County, Winchester, District 2, p. 873. Eighth Manuscript Census of the United States (1860), Slave Schedules, Kentucky, Clark County, Winchester, District 2, p. 348B. Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1859 (Frankfort, KY: Jno. B. Major, State Printer, 1860), 290. Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1861, Legislative Document Series, No. 1 (Frankfort, KY: Jno. B. Major, State Printer, 1862), 305. Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1865, Legislative Document Series, No. 1 (Frankfort, KY: George D. Prentice, State Printer, 1866), 11. Patrick A. Lewis, For Slavery and Union: Benjamin Buckner and Kentucky Loyalties in the Civil War (Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 2015), 29-30, 46-51. "Aylett Hawes Buckner (1809-1867)," Find A Grave, Memorial 50717378, accessed August 16, 2017, http://www.findagrave.com/memorial/50717378. John W. Thomas (Clark County, Kentucky, saddler and marshall.) N00017743 1834? Categories: People

Clark County, Kentucky, saddler and marshall. Kentucky native. Son of Elizabeth Thomas. Harness maker in Clark County in 1860. Marshall of Winchester, Clark County, in 1863.

Eighth Manuscript Census of the United States (1860), Population Schedules, Kentucky, Clark County, Winchester, p. 884. Consolidated Lists of Civil War Draft Registration Records, Records of the Provost Marshal General's Bureau (Civil War), NARA RG 110, Clark County, KY, July 1863, p.26. Kentucky P001800 Categories: Places

State in the upper south of the United States. Capital at Frankfort. Located on the Ohio River.

38.2009, -84.8733 "Frankfort, Kentucky," USGS: Earth Explorer, accessed June 14, 2019, https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/. The Kentucky Encyclopedia, ed. John E. Kleber (Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1992). Ohio P001036 Categories: Places

State in the midwestern United States. Capital at Columbus. Located on the Ohio River and Lake Erie.

39.9612, -82.9988 "Columbus, Ohio," USGS: Earth Explorer, accessed October 4, 2021, https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/. Jeff Wallenfeldt, Francis R. Aumann, and George W. Knepper, "Ohio," Encyclopedia Britannica, accessed May 22, 2017, https://www.britannica.com/place/Ohio-state. Clark Circuit Court O00000364 Categories: Organizations

Located in the 13th Judicial District of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Judge(s): William C. Goodloe. Commonwealth’s Attorney(s): William S. Downey. Clerk(s): Aylette H. Buckner.

Relationships Legal: William Redmon Duncan (Clark County, Kentucky, farmer and Towanda, Illinois, cattle broker) Legal: William C. Sympson (Clark County, Kentucky, farmer) Legal: John W. Thomas (Clark County, Kentucky, saddler and marshall.)

“Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1861,” in 1862 Kentucky Documents, Legislative Document No. 1. (Frankfort, Ky.: Jno. B. Major, State Printer, 1862), 303-308; “Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1862,” in 1863 Kentucky Documents, Legislative Document No. 24. (Frankfort, Ky.: Wm. E. Hughes, State Printer, 1863), 298-306; “Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1863,” in 1864 Kentucky Documents, Legislative Document No. 10. (Frankfort, Ky.: Wm. E. Hughes, State Printer, 1864), 301-306; “Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1864,” in 1865 Kentucky Documents, Legislative Document No. 1. (Frankfort, Ky.: George D. Prentice, State Printer, 1865), 9-12; “Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1865,” in 1865/66 Kentucky Documents, Legislative Document No. 1. (Frankfort, Ky.: George D. Prentice, State Printer, 1866), 9-12; “Annual Report of the Auditor of Public Accounts of the State of Kentucky, for the Fiscal Year Ending October 10, 1866,” in 1866 Kentucky Documents, Legislative Document No. 1. (Frankfort, Ky.: John H. Harney, Public Printer, 1866), 347-350. Commonwealth of Kentucky O001025 1792 Categories: Organizations

Administrative body of the state of Kentucky. Capital at Frankfort, Kentucky. Governor(s): Beriah Magoffin (1859-1862), James F. Robinson (1862-1863), and Thomas E. Bramlette (1863-1867).

Paul Blanchard, "Office of Governor" in The Kentucky Encyclopedia, John E. Kleber, ed. (Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1992), 380. Malcolm E. Jewell, "General Assembly" in The Kentucky Encyclopedia, John E. Kleber, ed. (Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1992), 366. Paul J. Weber, "Court System" in The Kentucky Encyclopedia, John E. Kleber, ed. (Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1992), 233. Clark County, Kentucky 1862-05-28 Legal/Financial English Version 1 of page "4": Changes to page transcript. Version 2 of page "4": Changes to page transcript. Version 2 of page "2": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "4": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 2 of page "1": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "3": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 1 of page "2": Changes to page transcript. Version 1 of page "1": Changes to page transcript. Version 0 of page "2": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile. Version 0 of page "1": Empty transcript -- probably initial upload of page facsimile.
1

State of Kentucky Clark Circuit} Sct

Be it remembered that on the 15th day of May 1862 the Grand Jury impannelled and Sworn for the Circuit of Clark County returned into court an Indictment which read in the words and figures following towit.

"Clark Circuit Court The Commonwealth of Kentucky against Larkin -- Slave of Jesse Yates

The Grand Jury of Clark County, in the name and by the authority of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, accuse Larkin, Slave of Jesse Yates of the crime of wounding White Person with Intent to Kill, Committed as follows, Viz The Said Larkin Slave of Jesse Yates on the 10th day of May 1862 in the County aforesaid Willfully and Maliciously woundedJohn Thomas a Free white Person by striking him on the Head and Arms with a stick with the intent to Kill said Thomas against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth of Kentucky

W S Downey Com Atty

Endorsed on the back of said Indictment "A True Bill W C Sympson Foreman

2

State of Kentucky Clark Circuit

I Aylett H Buckner clerk of the Clark Circuit Court do certify that the foregoing Indictment against Larkin a slave of Jesse Yates, is truly copied from the Original now on file in My office

Given under my hand this 28th day of May 1862 A HBuckner clk

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4

Ohio The Commonwealth of Ky vs } Copy Indictment Larkin -- Slave of Jesse Yates

Requisition for Larkin (a Slave) charged with Felony in the Clark Cir Ct IssdMay 28th 1862.

Jno W Thomas agent