An Extremely Rare Letter Of Pardon Transmitted By Zachary Taylors Secretary Of State Of State John M. Clayton

An extremely rare letter of pardon transmitted by Zachary Taylor’s Secretary of State of State John M. Clayton to Marshal Thomas H. Kent, Esquire (also a lawyer) to state that “he, John M. Clayton has President Taylor’s Pardon and is ‘herewith’. Convicted and then pardoned by the President: Samuel Bradshaw, Charles O’Connell, Louis Le Gullon, are to be released (without stating such but asking for a reply). Following a revolt on Brig Justina and the men were convicted in the March term of 1849 in the US Maryland District court”. Document written by another hand but signed by John M. Clayton.

March 10, 1851, the Ship Justina sank off Monsoorcottah. The cause of the earlier revolt is unknown. The ship was an East India trade ship. The letter is the transmission of instructions to Thomas Kent to release the prisoners from jail. Dated June 26th, 1849, on Jessup paper stock. Zachary Taylor as a president pardoned 38 people. His untimely death raised concerns about poisoning.

John Middleton Clayton (July 24, 1796 – November 9, 1856) was an American lawyer and politician from Delaware. He was a member of the Whig Party who served in the Delaware General Assembly, and as U.S. Senator from Delaware and U.S. Secretary of State. On March 8, 1849, Clayton became U.S. Secretary of State in the Whig administration of Zachary Taylor. His most notable accomplishment was the negotiation of the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty of 1850 with the British minister, Sir Henry Bulwer-Lytton. This treaty guaranteed the neutrality and encouragement of lines of travel across the isthmus at Panama and laid the groundwork for America's eventual building of the Panama Canal. His tenure was brief, however, ending on July 22, 1850, soon after President Taylor's death. As secretary of state, Clayton was intensely nationalistic and an ardent advocate of commercial expansion, but his strict interpretation of international law created crises with Spain, Portugal, and France.

Thomas H. Kent as the United States Marshal replaced Moreau Forrest in January 1849 but was not confirmed until 1850. He was in office until 1853, replaced by John W. Watkins. Convicted were Louis Le Goullon, Charles O’Connell and Samuel Bradshaw and given a Presidential Pardon by President Zachary Taylor. Jessup paper stock, made at the mill bought by Jessup and Moore in 1843. The paper mill was first started in 1787 using Gilpin’s patented process for making paper in a continuous roll (1820).

Grace's Guide to British Industrial History: Curling, Young and Co built the following ships and boats:

1834 – Built ship “Louisa Baillie”, 412 tons, Built schooner “Lady Katherine Barham” at Limehouse, 412 tons, built ship “Justina” at Limehouse, 412 tons.

Notes: Toned and tattered with some paper loss on left side and bottom but not affecting text. Repaired with acid free conservator's tape at the separated folds. Stains and pencil notations as well.

$1,500 - $2,000

10.5" x 0.001" x 8"

Militaria, Military Documents & Ephemera

18%

Richard Gabriel | (781) 883-6639 | gabriel@calixbooks.com

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