Elbert Pinney's Application for Presidential Pardon

Elbert Pinney, my 4th great grandfather, was the son of Henry Pinney.  He lived an amazing life.  During the Civil War, he fought on the side of the Confederates.  After the war, he wrote a letter requesting a presidential pardon, and asked others to write letters on his behalf.  His in-laws in Illinois, the Youngs, were apparently "radical" Republicans (see the last letter). Must be genetic! Here is the text from those records:

Elbert

Dr. Pinney

Pardon. Tex.

Mr. Washburne of Illinois…[illegible] Pardoned Dec 8^th 65

To His Excellency Andrew Johnson President of the United States of America

Your Petitioner Elbert Pinney a Citizen of the County of Hunt and State of Texas would Humbly represent unto Your Excellency, that he was a Surgeon in the 1^st Chickasaw Battallion engaged in the Service of the so-called “Confederate States of America” in rebellion against the Government of the United States of America.

That he entered said service in the month of January 1862 and resigned the said position of surgeon in said Battallion in the month of July following and returned home

That in the month of July 1863 he was drafted into the state militia of the State of Texas and was elected 1^st Lieutenant of Company “E” 2^nd Reg. Texas State Cavalry. That he remained in that position six months. That in the month of March 1864 he was appointed surgeon of the 1^st Battallion Texas Cavalry and served in that capacity until the Close of the Rebellion

Your Petitioner would represent unto Your Excellency that he is 40 Years of Age, by Profession a Physician. That he was born in the State of Connecticut, that from there he removed to the State of Pennsylvania about the year 1828 and from there he removed to the State of Illinois about the year 1847. That in the year 1856 he removed to the County of Hunt and State of Texas and has resided in said last mentioned County and State ever since, That he held the office of Assistant Post Master at “Tidwell Creek” in said county and state from sometime in the year 1859 till the Breaking out of the Rebellion, and held it under the government of the so called Confederate States untill the repression of the Rebellion

That upon the close of the Rebellion your petitioner appeared before Hardin Hart Chief Justice of Hunt County State of Texas and took the Oath of Allegiance prescribed by the proclamation of the President of the United States which said Oath of Allegiance is hereunto attached. That he has returned heartily to his Allegiance to the Government of the United States and is desirous of being a truly loyal citizen thereof. And for his participation in the said Rebellion he prays that your Excellency will grant him a Special Pardon and as in duty bound he will ever Pray

Subscribed and sworn to before me this Ninth day of October AD 1865

Wm. Lane Notary Public (signed)

We the undersigned would respectfully represent that we are acquainted with Doctor Elbert Pinney and believe that he is really desirous of becoming a truly loyal citizen and that if the prayer of his Petition is granted that he will heartily support the Government of the United States and use his influence in restoring its authority in the section where he resides

A.G. Jackson (signed)

Wm Lane (Signed)

Whiteside County, Illinois.

Treasurer’s Office.

Morrison, Oct 26 1865.

Hon E.B. Washburne

Galina Ill

Sir- Application is being made for a Special Pardon in the case of Dr Elbert Pinney who was connected with the Rebellion. I am not acquainted with Mr Pinney, but from the character of the persons endorsing his petition for pardon I have no doubt that it should be granted. His family connections in this county are among the most influential Republicans of the County and have been active supporters of the policy of the Government throughout the war. Any favor extended will be kindly remembered

Yours truly

Ed B Warner (signed)

Chicago Oct 21^st 1865

Hon E.B. Washburne

Galena

My Dear Sir

A large number of your political as well as personal friends, residing in Union Grove Whiteside County are much interested in a Special Pardon for Dr Elbert Pinney who has been in some way identified with the Rebellion. I know nothing about the Dr but I do know his relations in Whiteside (and especially your old friend D. B. Young of Union Grove who is the Dr’s father in law) are among the most influential (Radical if the administration will allow the word) Republicans in Your district. Any favor you can do the Dr. or his friends will be appreciated by your humble servants

Yours Truly

L. H. Robinson

Henry Pinney's Application for Presidential Pardon

Henry Pinney was my 5th great grandfather. He was born in December 1799 in Litchfield, Connecticut, to Grove Pinney and Mercy Case. On January 12, 1825, he married Delina Riggs. They had two children, Elbert and Adeline. He later moved to Texas, where he died in 1872.  He was the postmaster in Tidwell Creek, Hunt County, Texas when the Civil War broke out.  I recently came across his petition for presidential pardon.  Here's the text:

Hunt County

Henry Pinney

Petition for Special Pardon

1^st Exception, Postmaster

Executive Office

Austin Texas

March 29^th 1866

I respectfully recommend the Pardon prayed for in the within petition.

A J Hamilton (signed)

Provl Gov of Texas

April 11^th 66

THE STATE OF TEXAS

COUNTY OF HUNT.

Personally before me, Hardin Hunt, Chief Justice of Hunt County, appeared Henry Pinney, a citizen of said county, who in my presence took and subscribed the following oath:

I do solemnly swear, in the presence of Almighty God, that I will hereafter faithfully defend the Constitution of the United States, and the Union of the States thereunder, and that I will in like manner abide by and faithfully support all laws and proclamations which have been made during the existing rebellion, with reference to the emancipation of slaves. So help me God.

Henry Pinney (signed)

To certify which I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office, at Greenvile, this 30^th day of October A.D. 1865.

Hardin Hunt (signed)

Chief Justice of Hunt County

State of Texas

County of Hunt

This certifies that H. Pinney has this day taken the oath of amnesty as a preliminary step for making application to the President of the United States for special pardon as prescribed by the President of the United States in Proclamation of May 29^th 1865

Witness my hand and the Seal of the County Court this 30^th day of October AD 1865

Hardin Hunt (signed)

Chief Justice of H. Co. Texas

Attest

A Cameron (signed)

[illegible] Texas

The State of Texas

County of Hunt

To his Excellency Andrew Johnson, President of the United States of North America.

Your Petitioner, Henry Pinney, a citizen of the County Hunt and State of Texas, would respectfully represent unto your Excellency that as early as the Spring of A.D. 1857, he was duly appointed Postmaster at Tidwell Creek in Said County of Hunt, and held said office under the Authority of the Government of the United States, until sometime in the Summer of A.D. 1861 when, without Solicitation on his part, he received from the so called Confederate States Government the appointment of Postmaster for the said office at Tidwell Creek. Petitioner further alledges that he accepted said appointment and held said office, under the authority of the So Called Confederate States Government during its continuance. That said office is a small county office, the annual income of which does not Exceed the Sum of Fifteen dollars.

Petitioner further Says that in accepting said office, from the So Called Confederate Government or in holding the Same under the authority of the Said Government he had not the least thought or intention of committing treason against the Government of the United States but that his sole object was to accommodate his neighbors & the community in which he resided with mail facilities near home.

Your petitioner would further state that he is now Sixty Five Years old, that he did not engage in the late rebellion in any way, except to hold the office of Post Master, as aforesaid. And that he has no property, money or means of Support.

Your Petitioner would most respectfully pray, the promised considered, that your Excellency would grant to him Special Pardon, and that he may be restored to the privileges, immunities and rights of citizenship in the Government of the United States of America, and as in duty bound petitioner will ever pray.

Sworn to and Subscribed before In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the County Court hereon impressed at Office in Greenville on the 14^th day of November 1865

A Harrison Clerk County Court Hunt Co Texas (signed)