Presidential Pardon

May the spirit so strong in the shadow and storm
Hold fast to what is right
And surely as you breathe the gentle air of peace
This land shall shelter in the light of love
This land shall shelter in the light
--"Land Of Light" by Roy Gullane

In July of 1865, my 4th-great-grandfather Elijah Baker, living in Richmond, Virginia, applied for a presidential pardon after the Civil War.  That petition was granted 148 years ago today, and a "full pardon and amnesty" was issued by President Andrew Johnson.

Elijah was a well-known business man in Richmond, and the owner of "Baker's Premium Bitters".  According to his advertisements, these bitters cured a wide variety of ailments:  dyspepsia, nervous headaches, deranged liver, ague, diarrhea, and malarial troubles.

For Diseases which arise from the Stomach and Bowels, BAKER'S PREMIUM BITTERS are peculiarly adapted, while in the incipient stages of BILIOUSNESS, NERVOUSNESS, COUGHS and COLDS, they are superior to all other remedies.  The fact that a single bottle has cured ague and fever of six months' standing, and relieved nervous headache which had resisted all sorts of remedies for years, are proof sufficient that they possess healing virtues rarely found in medicinal preparations.  So simple and effectual are their operations, and yet so certain are their beneficial results, that all who try them once ever after adopt them as the great panacea for all ills.

I'm not sure of his reasons for applying for a pardon.  I've found little evidence that he was directly involved in the conflict, beyond selling some cords of wood to the Confederacy.  His only son, Dabney Baker, did enlist in the Confederate army, though his service was brief.

Certainly Elijah suffered some losses, though, from both sides.  In March 1862, Confederate President Jefferson Davis declared martial law in Richmond, placing the city under the command of General John Winder.  His first order was to forbid liquor sales in the city, and soon after, Baker's Bitters were seized.  I'm not sure how long this lasted, but his business did continue after the war was over.

In October of 1864, two of Elijah's horses, which he claimed were valued at $7,000, were taken during a raid by the Union army.

In October last, when the Yankee raiders, under Command of Cortz, came up as near Richmond as Majr Christians farm, they met my team + self on the road + deprived me of my two + only farm horses, they were as good + as valuable as any in the Country + not being able to replace them, my farming interest suffered but little short of my first loss. During this month however I succeeded in capturing two of the enemys horses at + on my farm beyond White Oak Swamp + have brought them out of their lines + into Richmond.  Their value though is not by half of those I lost, but hope to use them at my other place nearer Richmond + within our lines.

Elijah Baker's petition for amnesty was filed on July 18, 1865:

I most respectfully represent that I am a Virginian by birth, am now in the 56th year of age, was always most decidedly opposed to the Rebellion, and did nothing of myself to bring on the War.  I have never borne arms against the United States, and the only assistance I ever rendered the so called Confederate cause was such as I was of necessity compelled to render in consequence of my being a resident of a Southern State.  Like most of the Southern people, I have been greatly injured in my pecuniary interest by the actings and doings of the Government of the so called Confederate States.  I am sincerely glad that peace has been restored and hope that we shall never again have a repetition of the scenes of the last four years.  I consider myself a Loyal Citizen of the Government of the United States and shall do all in my power to support and sustain the same.  I have taken the oath of amnesty mentioned in your proclamation of the 29th May last, as will appear by the annexed certificate. I consider my estate worth over twenty thousand dollars. I was the owner of 15 slaves at the date of the emancipation proclamation of the late President of the United States, to whose emancipation I consent, and I do not desire that slavery shall ever again exist in the State of Virginia. No proceedings have been commenced, to my knowledge, for the confiscation of my property or any part thereof. I most respectfully ask that the pardon and amnesty mentioned in your proclamation aforesaid of the 29th of May last may be extended to me.

So many years after the fact, it's impossible to gauge how sincere Elijah was, but it is worth noting that the notary witnessing his oath was his son-in-law, James Wood.

Ten days later, on July 29, 1865, amnesty was granted:

Whereas, Elijah Baker of Henrico County Virginia by taking part in the late rebellion against the Government of the United States, has made himself liable to heavy and penalties; And whereas, the circumstances of his case render him a proper object of Executive clemency; Now, therefore, be it known, That I, Andrew Johnson, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in consideration of the premises, divers other good good and sufficient reasons me thereunto moving, do hereby grant to the said Elijah Baker a full pardon and amnesty for all offences by him committed, arising from participation, direct or implied, in the said rebellion, conditioned as follows, vix:  This pardon to begin and take affect from the day on which the said Elijah Baker shall take the oath prescribed in the Proclamation of the President, dated May 29, 1865;  and to be void and of no effect if the said Elijah Baker shall hereafter, at any time, acquire any property whatever in slaves, or make use of slave labor;  and that he first pay all costs which may have accrued in any proceedings hitherto instituted against his person or property; And upon the further condition, That the said Elijah Baker shall notify the Secretary of State, in writing, that he has received and accepted the foregoing pardon. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Summer of '63

Awa' wi' fame and fortune, what comfort can it gie?
And a' the airts that prey upon man's life and liberty
Gie me the highest joy that the heart o' man can frame
My bonnie, bonnie lassie when the kye come hame
--"When The Kye Come Hame" (Traditional)

It was fifty years ago today that Pop Pop and Mom Mom signed the papers and officially purchased the farmhouse and lands in Carroll County.

From my dad's recollections:

"May 1963, Mom & Dad finalize plans to purchase a dairy farm in Carroll County.

Finishing the sixth grade at South Shore Elementary, having studied farming that spring, I knew there was lots of work to do in farm life.  My brothers and sisters thought that it would be nice to live on a farm.  Mom & Dad nurtured this idea by telling them the good things about moving to a farm.  I was very skeptical, telling Bob & Jerry there would be lots of work every day.  Milking cows early in the morning was much different than the great kids' life we experienced living right on the Severn River.  Our own private beach, swimming area, speed boat, fishing and crabbing, and public beach very close by.  My brothers and sisters enjoyed a wonderful life style that would soon change dramatically.  Playing little league baseball for the final time, my season's end was cut short due to moving to the farm in late June 1963.  I missed playing in the all-star game at third base.  I was twelve.

We went to the farm on a couple of weekends before the final move to get an idea on actually how to properly milk the cows.  The old farmer and his wife and sister did all the work, his name was Louis Shulley.  I think they could sense early on that this was going to be a big cultural change for us kids.  They probably laughed at us knowing we were not accustomed to hard, physical work.  They were right.  Immediately right off the bat, Dad had to literally pull Bob, me and Jerry out of our beds at 4:30 AM to milk the cows.  It wasn't long later that Steve joined the fun.

During those years, we didn't think at all about what God's plan was for us, in our lives at that time.  Many years later, I think all of us now understand and appreciate Mom & Dad's plan for their children.  The country was in turmoil over civil rights and the Vietnam War.  The discipline of farm work kept us too busy to get involved in many other things that could have been bad for us.  We managed to create our world of getting into mischief.  Of course, Bob was the leader in this department.  (That's a joke, Bob.)  Aside from Bob's propensity for unusual parking (truck down bridge embankment), John's breaking a new tractor in half, Jerry's joy of riding the rear wheel of a tractor, Steve's thirst for gasoline, Diane & Joanne's complicity in the death of a poor innocent rooster.  Mike was too young to get into trouble.  In spite of it all, we turned out OK."

Below are some of the documents from when Pop Pop & Mom Mom purchased the farm.  I omitted some of the more legal-ese ones.

This Deed made this 17th day of July, in the year nineteen hundred and sixty-three, by LOUIS D. SHULLEY and LOUIS E. SHULLEY, his wife, of Carroll County, in the State of Maryland. Witnesseth, that for and in consideration of the sum of ten dollars, and other good and valuable considerations, the said LOUIS D. SHULLEY and LOUISE E. SHULLEY, his wife, do hereby grant and convey in fee simple unto NOAH D. DOTSON and GLORIA C. DOTSON, his wife, of Baltimore City, in said State, as tenants by the entireties, their heirs and assigns, all that tract or parcel of land situate in the Sixth Election District of Carroll County, Maryland, containing 57 acres of land, more or less, and being the same land conveyed unto the said Louis D. Shulley and Louise E. Shulley, his wife, by deed of Benjamin F. Crowl and Annabelle M. Crowl, his wife, dated October 2, 1950, and recorded among the Land Records of Carroll County in Liber F.A.S. No. 202, Folio 367, etc. Together with the buildings and improvements thereon, and all and singular, the rights, roads, ways, waters, streets, and alleys, as now located and used, privileges and appurtenances thereto belonging, or in anywise appertaining. To have and to hold the above described parcel of land unto the said NOAH D. DOTSON and GLORIA C. DOTSON, his wife, as tenants by the entireties, their heirs and assigns, forever in fee simple. And the grantors hereby covenant that they will warrant specially the land and premises hereby intended to be conveyed, and further covenant and agree that they will execute such other and further assurances of the same as may be requisite. Witness the hands and seals of the said grantors.

This Purchase Money, Real Estate and Chattel Mortgage made this 17th day of July, in the year nineteen hundred and sixty-three, by NOAH D. DOTSON and GLORIA C. DOTSON, his wife, of Baltimore City, in the State of Maryland, mortgagors. Whereas, the said NOAH D. DOTSON and GLORIA C. DOTSON, his wife, by their joint and several single bill of even date herewith, stand indebted unto WESTMINSTER TRUST COMPANY, a body corporate of the State of Maryland, mortgagee herein, in the just and full sum of Twenty-two Thousand, Five Hundred Dollars ($22,500.00), to be due in one year from the date hereof, with interest from the date at the rate of six (6) per centum per annum, payable monthly;  which sum is in part of the purchase price for the hereinafter described real estate;  and whereas for the purpose of more effectively securing the payment of said indebtedness, according to the tenor of said single bill, these presents are executed.  At any time the principal and interest may be reduced or extinguished. Now therefore this Mortgage witnesseth, that in consideration of the premises, and the sum of one dollar, the said NOAH D. DOTSON and GLORIA C. DOTSON, his wife, do hereby grant and convey in fee simple unto the said WESTMINSTER TRUST COMPANY, its successors and assigns, all that tract or parcel situate in the Sixth Election District of Carroll County, Maryland, containing 57 acres of land, more or less, and being the same land conveyed unto Louis D. Shulley and Louise E. Shulley, his wife, by deed of Benjamin F. Crowl and Annabelle M. Crowl, his wife, dated October 2, 1950, and recorded among the Land Records of Carroll County in Liber F.A.S. No. 206, Folio 367, etc. And being further all and the same land conveyed unto the said NOAH D. DOTSON and GLORIA C. DOTSON, his wife, by deed of the said Louis D. Shulley and Louise E. Shulley, his wife, of even date herewith and intended to be recorded among said Land Records immediately prior hereto.

And the said mortgagors hereby bargain and sell unto said mortgagee, its successors and assigns, the following described personal property situate on the above described real estate: Side delivery rake Grove Wagon Massey-Harris Tractor (1958) Massey-Ferguson #65 Tractor (1959) Oliver-Crawle Tractor Set of Tractor Chains Oliver Combine Ontario Drill New Idea Mower Oliver Corn Planter Vesta Culti-Packer Massey-Ferguson 4-Bottom Plow Oliver Horse Plow Papec-Foilage Harvester Alcoma Hammermill New Idea Corn Picker McCormick #45 Baler Oliver Mounted Crop Sprayer Oliver Cultivator Disc Barrow 1954 Ford Pick-up Sauder Bros. Blade for Massey-Ferguson Tractor Oliver Manure Spreader 160 gallon Mojnier Bulk Tank 3-unit Delaval Milker 3-can Milk Cooler Feed Cart 175 Chickens 2 - 52 gal. Electric Water Heaters Television Antenna Monarch Combination wood and electric stove 20 Milk Cows Heifer

A few months back, when I came across these papers and sent copies to Dad, his first comment was, "The heifer was Grace!"