Ann Matthews (b. 1805 - d. 1851)
MSA SC 5496-013784
Accomplice to slave flight, Baltimore City, Maryland, 1848
Maryland State Archives SECRETARY OF STATE (Pardon Papers) 1837-1947,
1848. MSA S1031, MdHR 5401-44, 2/46/2/4.
Petition by the members of the jury
to Governor Philip Francis Thomas recommending the pardon of Ann Matthews,
1848:
To His Excellency
P. Francis Thomas
Gov. of Maryland,
The Undersigned, jurors in the matter of the State against Mrs. Ann Matthews charged with having on the 12th day of October 1847 enticed a slave to run away from her master, beg leave most respectfully to recommend unto the most merciful consideration of Your Excellency the application for the Traversor's pardon. We know of no case which appeals more forcibly to the sympathies of every feelling and humane heart. The Traversor is an aged lone woman to incarcerate whom in the Penitentiary can not but be attended with consequences peculiarly painful and distressing.
Although, in our judgement this case was one not strictly within the policy of the Law or the intention of the Legislature yet under the comprehensive terms employed in the Act of 1843 under which she was indicted we felt the duty to convict imperative. We, however, in view of all the circumstances in the case accompanied our verdict with a recommendation to mercy.
It was in evidence before us that the slave did not run away; that the accused is no abolitionist, or in any way hostile to the Institution of Slavery, or in any manner concerned with any person or persons disposed to interfere with the relation of master and slave as it exists in Maryland.
We therefore hope and trust that in view of these facts and in consideration of the time of life to which the prisoner has advanced and the welfare of an only daughter to whom the confinement of the mother would be a most distressing and humiliating affliction, Your Excellency may deem it compatible with your public duty to interpose and in mercy save this little family from the ruin and disaster that must inevitably follow the execution of the hard sentence which the law pronounces against her.
Wm E. Wright, Foreman
Sidnor S. Donaldson
Aleser. Hand
S. Eckert
Edward Morrison
Thomas B. Bell
Nichilas Sank
L. F. Arcambal
Jacob D. Han
Wm. Ball
Daniel Perrigo
Return to Ann Matthews' Introductory Page
|
Tell Us What You Think About the Maryland State Archives Website!
|