Transcription of Presidential Pardon of Charles, a Slave
Thomas Jefferson, President of the U.States of America.
Whereas it hath been made to appear to me that Negroe Charles, a Slave, the property of one Henry Nicholson of the town of Alexandria in the District of Columbia, was lately convicted in the Circuit Court of the United States held for the County of Alexandria of a burglary by him committed in the dwelling house of one Thomas White situate in the said County; and thereupon judgment of death was rendered against him the said Negro Charles, by the said Circuit Court, as by the record thereof in the same Circuit Court remaining will more fully appear. Now be it known that for divers good causes and considerations [me] thereunto moving, I Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States of America, do pardon remit and release to the said Negro Charles the judgment aforesaid; willing and requiring that all prosecutions and judicial proceedings for or on account thereof be forthwith stayed and the arshal for the said district his deputies and officers to discharge him the said Negro Charles out of custody, provided that he be detained for no other cause, that what is above set forth.
In Testimony whereof; I have caused the seal of the United States to be here unto affixed and signed the same with my hand. Done at the City of Washington - the 23rd day of April AD 1805; and of the Independence of the U. States of America, the twentyninth -
By the President Th. Jefferson
James Madison_Sec. of State