Missing Presidential Pardons of Franklin Pierce

14th President of the United States, 1853-1857

The following pardons were stolen from the National Archives-Philadelphia by  Shawn Aubitz in 2002. They were signed by the President of the United States, then docketed and filed by a U.S. District Court in the mid-Atlantic Region.  These are not the Presidential Authority to the Secretary of State to Affix the Seal to a Warrant for Pardon.

Pardoned: John Adair on August 5, 1853

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Adair was convicted of larceny on the high seas. Signed by President Franklin Pierce and Acting Secretary of State A. Dudley Mann.

Pardoned: John Batz on April 7, 1856

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Batz was convicted of counterfeiting. Signed by President Franklin Pierce and Secretary of State W.L. Marcy.

Pardoned: Charles Billing on June 25, 1853

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Billing was convicted of a revolt on board of the ship Avondale. Signed by President Franklin Pierce and Secretary of State W.L. Marcy.

Pardoned: William Fisher on November 6, 1854

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Fisher was convicted of forging the currency of the United States, in the similitude of gold dollars. Signed by President Franklin Pierce and Secretary of State W.L. Marcy.

Pardoned: Patrick McMara on April 17, 1854

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

McMara was convicted of buying soldiers clothing. Signed by President Franklin Pierce and Secretary of State W.L. Marcy.

Pardoned: Francis A. Myers on October 29, 1853

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Myers was convicted of maliciously beating a seamen on the high seas. Signed by President Franklin Pierce and Secretary of State W.L. Marcy.

Pardoned: Minius Price on July 5, 1853

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Minius was sentenced to be imprisoned in the Eastern Penitentiary for a period term of four months and to pay a fine of one hundred dollars. Signed by President Franklin Pierce and Secretary of State W.L. Marcy.

Pardoned: Joseph Rosenthal on April 22, 1853

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Rosenthal was convicted of attempting to pay a fraudulent invoice through the Customs House. Signed by President Franklin Pierce and Secretary of State W.L. Marcy.