Bolivar County GenWeb
Jackson, Mississippi
August 16, 1865
To His Excellency
Andrew Johnson, President of the United States of America
The undersigned your
petitioner Dickinson Bell, a citizen of Bolivar County, Mississippi is an applicant
for amnesty and pardon from the fact that he is included within the 1st
exception to Your Excellency's general proclamation of amnesty of May 29,
1865: he having held the office of Sub a
collection of taxes for the County of Bolivar, under Confederate rule in
Mississippi. Your petitioner accepted
the office of collector for his county in connection with the office of sheriff
which he held for his county and as a means by which he could assist in support
of his family. Your petitioner has never
held any political office, mingled little in politics, was a supporter of Bell
and Everett and opposed the doctrine of secession. Petitioner is not included in any other
exception to Your Excellency's general proclamation of amnesty, may have
perhaps about $15, 000 worth of land, and accompanies this application with the
oath prescribed by Your Excellency , which oath he has taken in good faith and
without mental reservation and with the conscientious determination to support
and uphold. And is
most anxious to renew his allegiance to the Government of the United States and
to become a true and loyal citizen thereof. None of his property is in the hands of the
Federal Authorities, no legal proceedings have been initiated against and he
earnestly asks amnesty.
Respectfully,
/s/ Dickinson Bell
The State of
Mississippi
I, Dickinson Bell, do
solemnly swear (or affirm) in the presence of Almighty God, that I will
heretofore faithfully support, protect and 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.
/s/ Dickinson Bell
Sworn to and
subscribed before me this 16h day of August, 1865.
/s/ W. L. Sharkey,
Provisional Governor of Mississippi
Dickinson Bell, a
citizen of Bolivar County, Mississippi
Petitioner for Pardon
Rebel Tax Collector
I am acquainted with
the petitioner, believe this petition to be true. He
will be a loyal citizen and informs me that none of his property has been
seized or confiscated.
/s/ W. L. Sharkey,
Provincial Governor of Mississippi
September 19, 1865