Emily J. Shaw to Richard Yates

To his Excellency

Richd Yates Govenor of Illinois

Your petitioner Emily J. Shaw would most respectfully represent to your Excellency that her husband Robert Shaw was arrested in Piatt County Illinois in the month of August in the year 1862 on a charge of Larceny that the justice of the Peace before whom he was tried in his examination held him to bail for his appearance at the [ensuing?] September term (1862) of 5th Court to answer an indictment for said offense in the final sum of Three Hundred Dollars. That her said husband was a poor man and could not give this bail: that your Petitioner was possessed then of an Estate in fee simple, of One Eighth of One Hundred & sixty acres of land about 9 miles from Monticello in said Dounty: that to secure one Jacob Drase against loss, who agreed to go upon the recognizance of her said husband upon these terms, she mortgaged all of her intrest into & to the said land (Which she had inherited from her mother)

to the said Jacob Draise: That upon the Execution of the said mortgage the said Draise signed with her said husband the said recognizance which was accepted by the court. That after words and before the next term of the said court, her husband volunteered in Military Service of the United States in Co. F. 107th Reg. Il.l V. Inty. at Clinton in Dewit County. that there was no term of the court in the [sd?] county holden at the time appointed for holding the fall term: that at the ensuing spring term of the 5th court a forfeiture was taken against her said husband & said Draise upon the said recognizance: that sci. Fa. was issue thereon & final judgement rendered in the premises at the Sep term 1863 of the said court against the said Jacob Draise which will have to be paid to the said Drase by the property of your petitioner. That she is the mother of two small children and has no other means of supporting them except from the proceeds of this property: that if the said Jacob Draise has the said

Judgement to pay it will take all, or nearly all, of the property mortgaged to him as aforesaid and leave your petitioner destitute, That your petitioner is informed & believes that her said husband Robt Shaw applied to the proper military authorities for a furlough to come home and attend court but it was denied him. Under these circumstances she thinks it hardship for her to pay this judgement and respectfully prays that your Excellency will use the power vested in you by the constitution & laws of the State to [remit?] said judgement so she can have and enjoy her said property.

And as duty bound &c.

Monticello Ills

Oct 15th 1863, Emily J. Shaw

In the matter of the People vs Robert Shaw

Petition of Emly J. Shaw