Person Information

Biography

Michael Brennan was tried for murder, convicted, and sentenced to death by hanging to occur on December 18, 1857. His sentence was commuted to life in prison on December 9, 1857. He was later pardoned by the State of New York in 1861. Frances Seward mentions him in a December 12, 1857 letter, saying " We are all glad that Brennans sentence has been commuted–Pomeroy has been unremitting in his exertions to save him from the gallows– Neither he or David Wright believes him even in accessory to the murder- I did ^not think^ feel that he was proved to be the murderer & are relieved by his escape– He is now in the State Prison."







 



 







 











 

 

Letter References

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, December 12, 1857

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, Jr., October 31, 1857

Citations

Biography and Citation Information:
Biography: 

Michael Brennan was tried for murder, convicted, and sentenced to death by hanging to occur on December 18, 1857. His sentence was commuted to life in prison on December 9, 1857. He was later pardoned by the State of New York in 1861. Frances Seward mentions him in a December 12, 1857 letter, saying " We are all glad that Brennans sentence has been commuted–Pomeroy has been unremitting in his exertions to save him from the gallows– Neither he or David Wright believes him even in accessory to the murder- I did ^not think^ feel that he was proved to be the murderer & are relieved by his escape– He is now in the State Prison."

 

 

 

 

 

Citation Type: 
Book or Book Chapter
Book or Monograph Title: 
Report of the Secretary of State, in Answer to a Resolution Relative to Pardons, Report 1859
Author(s) or Editor(s): 
New York (State). Secretary's Office
Year: 
1859
Start Page: 
17
End Page: 
17
Citation Notes: 
https://books.google.com/books?id=O4UUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA17&lpg=PA17&dq=michael+brennan+sentence+commuted+1857&source=bl&ots=hTX8eF1Jfz&sig=ACfU3U2lv0TrWgt5IfUSMWjNpuNUO8eFNw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwixsmWtZbgAhUId98KHetBDi4Q6AEwAHoECAQQAQ#v=onepage&q=michael%20brennan%20sentence%20commuted%201857&f=false
,
Citation Type: 
Book or Book Chapter
Book or Monograph Title: 
Message of the Governor to the State of New York
Author(s) or Editor(s): 
New York (State). Governor
Start Page: 
62
End Page: 
62
Citation Notes: 
https://books.google.com/books?id=DlVivXuZ_GYC&pg=RA3-PA62&lpg=RA3-PA62&dq=michael+brennan+pardoned+1861+nys&source=bl&ots=bLxvN07Wrr&sig=ACfU3U1fvXX9xgP2JR1aJYx0TlVrqwrsnQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwivjaKtt6LgAhXGmOAKHfifBNsQ6AEwCXoECAQQAQ#v=onepage&q=michael%20brennan%20pardoned%201861%20nys&f=false
Citation for Birth Info:
Citation for Death Info: