Missouri State Archives
Finding Aid 3.7

Office of Governor

Thomas Reynolds, 1840-1844

Abstract:  Records (1840-1844) of Governor Thomas Reynolds (1796-1844), including appointments, correspondence, petitions, and state bonds.

Extent:  0.8 cubic feet (2 boxes)

Physical Description:  Paper

Location:  Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City Missouri

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions: No special restrictions.

Publication Restrictions: Copyright is in the public domain. Items reproduced for publication should carry the credit line: Courtesy of the Missouri State Archives.

Preferred Citation: [Item description], [date]; Thomas Reynolds, 1840-1844; Office of Governor, Record Group 3.7; Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City.

Processing Information: Processing completed by Becky Carlson, Local Records Field Archivist, on March 11, 1996.

Historical and Biographical Notes

Thomas Reynolds (D) was a native of Kentucky but moved to Illinois as a young man. While there, he practiced law and was elected as a state representative then attorney general, circuit court judge, and finally chief justice of the supreme court of Illinois. In 1829, he moved to Fayette, Missouri, and soon was elected as representative from Howard County in 1832 and was immediately chosen as Speaker of the House. After his term, he was a circuit court judge and then was elected as the seventh governor of Missouri in 1840. As governor, he held limited-government views and abolished the practice of imprisoning debtors. While in office, he committed suicide on February 9, 1844, the reason given as the "slanders and abuse" of his political opponents.

Timeline

1796 Mar 12

Born in Bracken County, Kentucky, to Nathaniel and Catherine Vernon Reynolds

1822-1825

Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court

1823 Sep 02

Married Eliza Ann Young in Fayette County, Kentucky

1829

Moved to Fayette, Howard County, Missouri

1832

Elected to Missouri House of Representatives and chosen Speaker of the House

1840

Elected as the seventh Governor of the State of Missouri

1844 Feb 09

Committed suicide in his office at the executive mansion

Additional Descriptive Information

Bibliography

McCandless, Perry, "Reynolds, Thomas (1796-1844)," in Dictionary of Missouri Biography (Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press, 1999), pp. 646-647.

Official Manual of the State of Missouri (Jefferson City, MO: Office of Secretary of State, legislative years 1963-64), pp. 2, 7-8.

Smith, T. Berry, "Thomas Reynolds," in The Messages and Proclamations of the Governors of the State of Missouri, Vol. I (Columbia, MO: The State Historical Society of Missouri, 1922), pp. 441-447.

Series

Records of Governor Thomas Reynolds, 1840-1844

Scope and Content

Political appointment and commission requests make up the majority of the collection. Correspondence relates to the attempted assassination of former Governor Lilburn W. Boggs, the Mormon War, the Iowa Border War, Missouri politics, state lines and borders, term limitations, and slavery. Abolitionists Dr. Richard Eells and Alanson Work are mentioned in the correspondence, including a copy of the indictment against the former and a petition from the wife and son (composer Henry Clay Work) of the latter.

Container List

Box

Folder

Date

Contents

Image

2

1

1840 Nov 19

Sterling Price, Speaker of the House;
Re: Vacancy in House

 

2

2

1840 Dec 07

Sterling Price, Speaker of the House;
Re: Vacancy in House

 

2

3

1840 Dec 21

Petition from Citizens of Ralls County;
Re: Pardon for Prisoner

 

2

4

1841 Jan 08

Petition from Citizens of Caldwell County;
Re: Pardon for Prisoner

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2

5

1841 Mar 06

Martin Van Buren, US President;
Re: Change of Administration

 

2

6

1841 Mar 11

James C. Cochran;
Re: Request of Certification

 

2

7

1841 Mar 19

Daniel Webster, US Secretary of State;
Re: Transmittal of presidential proclamation

 

2

8

1841 May 17

F. Pfeiffer;
Re: Transfer of Power of Attorney

 

2

9

1841 Jun 12

John Whitehead;
Re: Transfer of Power of Attorney

 

2

10

1841 Jun 17

John H. Griscom, New York Lyceum;
Re: Annual Report of Lyceum

 

2

11

1841 Jul 30

Samuel Akerly, President, New York Institution for the Blind;
Re: Instruction of the Blind

 

2

12

1841 Jul 13

Daniel Webster, US Secretary of State;
Re: Transmittal of Congressional Acts

 

2

13

1841 Sep 10

W. H. Johnstons, Platte City;
Re: Commissions for Road Commissions

 

2

14

1841 Oct 14

Walter Forward, US Secretary of State;
Re: Weights and Measures

 

2

15

1841 Nov 10

Walter Forward, US Secretary of Treasury
Re: Missouri State Debt

 

2

16

1841 Dec 13

City Council of Alexandria, Virginia;
Re: Retrocession of Debts

 

2

17

1841 Jul 15

Lewis Robion, Howard County;
Re: Death of Prussian Citizen

 

2

18

1842 Feb 15

John Heard, City of Jefferson;
Re: Land Patents

 

2

19

1842 Feb 21

New York Memorial of Merchants
Re: Smuggling and Tariff Duties

 

2

20

1842 Feb 24

Joseph Laurie, Boonville;
Re: Request for Certification

 

2

21

1842 Mar 19

L. F. Linn, US Senator from Washington City, Missouri;
Re: Land Legislation, Reference to Whigs

 

2

22

1842 Mar 22

M. W. Hopkins, St. Louis;
Re: Request for Governor's Signature

 

2

23

1842 Apr 15

B. W. Levins, Cooper County;
Re: Passports

 

2

24

1842 May 17

Charles B. Fallenstein, Glasgow, Missouri;
Re: Transfer of Power of Attorney

 

2

25

1842 Jun 01

R. B. Peck, St. Louis
Re: Certificate of Authority

 

2

26

1842 Jul 27

Willard Borden, Independence, Missouri;
Re: Passport

 

2

27

1842 Aug 07

Charles B. Fallenstein, Glasgow, Missouri;
Re: Transfer of Power of Attorney

 

2

28

1842 Aug 24

S. H. Whipple, Warsaw, Missouri;
Re: Political Appointment

 

2

29

1842 Sep 23

Isaac Gilstray, Adair County, Missouri;
Re: Request for Certification of Election

 

2

30

1842 Oct 14

E. T. Denison, Lenneus, Missouri;
Re: Land Ownership

 

2

31

1842 Nov 23

Sterling Price, Speaker of the House;
Re: US Senate Election

 

2

32

1842 Nov 27

Ernest Heeringer, Louisville, Kentucky;
Re: Cure for Milk Sickness, Reference to Veterinary

 

2

33

1842 Nov 29

William Horn, Columbia, Missouri;
Re: Relief

 

2

34

1842 Dec 05

Carlos Cobb, Rochester, New York;
Re: Survey, Reference to Geologists, Botanists, and Chemists

 

2

35

1842 Dec 08

Sterling Price, Speaker of the House;
Re: Resignation of Rep. Kinnet from St. Louis

 

2

36

1842 Dec 23

W. Halliburton, Bloomington, Missouri;
Re: Relief, Debt, Real Estate

 

2

37

1842 Dec 23

M. M. Marmaduke;
Re: Resignation of State Senator Glover, 29th District.

 

2

38

1842 Dec 23

Cyrus Stark, Assistant Secretary of Missouri Senate;
Re: Resignation of State Senator Glover, 29th District

 

2

39

1842 Dec 29

Daniel Webster, US Secretary of State;
Re: Transmittal of Government Documents, Reference to Census

 

2

40

1843 Jan 04

C. C. Campbell, St. Louis;
Re: Hospitals for Riverboat Crews

 

2

41

1843 Jan 12

John Ferrall, St. Louis;
Re: Payment of Taxes

 

2

42

1843 Feb 06

J. A. Richardson, Monticello, Missouri;
Re: Abolitionists' Activity in Chicago, References to Gov. Ford of Illinois, Dr. Eells, Joseph Smith

 

2

43

1843 Feb 11

A. Fristol, Georgetown, Missouri;
Re: Penitentiary Contractor

 

2

44

1843 Feb

A. W. Alexander, Osage County;
Re: Debt Laws

 

2

45

1843 Feb 27

J. A. Richardson;
Re: Indictment of Abolitionist, References to Pitman, Dr. Eells

 

2

46

1843 Feb 30

Ernest Heeringen, Louisville, Kentucky;
Re: Cure for Milk Sickness

 

2

47

1843 Mar 11

Thomas B. Hudson, St. Louis;
Re: Resignation from Missouri House of Representatives

 

2

48

1843 Apr 19

G. Washington Warren, Secretary for the Bunker Hill Monument Committee;
Re: Dedication of Bunker Hill Monument (Invitation Enclosed)

 

2

49

1843 May 02

Daniel Dunklin, Maje, Missouri;
Re: Political Appointment

 

2

50

1843 Jul 11

William Redenbaum, Liberty, Missouri;
Re: Payment of State Bill

 

2

51

1843 Aug 15

T. B. Waheman, American Institute of the City of New York;
Re: Production of Silk

 

2

52

1843 Oct 23

Jackson McWilliams, Union, Missouri;
Re: Transfer of Attorney

 

2

53

1843 Dec 21

John W. Kelly, Oregon, Missouri;
Re: Passport

 

2

54

1843 Dec 26

Thomas Nelson, Monroe County;
Re: Power of Attorney

 

2

55

1844 Jan 01

Anson G. Phelps, President of New York Institute for the Blind;
Re: Promoting the Cause of the Blind, Services Provided by the Institution

 

2

56

1841-1842

State Auditor Correspondence: State's Debt, State Costs, State Bonds, Revenue Collections, Auditor's Report

 

2

57

1840-1844

Applications and Recommendations

 

2

58

1840-1844

Applications and Recommendations

 

2

59

1841-1843

Gov. Yell of Arkansas, 1841; Isaac Elvin, Adair County, 1843; James H. Relfe, US Senator from Caledonia, Missouri, 1843;
Re: Missouri-Iowa Border

 

2

60

1841-1842

Missouri Militia Correspondence

 

2

61

1844 Jan 13

Letter from Levi Williams, Illinois to Governor Reynolds, Jefferson City, Mo..

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2

61

1843 Aug 3

Letter from L. B. Fleak, Iowa to Governor Reynolds, Jefferson City, Mo.

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2

61

1843 Mar 21

Letter from L. B. Fleak, Iowa to Governor Reynolds, Jefferson City, Mo.

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2

61

1843 Mar 4

Letter from L. B. Fleak, Iowa to Governor Reynolds, Jefferson City, Mo.

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2

61

1843 Jan 2

Tho. W. Jacobs, Grundy County, Mo to Governor Reynolds, Jefferson City, Mo.

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2

61

1842 Dec 5

Letter from L. B. Fleak, Iowa to Governor Reynolds, Jefferson City, Mo.

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2

61

1842 Oct 7

Letter from L. B. Fleak, Iowa to Governor Reynolds, Jefferson City, Mo.

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2

61

1842 Oct 5

Letter from L. B. Fleak, Iowa to Governor Reynolds, Jefferson City, Mo.

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2

61

1842 Oct 5

Letter from H. B. Whetset to L. B. Fleak, Iowa

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2

61

1842 Oct 5

Letter from L. B. Fleak, Iowa to Governor Reynolds, Jefferson City, Mo.

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2

61

1842 Sep 10

Letter from L. B. Fleak, Iowa to Governor Reynolds, Jefferson City, Mo.

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2

61

1842 Sep 4

Letter from George Miller, St. Louis, Mo to Governor Reynolds, Jefferson City, Mo.

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2

61

1842 Aug 12

Letter from D. Kilbourn, Iowa to L. B. Fleak, Iowa

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2

61

1842 Aug 14

Letter from L. B. Fleak, Iowa to Governor Reynolds, Jefferson City, Mo.

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2

61

1842 Aug 9

Letter from Col. Horner, Randolph County to Governor Reynolds, Jefferson City, Mo.

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2

61

1842 Aug 8

Letter from L. B. Fleak, Iowa to Governor Reynolds, Jefferson City, Mo.

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2

61

 

Letter from L. B. Fleak, Iowa to Governor Reynolds, Jefferson City, Mo.

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2

61

1842 May 14

Letter from D. W. Kilbourn, Iowa to Governor Reynolds, Jefferson City, Mo.

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2

61

1842 May 16

Letter from S. D. Lucas to Governor Reynolds, Jefferson City, Mo.

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2

61

1842 May 13

Letter from Citizens of Jackson County to Governor Reynolds, Jefferson City, Mo.

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2

61

1841 Jul 11

Letter from Edward Smith, Pennsylvania to Governor Reynolds, Jefferson City, Mo

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2

61

1842 Jan 10

Letter from General H. G. Parks, Richmond to Governor Reynolds, Jefferson City, Mo

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2

61

1841 June 14

Letter from Secretary of State Minor, Jefferson City, Mo to Governor Reynolds, Jefferson City, Mo

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2

61

1841 Jul 7

Letter from A.V. B. Orr, Pennsylvania to Governor Reynolds, Jefferson City, Mo

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2

61

1841 Mar 21

Letter from John Corrill, Quincy, Illinois

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2

61

1841 Feb 20

Letter from Lyman Cowdery, Ohio to Governor Reynolds, Jefferson City, Mo

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2

61

1841 Feb 4

Letter from D. H. Johnson, Mississippi to Governor Reynolds, Jefferson City, Mo

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2

61

1841 Nov 18

Letter from Ed. D. Smith, New Jersey to Governor Reynolds, Jefferson City, Mo

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2

62

1841-1844

Thomas Hudson, et al, for Mattlock, 1841; John Layton, Perry County, Petition for His Son James, 1843; John Layton, 1843, Pardon for James; Aurelia D. Work and Henry C. Work, 1844, Petition for Husband and Father, Mr. [Alanson] Work, an Abolitionist

 

2

63

1840 Dec

Warren County Special Election, 05 Dec 1840; Platte County Special Election, 26 Dec 1840

 

3

1

1840-1843

A. P. Bagby, Governor of Alabama, 1840, Tariff; Alabama State Supreme Court Decision, 1841; William Garrett, Secretary of State of Alabama, 1841, Tariff Resolutions; Ben Fitzpatrick, 1842, Federal Land Payments Act; Joint Resolutions, Alabama State Legislature, 1843, Slavery and State Debts

 

3

2

1841-1843

Resolutions of Connecticut Legislature: One Term for US President, Tariff Duties, Bankruptcy Act and West Point Academy; Noah A. Phelps, Secretary of State of Connecticut, Geology Report; Resolutions of Connecticut Legislature, 1843: West Point Academy, French Spoilation, Tariff and Franking Privilege

 

3

3

1841 Feb 04

John A. Houston, Secretary of State of Delaware;
Re: Resolutions of One Term US President and Land Revenues

 

3

4

1843 Feb 06

Resolution of State Legislature of Georgia: Negroes Not Recognized as Citizens

 

3

5

1843

Thomas Reynolds to Thomas Ford, Governor of Illinois, Extradition of Abolitionist; Thomas Ford, Return of Abolitionist

 

3

6

1841 Jan

Resolutions of State Legislature of Indiana: National Road, 18 Jan 1841, Distribution of Land Revenue, 14 Jan 1841

 

3

7

1841-1842

Resolutions of State Legislature of Kentucky: One Term US President, 1841; Preamble and Resolutions Concerning Repudiation of State Debts, 1842; Revolutionary War Veterans, 1842; One Term US President, 1842; Copy of Georgia's Resolutions on Repudiation of State Debts Based on Kentucky Law, 1842

 

3

8

1843 Jun 19

A. Mounton;
Re: Information on State Prison

 

3

9

1841 Apr

Joint Resolution of Maine Legislature, 15 Apr 1841;
Re: One Term US President, Resolution on Northeast Boundary, 30 Apr 1841

 

3

10

1842 Mar 21

John C. Legrand, Secretary of State of Maryland;
Re: Slavery in District of Columbia

 

3

11

1841-1843

Correspondence, Massachusetts

 

3

12

1841-1842

Resolutions, 06 Feb 1841,
State Documents Mailed; T. M. Tucker, 07 Apr 1842, Annexation of Texas

 

3

13

1843 Jun 26

Henry Hubbard;
Re: Attempts to Fine Andrew Jackson and Repeal of Fine

 

3

14

1842-1843

Resolution, 18 May 1842, Tariff; W. Pennington, Governor of New Jersey, 15 Mar 1843, Resolution Opposed to Repudiation of Debts

 

3

15

1841-1842

William Seward, Secretary of State of New York, 29 Feb 1841, Public Lands; Announcements of the Death of the President of the US, William H. Harrison, 10 Apr 1841; Series of Resolutions, April 1841, Death of William H. Harrison; William Seward, Secretary of State of New York, 06 May 1842, Franking Privilege

 

3

16

1844 Apr 29

Commissioners of Ohio Canal Fund;
Re: Finances of Ohio

 

3

17

1841 Jan 30

David R. Pater, Secretary of State of Pennsylvania;
Re: Copy of Resolution, Public Lands Resolution

 

3

18

1841-1842

Resolutions, 10 Feb 1841, Public Lands, Sub-Treasury and a National Bank; Resolution, 01 Jul 1841, One Term US President; Resolution, Feb 1842, Same Day for Electors to Choose President of US; Thomas W. Dorr, Governor of Rhode Island, 1842, Government Established

 

3

19

1840-1843

W. F. Arthur, Deputy Secretary of State of South Carolina, 20 Dec 1840, Transmittal of State Documents; John P. Richardson, Gov., Dec 1841, Conflict Between New York and Virginia; W. F. Arthur, 20 Dec 1841, Slavery Dispute; J. H. Hammond, 20 Dec 1843, Admission of Texas to the Union; J. H. Hammond, 20 Dec 1843, Repudiation of State Debt

 

3

20

1842 Feb 15

James C. Jones;
Re: Tariff, Admission of Texas to the Union

 

3

21

1841 Nov

Charles Paine;
Re: Resolution on US Presidential Election

 

3

22

1841-1843

T. W. Allen, 25 Mar 1842, Establishment of University System; Copy of Bill, 08 Oct 1843, Altering Board of Curators; Appointment of Board of Curators, 02 Nov 1841; Lathrop, University President, 1842, Composition of the Board; W. H. Duncan, 18 Sep 1841, William Shields as Curator

 

3

23

1842 Aug 29

Edward S. Chouteau;
Re: Bates County Election

 

3

24

1841 Feb 03

James H. Waldon;
Re: Senate Election of Samuel M. Bay as Attorney General

 

3

25

1843 Jul 11

James Baskett;
Re: State Tobacco Warehouse Bill, $4000

 

3

26

1843

Bonds, Refund Money Advanced to State

 

3

27

1843

Building of Warehouse for Tobacco within
St. Louis