Note: Since I’m updating things, I decided to revive this thread that we worked on last year. I still find the different signatures of the conspirators (and others) to be interesting to see.
Signatures of the Conspirators:
Earliest known signature
Common signature
(From Betty’s book)
(From the Kirkwood Register)
(Courtesy of Blaine)
(From Mary's letter to John Nothey. This letter and signature were actually written by Louis Wiechmann, not Mary.)
(Probably signed by his secretary at the Baltimore Steam Packet Company and not actually John Surratt.)
(Courtesy of Blaine)
(Signed Jno. Harrison Surratt)
(From the "Sam" Letter)
The only signature we are missing is from Michael O’Laughlen. We know he took an Oath of Allegiance but where would it be?
Poems written by John Wilkes Booth and David Herold while on the run:
"He put aside the dainty bribe
The little proffered hand
Albeit he held it in his thought
The dearest in the land
Not sharply nor with sudden heart
But with regretful grace
Meanwhile the shadow of his pain
Fell white upon his face
Dark daughter of the Sultry South
Thy dangerous eyes & lips
Essayed to win the prize and leave
Dear honor we Eclipse
She shyly clung upon his brow
He stayed now at the door
I could not love thee, dear so much
Loved I not Honor more.
Adieu, forever mine, my dear
Adieu forever more!"
The handwriting of the first poem matches the handwriting in Booth’s diary:
Comparing Davy's signature to the second poem:
Signatures of others related to the assassination:
JWB's father, Junius Brutus Booth Sr.
Handwriting of Mary Holmes Booth, JWB's mother.
Edwin Booth, JWB’s brother. (Courtesy of Joe)
Edwin Booth
Mary Alice Herold, Davy's sister.
Powell’s father, Rev. George C. Powell. (Courtesy of Betty)
Powell’s mother, Patience Powell. (Courtesy of Betty)
Atzerodt's cousin, Ernest Hartman Richter. Clearly he lacked a formal education.
John H. Surratt, Sr. Mary’s deceased husband and John’s father. (Courtesy of Blaine)
Anna Surratt, Mary's daughter and John's sister.
Louis J. Wiechmann, boarder at Mrs. Surratt's boardinghouse and key witness against her at the conspiracy trial.
Secretary of State, William Henry Seward. (Courtesy of Betty)
William H. Seward, Jr. He was not present the night his father was attacked.
Emerick Hansell, State department messenger stabbed by Powell
Dr. Verdi, Seward's doctor.
Henry Rathbone, guest of the President’s to Ford’s Theatre
Laura Keene, lead actress of Our American Cousin.
Harry Hawk, actor in Our American Cousin.
John Buckingham, Ford's Theatre ticket taker who later sold his own Playbill copies.
Orchestra director, William Withers
Richard H. Garrett, owned the property on which Booth was killed.
Boston Corbett, shot Booth.
Boston Corbett (Courtesy of Blaine)
John Hartranft, commander of the Old Arsenal prison that housed the conspirators. (Courtesy of Betty)
Dr. Porter, who made twice daily checks on the health of the conspirators while they were imprisoned. (Courtesy of Betty)
General David Hunter, head of the military comission that tried the conspirators
Frederick Aiken, Mary’s attorney. (Courtesy of Betty)
William Doster, Atzerodt and Powell’s attorney. (Courtesy of Betty)
Rev. Dr. Gillette, Powell’s minister. (Courtesy of Betty)
Christian Rath, the conspirators’ executioner. (Courtesy of Betty)
Does anyone have any other signatures they would like to add to our collection? And remember, the first person to find O'Laughlen's gets a gold star!
