New York State Department of State Lists of Convicts Discharged by Expiration of Sentence or Pardon

The series consists of (formerly bound) printed returns of convicts discharged from state prisons, either through expiration of sentence or pardon. The returns were compiled by the clerks of Mt. Pleasant (Sing Sing), Auburn, and Clinton prisons and submitted to the secretary of state's office pursuant to Chapter 83 of the Laws of 1819, and Section 57, Subdivision 8 of Chapter 460 of the Laws of 1847.

Returns vary in format but usually provide felon's name; date of discharge; county where convicted; date of conviction; court; crime; sentence; felon's former trade or occupation; employment in prison; whether so employed when arrested; color; age; sex; birthplace; degree of instruction; height; number of times confined in state prison; number of times confined in county prison; crime for which confined before in state prison; duration of punishment when before in prison; to what prison previously sent; date of present pardon; how discharged; by whom pardoned; marital status; parents (both, mother or father, neither); children (if married); habits of life (temperate, moderate, intemperate); cannot read, read only, read and write; well educated, classical education, religious instruction; how committed; by whom committed; unexpired time; conditions of pardon (if any); state of health when committed or discharged; and value of articles stolen.

There are major gaps in this series: 1838-1847, 1854-1872, 1874-1875, and 1877-1879 inclusive. There are no name indexes. Volumes three and four are duplicate volumes.

Restricted: records are very fragile and may be handled only with supervision of an archivist. No photocopying.