'Correct a historical wrong': Kentucky Gov. Beshear pardons dozens who helped slaves escape

Taylor Six, Lexington Herald-Leader on Jun 16, 2026

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LEXINGTON, Ky. — More than 40 people who helped slaves escape to freedom have been posthumously pardoned by Gov. Andy Beshear ahead of Juneteenth.

In an executive order, Kentucky’s Democratic governor pardoned 43 people previously charged for their help to liberate enslaved people.

“When we have a chance to correct a historical wrong, we should do it,” Beshear said in a Monday press release. “That’s why, ahead of Juneteenth, I am posthumously pardoning 43 brave Kentuckians who were wrongfully imprisoned for helping enslaved people escape to freedom.

“These leaders are heroes — not criminals — and they and their families deserve the justice of having their names cleared.”

Beshear highlighted three people in his press release, including Elijah Anderson, Julett Miles and Thomas Brown.

The press release notes Anderson, a free Black man, was one of the most active conductors of the Underground Railroad in Kentucky.

Research and records indicate Anderson helped free 1,000 enslaved people, Beshear’s office said. Anderson was arrested in Louisville for his efforts and died in the Kentucky State Penitentiary. After his arrest, he was convicted of aiding escaped enslaved people, according to African Americans of the Kentucky Borderlands.

Miles, a Black woman, was freed by Rev. John Fee of Berea and moved north. Miles traveled across the Ohio River to free her children after learning they would be sold. She was arrested, and died in prison. Miles’ offense was enticing or attempting to entice away 10 slaves.

Brown was an Irish immigrant arrested when he was 60. He suffered severe beatings for two years before he was released. His offense was aiding escaped enslaved people, according to the Wilbur H. Siebert Underground Railroad Connection.

The work for the posthumous pardons was done alongside Rev. Andrew Baskin, a former associate professor of African American Studies at Berea College and James Prichard, a historian and a former member of the Filson Historical staff.

Baskin said the people pardoned by Beshear recognized the law as being unjust and immoral, and were willing to disobey and “suffer the consequences.”

“What Gov. Beshear did today is help to correct part of the mistakes that have happened in the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” Baskin said in the release.

Beshear encouraged Kentuckians who know of someone who deserves a posthumous pardon for their work to help enslaved people reach freedom to email FreedomTrialPardons@ky.gov for consideration.

A full list of the 43 pardons can be read in Beshear’s executive order.

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