Freedmen's Bureau Records: Loyalty Oath of John A.
McDonnell, January 14, 1868
Summary:
The text of McDonnell's loyalty oath to the United States Government.
Oath Prescribed by the Act of Congress approved July 2, 1862
I, John A. McDonnell, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts do solemnly swear that I have never voluntarily borne arms against the United States since I have been a citizen thereof; that I have voluntarily given no aid, countenance, counsel, or encouragement to persons engaged in armed hostility thereto; that I have neither sought nor accepted, nor attempted to exercise the functions of any office whatever, under any authority, or pretended authority, in hostility to the United States; that I have not yielded a voluntary support to any pretended government, authority, power, or constitution within the United States, hostile or inimical thereto. and I do further swear that, to the best of my knowledge and ability, I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: so help me God.
John A. McDonnell
Sworn and subscribed to before me, this Fourteenth day of January, 1868
Ger. Fuller JP
