When Lincoln Paid is a 1913 American short silent historical drama film written by William Clifford and directed by Francis Ford, who also appears in the film as Abraham Lincoln. Ford portrayed Lincoln in at least seven silent films; all are now lost except for this one. Plot The mother of a dead Union soldier attempts to convince President Lincoln to pardon a similarly condemned Confederate soldier whose unjust conviction was the result of her vindictive scheme. Cast Francis Ford as Abraham Lincoln Jack Conway Charles Edler (billed as Charles Elder) Ethel Grandin Background This was one of many films from the 1910s focusing on Lincoln's well-known practice of pardoning young Civil War soldiers condemned to die, if any extenuating circumstances might have been involved. Preservation status When Lincoln Paid was thought to be lost until a contractor who was demolishing a barn in Nelson, New Hampshire discovered a 35mm Monarch projector and seven reels of film. Among the seven reels was a nitrate print of When Lincoln Paid. The contractor donated the reels to the Keene State College Film Society. When Lincoln Paid was restored and was screened at Keene State College in April 2010. See also List of rediscovered films References External links 1913 films 1910s war drama films 1913 short films American Civil War films American war drama films American historical films American silent short films American black-and-white films Fictional depictions of Abraham Lincoln in film Films directed by Francis Ford Films set in the 1860s 1910s rediscovered films Rediscovered American films 1910s American films Silent American drama films Silent war drama films