A writ of habeas corpus is a procedure for obtaining a judicial determination of the legality of an individual's custody. This collection includes petitions for writs of habeas corpus and the writs themselves, showing the names of petitioners, persons to be brought to court, nature of dispute or alleged crime, dates of writs and accompanying documents, names of judges, and names of persons that the writs are filed against. Petitioners include indentured servants, Freedom Seekers, free persons of color, convicted prisoners, those awaiting trial, relatives of prisoners, parties in child custody disputes, and relatives of army recruits and draftees.
Lancaster County Archives has Habeas Corpus dockets:
1799-1978, ten volumes, record of writs of Habeas Corpus written.
1895-1983, 43 boxes, original petitions.
Notes
LancasterHistory is committed to preserving and providing access to materials chronicling Lancaster County's heritage. As a historical resource, this document reflects the racial prejudices and actions of the era. In order to maintain the historical integrity and context of collection items, LancasterHistory does not censor historical documents or edit language, titles, or organization names when transcribing original content.
Additional Notes
Charged with stabbing John Richardson, a person of color.
Petitioner: Groff, David.
Filed against: Roberts, A. E. Occupation: sheriff.
Petition: includes copy of warrant of commitment.
Habeas corpus, includes answer and decision.
2 items, 2 pieces
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please use digital images and transcriptions when available. Original docuemtns may be used by appointment - contact research@lancasterhistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Images have been provided for research purposes. Pleae contact research@lancasterhistory.org for a high-resolution image and permission to publish. There is no publication fee.
Credit
Courtesy of Lancaster County Archives and LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Case Number
352.000
Classification
RG 01-00 2313
Description Level
Item
Custodial History
Digitization of this document was funded by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, PHMC Appl ID # 202010016624, 2020-2023.
Signers of petition: William P. Pusey, Fleming McSparran, Clarkson Jefferis, Miller Hutton, George Brown, Francis B. Groff, James D. Malone, Mark Showalter, Joseph Smith, William R. Ralston, James McCrabb, William W. Steele, Mordecai Hammond, Clemingham Atchison.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of petition: Samuel Trimble, Robert W. Moor, Miller Hutton, G. J. Hildebrand, [ ] Zell, Francis McCrabb, Francis B. Groff, [Patteric] Smyth, Thomas R. Johnson, [Amos] Groff, Michael Shea, Samuel Newport, John C. Stone, Ephraim Potts, George Bellamey, Newton Egan, James W. Malone, William Morrison, Thomas McMorrison, Dennis Malone, T. W. Waters, Cheyney H. Pusey, Oliver Caldwell, R. M. Caldwell, Robert W. Moore, Jonathan McMichael, Emanuel D. Waters, James Barnes Jr., Thomas M. Gryder, John B. Hess, John Kennedy, J. S. Jordan, Jeremiah Herr, Jackson Towson, John Findley, Thomas Arnold, Edward J. Hewes, Allen S. Steele, Henry Harner, John W. Fisher, William A. Towson, Enos Evans, James Barnett, William Barr, John Tennant, N. N. Heneil, Edward F. Heneil, J. H. Bryan, Samuel Fisher, Henry M. Ewing, [Elihu] H. Wells, Benjamin H. Witmer, Henry McCann, A. B. Stone, Samuel Broome, Samuel L. Fisher, John Trimbel, Robert W. Moore, Edward McCaa, John Rogers, Anthony Deaver, Cuningham Atikson, Henry Rogers, Lewis Hilton, R. L. Wharton, William T. Wilson, Samuel Cuming, Benjamin Burgess, Christopher M. Hess, George Aument Jr., John Lutz, Daniel D. Hess, Jonathan M. Bushong, James Lowry, James Shank, Benjamin Musser, Westly Philips, William J. Steel, David Stefel, A. Bear, Andrew Lee, Vincent Burkins, Robert M. Cohick, Charles T. Todd, M. Watson, Eli Moore, John Burgin, A. J. Ferguson, Benjamin Brooks, [unknown signature], Jacob Hauk, Daniel R. Hilton, Vincent Reynolds, Thomas Moderwell, Thomas Cully, J. McMichael, William Wescott, Elias Hess, Lewis Jefferis, Mortica Hamond, Isaac Moris, Benjamin F. Sides, S. J. Hamilton, James Duncan, Peter Smyth, Jacob L. Kirk, Archibald Brown, William P. Pusey, H. D. Hildebrand, William Miller, Benjamin Finley, Richard Ward, G. S. Savery, Lewis Todd, Benjamin Brogan, William K. Brown, Hezekiah Freeston, [unknown signature], Samuel C. Marshall, John McKinley, John Steward, Thomas McKinley, John Gallighar, John M. Bishop, Samuel Seipel, Edward Buckman, William Bear, [Wayne Mohr], [unknown signature], Allen Kline, William C. Buckman, John Brown, James W. Allen, John Hoover, Peter Caldwell, James McKinley, Felix W. Sweigert, [Jeremiah] Kirk, S. McConkey, H. J. McIntire, Harrison Hammond, [Elwad H. Done], Clark Philips, john Harveston, James Trimble, Samuel McMichal, Michel Philips, John Hiltibrand, John McColgen, B. R. Watson, Jacob Bear, M. Pharoah, Jacob Hecklar, Thomas Pusey, William Moore, John Harrar, Nathan Watson, George Wishower.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
