These are papers filed in equity proceedings, a process where the court, not a jury, makes the final decision and issues a decree, usually resulting in someone taking action or forbidden from taking action. The types of documents include notes of testimony, petitions, bills in equity, and decrees. Early equities were filed with the NARRS or Appearance files.
System of Arrangement
Arranged according to entry order into the Equity Dockets and docket page number.
Lancaster County Archives, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection, Title and Object ID, Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Only available on microfilm.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please request at Reference Desk or Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Copyright
Copies of historic Lancaster County, Pennsylvania government records held by LancasterHistory may be published without special permission. There is no fee for publication. Proper credit lines are encouraged in the interest of good documentation.
Credit
Courtesy of Lancaster County Archives and LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Collection consists of just 16 cases. Writs of partitions, summons, and decrees recording the legal division of real estate. Documents show court term and case no.; names of plaintiffs and defendants, interested parties, judge, sheriff, twelve men; description and value of estate; and date filed. Handwritten.
Partition Dockets (1850-1907) are at the Lancaster County Archives.
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection, Title and Object ID, Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please request at Reference Desk or Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Copyright
Copies of historic Lancaster County, Pennsylvania government records held by LancasterHistory may be published without special permission. There is no fee for publication. Proper credit lines are encouraged in the interest of good documentation.
Credit
Courtesy of Lancaster County Archives and LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection, Title and Object ID, Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please request at Reference Desk or Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Copyright
Copies of historic Lancaster County, Pennsylvania government records held by LancasterHistory may be published without special permission. There is no fee for publication. Proper credit lines are encouraged in the interest of good documentation.
Credit
Courtesy of Lancaster County Archives and LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Brief summaries of court cases. Each entry includes the names of the plaintiff and defendant, the names of the attorneys, and the judgment of the case. Also includes court costs, if any. Handwritten.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection, Title and Object ID, Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please request at Reference Desk or Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Copyright
Copies of historic Lancaster County, Pennsylvania government records held by LancasterHistory may be published without special permission. There is no fee for publication. Proper credit lines are encouraged in the interest of good documentation.
Credit
Courtesy of Lancaster County Archives and LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Civil proceedings papers filed in the Court of Common Pleas, showing court term, case number, names of parties, nature of plea, disposition, and date filed. NARRS files, also called appearance files, are civil court abstracts.
These papers have not been processed or indexed. If requesting these papers, please allow staff extra time to fulfill this request.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please request at Reference Desk or Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Copyright
Copies of historic Lancaster County, Pennsylvania government records held by LancasterHistory may be published without special permission. There is no fee for publication. Proper credit lines are encouraged in the interest of good documentation.
Credit
Courtesy of Lancaster County Archives and LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Eight hardbound volumes and a portfolio which contain records of civil suits, mostly among corporations. They list the names of plaintiffs, the attorneys, date and court term, and the instrument. Some contain indexes.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection, Title and Object ID, Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please request at Reference Desk or Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Copyright
Copies of historic Lancaster County, Pennsylvania government records held by LancasterHistory may be published without special permission. There is no fee for publication. Proper credit lines are encouraged in the interest of good documentation.
Credit
Courtesy of Lancaster County Archives and LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Writs from appellate courts directing the Court of Common Pleas to send all documents relating to cases appealed to them. Show names of parties in the case, attorneys, and judges. The documents sent to and returned from the higher court are usually attached. These documents could include charges, depositions, and findings. May also include a list of exceptions from the higher court giving its reasons for overturning the lower court's decision. Handwritten and handwritten on printed forms.
System of Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by court session, and therein by case number.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection, Title and Object ID, Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please request at Reference Desk or Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Copyright
Copies of historic Lancaster County, Pennsylvania government records held by LancasterHistory may be published without special permission. There is no fee for publication. Proper credit lines are encouraged in the interest of good documentation.
Credit
Courtesy of Lancaster County Archives and LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
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 African-Americans, convicted prisoners, those awaiting trial, relatives of prisoners, parties in child custody disputes, and relatives of army recruits and draftees. Handwritten, handwritten on printed forms, and a very few typewritten.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection, Title and Object ID, Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
These papers are cataloged individually and may be searched in the online collection database. https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please request at Reference Desk or Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Copyright
Copies of historic Lancaster County, Pennsylvania government records held by LancasterHistory may be published without special permission. There is no fee for publication. Proper credit lines are encouraged in the interest of good documentation.
Credit
Courtesy of Lancaster County Archives and LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Papers filed with the Court of Common Pleas during all proceedings of a civil case. Civil cases are non-criminal cases usually involving property rights, such as divorce, but also include injury and worker's compensation cases. Records may include pleadings, depostitions, commissions and interrogatories, warrants of attorney in every action, notes of testimony, reports of auditors, assignees, court rulings. Photographs and other forms of evidence may appear with the records. Documents show names of parties, dates, case number, and nature of plea.
System of Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by year, then by case number.
Lancaster County Archives, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection, Title and Object ID, Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Only available on microfilm. See microfilm finding aid.
For the year 1997, the microfilm boxes are labeled LC1997 and the cases are still identified as CI-1997.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please request at Reference Desk or Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Copyright
Copies of historic Lancaster County, Pennsylvania government records held by LancasterHistory may be published without special permission. There is no fee for publication. Proper credit lines are encouraged in the interest of good documentation.
Credit
Courtesy of Lancaster County Archives and LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Papers filed in pleas of error, appealing lower court decisions. Include explanations for the appeal; summaries of evidence, writs, depositions, decisions. Show names of plaintiff and defendant; court term and case number; description of point at error; decision of Supreme Court; names of justices; official seals. Handwritten.
System of Arrangement
Arranged by first letter of plaintiff's surname; except that, in alphabetizing, plaintiffs who are administrators of a decedent's estate are ignored and the papers are filed under the decedent's name; also, the Farmer's Bank of Lancaster is filed under "B."
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection, Title and Object ID, Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please request at Reference Desk or Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Copyright
Copies of historic Lancaster County, Pennsylvania government records held by LancasterHistory may be published without special permission. There is no fee for publication. Proper credit lines are encouraged in the interest of good documentation.
Credit
Courtesy of Lancaster County Archives and LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.