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
Part of document is missing.
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Additional Notes
Charged with fornication and bastardy.
Person of color.
Petitioner: Barber, Henry.
Filed against: Shirk, William S. Occupation: prisonkeeper.
Petition.
Warrant of commitment.
Habeas corpus, with a piece missing.
Return, includes copy of warrant of commitment, with a piece missing.
4 items, 2 pieces
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please use digital images and transcriptions when available. Original documents may be used by appointment - contact research@lancasterhistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Images have been provided for research purposes. Please contact research@lancasterhistory.org for a high-resolution image an dpermission to publish. There is no publication fee.
Credit
Courtesy of Lancaster County Archives and LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Case Number
1270.000
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: James Fulton, John Fryberger, Joseph T. Sample, J. F. Miller, R. E. Cochran, John Felix, Evan Green, Peter Haldeman, J. W. Cottrell, Michael Strein, W. F. Caruthers, Thomas V. Caldwell, John H. Brooks, William Atkins, John Arms, Henry B. Eagle, John Evans, Jacob [Luthmore], Christian Mayer.
1 item, 2 pieces
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of petition: G. Morison, Samuel Morisson, James Barnes, [ ] Bair, John Watson, Joseph Elliott, John B. McCrabb, Peter Sides, James M. Hopkins, David Bair, Philip Housekeeper, J. W. Housekeeper, Gardner Furness, John McSparran, James M. Steele, Joseph P. Hutton, Fleming McSparran.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of petition: David Bair, John Bair, George Clark, Alexander Gordon, John W. Kennedy, Charles T. Todd, William E. Smith, William Northamer, William R. Ralston, Jacob Leaman, Gardner Furness, T. W. Housekeeper, William W. Steele, Joshua M. Deaver.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Renunciations are papers filed in the Orphans' Court by executors of an estate who do not wish to administer that estate. They show the name of the decedent, the decedent's place of residence, the name of the person renouncing administration, the name of the replacement administrator to be appointed, and date. The relationship between the decedent, the executor, and the administrator is usually shown. Arranged chronologically and then alphabetically within each year.
System of Arrangement
Arranged chronologically and then alphabetically within each year.
Renunciations are papers filed in the Orphans' Court by executors of an estate who do not wish to administer that estate. They show the name of the decedent, the decedent's place of residence, the name of the person renouncing administration, the name of the replacement administrator to be appointed, and date. The relationship between the decedent, the executor, and the administrator is usually shown. Arranged chronologically and then alphabetically within each year.
System of Arrangement
Arranged chronologically and then alphabetically within each year.
