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.
Petitions filed for admission to citizenship. Documents may contain: petition number, date, name, nationality, declaration of intention, oath of allegiance, affidavits of witnesses, date admitted in court, and official signatures. Twentieth century petitions may include notes of testimony.
Lancaster County Archives, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Copies
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.
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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.
Petition for appointment of viewers; order and report of viewers
Description
Court term: January 1864.
Location: On road from the Lancaster and Philadelphia Turnpike to the Strasburg and Millport Turnpike, at Greenland, East Lampeter Twp., at Benjamin Eshleman's Mill.
Document types: Petition for appointment of viewers.
Petition for appointment of viewers; order and report of viewers
Description
Court term: November 1865.
Location: On public road from Lampeter Square, West Lampeter Twp., via Zercher's Mill, to the Green Tree [Tavern] on the Beaver Valley and Big Spring Turnpike.
Document types: Petition for appointment of viewers.
Order and report of viewers.
System of Arrangement
Records are arranged by township, then chronologically within each township.
