Papers filed for construction and repair of bridges. The types of petitions presented to the Court of Quarter Sessions include: petitions for bridge construction and repair, petitions for inspections, and petitions for bridge funds. Other types of items include: specifications, proposals, and contracts for bridge construction and repair; bridge blueprints and plans; correspondence; bills for materials; and bridge condition reports. Many papers show date; court term and case number; names of petitioners, viewers, inspectors, and contractors; costs and fees; location of bridge; and name or number of bridge. The order and report of viewers documents are of particular interest as they usually include a copy of the original petition; the order and names of viewers to inspect the site; the public announcement for the viewers meeting; the report and recommendation of viewers, often with a drawing of the site and surrounding area; and the court decision.
System of Arrangement
Records are arranged by township, then chronologically within each township.
Located on road leading from Manheim to Lancaster.
Petition granted.
April term.
Signers of Petition: Elijah T. Ward, Jacob Rohrer, Jacob B. Brubaker, [signature in German], George Grube, John Elliot, John Frantz, Emanuel Gibbel, John K. Landis, Jacob [Griel], Henry Decker, Jacob Frank, Peter Brown, Andrew Balmer, Benjmain Myers.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Located on the Lancaster & Manheim road five miles from Lancaster.
Formerly occupied by Frederick Zimmerman and later by Mr. Sponehauer.
Petition granted.
January term.
Signers of Petition: Peter Maurer, Jacob Stibgen, John Sharp, Christian Brubaker, John Brubaker, [signature in German], John Frank, [signature in German], Daniel Balmer, Jacob Metzger, Henry Sponhauer, William [Warner], Jacob Rohrer, Lightner Sharp, Abraham Stibgen, Martin Mayers, David Mayer, John Capp, Benjamin Johnsen, John Johnsen.
1 Item, 1 Piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Located on the road leading from Lancaster to Reading.
Lately occupied by [ ] Stibgen and formerly by John Michael Sr.
Petition granted.
April term.
Signers of Petition: Allan [Capent], Henry Fritz, Jacob Harter, [unknown signature], Martin Fry, Richard Flickinger, Samuel Stoher, Frederick Ream, [signature in German], Michael Stober, David Bauman, Jacob Eby, J. B. Amweg, John Bollinger, Jacob Angus, Jacob Souder, Martin Gross, John Gross, [signature in German], Daniel Shissler, R. R. Heitler, John Keller, George Long, [signature in German], [signature in German], Jesse Bitzer, [signature in German], John Shaffer, Daniel Feather, Cyrus Killian, Philip Sherk, George Wise, William Lewis, Amos Johnson, Jacob Souer, David Albright, John Souer, [J. B. Kirk], [unknown signature], Jesse Keefer, Jacob Zercher, John L. Sharp, Samuel Grube, Jacob Evans, Christian Young, Andrew Ream, Michael Gish, Jacob Workman, Samuel Ruth, [signature in German], John Reidenbach, John Garber, Jacob Frank, Andrew Bixler, Jacob Minnich, Abraham Musselman, Daniel Dietrich, Isaac Hostetter, John [Bush], Henry Lehn, Isaac Baker, Jacob K. Landis, William Myer, Henry H. Kurtz, David S. Binkley, George Shreiner, Henry Shenk, [signature in German], Joseph Shenk, David Fellenbaum, Isaac Fellanbaum, [signature in German], Casper Grub, Jacob Brubaker, Francis Ruth, Christian Bassler, Jacob Metzger, Jacob Tanger, [signature in German], Philip Sprecher, Martrin Groff, Peter Grube, [signature in German], [signature in German], Isaac Leib, Jacob Reidenbach, Daniel Royer, Daniel Royer Jr., John Huhn, [signature in German], [signature in German], H. B. Bowman, J. H. Kurtz, [signature in German], John Zook, [signature in German], Michael Kuhn, George Kuhn, Isaac Ressler, [signature in German], Henry Shreiner, Peter Forney, Gabriel Leib, Henry Hottenstein, Samuel Bear, Henry Zercher, Elias Erb, John Bucher, Jacob Frantz, [signature in German], Joseph Adams.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
The Jacob Smith Collection consists of the daybooks and papers of Jacob and Abraham Smith. The daybooks contain notes on workers' attendance, assignments, pay, mill equipment, and names of people with whom Abraham boarded. There is also a court order appointing six men to study the feasibility of a road from Jacob Smith's mill to Manor's skating rink.
Admin/Biographical History
The original grist and sawmill was built by Jacob Smith in 1774 on Pequea Creek, about eight miles from Lancaster. The stone mill was built by Jacob Smith circa 1800. The mill remained the property of Mr. Smith and his heirs until 1846, when it was purchased by Abraham Mylin. Mylin built an addition and put in another water wheel. Subsequent owners were Benjamin Harnish in 1857, Jacob B. Good in 1868, and Thomas Baumgardner in 1870. Mr. Baumgardner repaired the mill and put in new machinery. Later owners were Jacob Herr, Henry Hess, Edwin Diffenderfer, Enos Harnish, Sumner Brown, Clayton Hilton, and H. F. Eshleman.
Ellis, Franklin and Samuel Evans. 1883. History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men. Philadelphia: Everts & Peck. p. 1011.
