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 from landowners to the Court of Common Pleas requesting an order to the sheriff to issue deeds for property purchased at the previous sheriff's land sales. Petitions show names of petitioner, former owner, and former sheriff; signature of petitioner; a brief description of the property; location; purchase price; and date. Most are handwritten on printed forms.
System of Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by year, then alphabetically by purchaser's name.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection, Title and Object ID, Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Petitions to Make Sheriff's Deeds 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.
Petition asking Thaddeus Stevens be a Republican candidate for the United States Senate
Description
Petition asking Thaddeus Stevens if he will consent to be a Republican candidate for the Office of United States Senator. Prepared by A. E. Roberts. 33 signatures. Not dated, but Stevens response (MG0115_Part01_F004_In10) is dated 1866.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Thaddeus Stevens Collection (MG0115), Part 1, Folder # or Object ID, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please use digital images and transcriptions when available. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to visit.
Copyright
Images have been provided for research purposes only. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org for a high-resolution image and permission to publish.
LancasterHistory retains the rights to the digital images and content presented. The doctrine of fair use allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the copyright holder. Fair use includes comment, criticism, teaching, and private scholarship. Any images and data downloaded, printed or photocopied for these purposes should provide a citation. All other uses beyond those allowed by fair use require written permission.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Persons wishing to publish any material from this site must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Signers for first petition eating house: Erben, Charles M.; Northaeffer, J. M.; Carpenter, W.; Breneman, C. H.; Peifer,
W. L.; Skiles, John D.; Wentz, Charles E.; Brown, W. W.; Smith, James; Lorr, T. R.; Diveler, M.; Gable, J. F.; Shultz, John A.; Shultz, Henry A.
January term.
Signers for second petition eating house: Howell, Charles M.; Bear, Jacob; Zimmerman, J.; Weidler, John; Carpenter, W.; Skiles, John D.; Metzger, S. H.; Rathvon, [ ]; Leman, Henry E.; Carpenter, James C.; Swarr, H. B.; Brown, W. W.; Reynold, Samuel H.; Ehler, J. A.; Compton, William; Deichler, P.; Kline, E. M.; [Shultz & Brother]; Erben, Charles [M.]
Approved.
April term.
2 items, 2 pieces
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of petition: Getz, Jacob G.; Colm, Charles; Miller, Benjamin P.; Zahm, Godfried; Keller, George; [McConrey], Peter; Hauke, A. A.; Dysart, James P.; Miller, Watson; Altick, Daniel A.; Muhlenberg, H. E.; Rauck, R. F.
April term.
1 item, 1piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of petition: Barr, A. R.; Smith, [R. A.]; Coyle, James; Breneman, P. K.; Heinitsh, Charles; Kaufman, J. B.; Gompf, William; Slaymaker, H. E.; [ ], Edward H.; Bair, David; Deaner, John; Mohler, R.
April term.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of petition: Jacob Rohrer, Henry H. Kurtz, Thomas Grosh, Martin Groff, Benjamin B. Leaman, Isaac Powl, Jacob B. Rohrer, Jacob Landis, Hiram Campbell, Jacob Gamber, John [Mess], John Huber, [signature in German].
2 items, 2 pieces
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.