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.
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.
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
LancasterHistory is committed to preserving and providing access to materials chronicling Lancaster County's heritage. As a historical resource, this document reflects the racial prejudices and actions of the era. In order to maintain the historical integrity and context of collection items, LancasterHistory does not censor historical documents or edit language, titles, or organization names when transcribing original content.
Additional Notes
Person of color.
Suspicion of being a runaway servant.
Petitioner: Read, Thomas M.
Filed against: Eberman, Philip. His occupation: jailor.
Affidavit.
Habeas corpus, includes answer and decision.
2 items, 2 pieces
Access Conditions / Restrictions
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Copyright
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Credit
Courtesy of Lancaster County Archives and LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Case Number
127.000
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: Thomas Dobson, William Miller, Henry Eckman, A. Mehaffey, Michael Wither, Henry Miller, A. McCallister, Jacob Strunck, Peter Lefever, Jacob Futz, John Markley, Michael Foutz, Jacob Bear, Jacob Neffer, Andrew Menold, and three others.
1 Item, 1 Piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Located fronting on the Lancaster and Harrisburg Turnpike Road.
Lately occupied by Stephen Rigler.
Petition granted.
April term.
Signers of Petition: Alexander Patterson, Thomas M. Crown, Jacob Rohrer, Abraham Harnly, John Foster, [signature in German], Christian Rohrer, Henry P. Carson, John Shenck, David Bender, Jacob Myers, Simon Meredith, William B. Galbraith.
1 Item, 1 Piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of Petition: Washington L. Atlee, David Shelly, Miller Fraim, James Laird, Frederick Wetz, Samuel Bockius, Abraham Nissley, [signature in German], Jacob H. Mazer, Abraham Shelly, Christian Leib, Peter Horst.
1 Item, 1 Piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
