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.
Record of applications for peddlers' licenses showing date of application, name of applicant, type of license, and dates granted and lifted. Many applications for soldiers' licenses; these are peddlers' licenses issued to honorably discharged veterans. Handwritten.
System of Arrangement
Organized by year, then alphabetically by surname.
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 In order to maintain the historical integrity and context of collection items, LancasterHistory does not censor historical documents or edit language, titles, or organization names when transcribing original content.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
African-American.
Petition.
25th Regiment, Company K, U. S. Colored Volunteers.
Civil War.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Located on the public road leading from Lancaster to Burkholder's Ferry and Safe Harbour.
Petition granted.
January term.
Signers of Petition: Benjamin Bear, Esther Kendig, John Good, [signature in German], [signature in German], Jacob Good, Joseph Miller, John Harnish, John Keeports, Christian Good, Jacob Good, Benjamin Bear, John Huber, Rudolph Hess, [signature in German], [signature in German], David Harnish, Benjamin Musser, Jacob Frantz, Abraham Hess, Jacob Hess, Rudolph Harnist.
2 Items, 1 Piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Located on the public road from Conowingo and Port Deposit to Columbia.
Formerly occupied by Abraham Hess.
Petition granted.
April term.
Signers of Petition: Henry Shenck, Jacob Fehl Jr., David Bair, Christian Shank, Abraham Singer, Joseph Hess, [signature in German], Christian Myley, David Eyman, Jacob Spence, Jacob Shenk, John Jack, Frederick Miller, John Laen, Jacob Mermert, Tobias B. Stehman, Samuel Mehaffey.
1 Item, 1 Piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of Petition: Charles Montelius, John Walter, Benjamin Flickinger, [signature in German], Jacob Brennaman, Charles Musser, George Ludwick, Abraham Pollack, Jacob Zinn, Jacob Hildebaitel, John Koons, [signature in German],
1 Item, 1 Piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Located on the road leading from Strasburg to Columbia.
Petition granted.
January term.
Signers of Petition: Christian Miller, Joseph Bleecher, Christian Sterneman, [signature in German], Jacob Fehl Jr., George Urban, Peter Miller, Benjamin Urban, John Miller, Tobias B. Stehman, Christian Myley, George [ ], John Henry.
1 Item, 1 Piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of Petition: Joseph [Tripple], Adam [Luke], Joseph Hess, Benjamin Miller, Joseph Bleecher, Benjamin Helms, John Kendig (doctor), John Jack, Jacob Warfel Jr., John Ohmit, David Bair, Henry [Crir].
1 Item, 1 Piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Located on the banks of the Susquehanna river near Burkholders Ferry.
Petition granted.
April term.
Signers of Petition: Tobias Stehman, Christian Zercher, Martin Breneman, John Ohmit, Jacob Fehl Jr., Daivd Bair, Christian Shank, Christian Miller, [signature in German], George Urban, George Kentig, Adam Kindig, Benjamin Good, John Harnish, Samuel [Myer].
1 Item, 1 Piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Located on the public road leading from Lancaster to Martic Forge.
Formerly kept by his father.
Petition granted.
April term.
Signers of Petition: Joseph Good, [signature in German], John Mecartney, Martin Gall, [signature in German], Christian Snevely, Henry Hess, John Zercher, Christian Herr, [signature in German], Daniel Ritz, Jacob Good, Chrisitan Barr, [signature in German].
1 Item, 1 Piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of Petition: Henry Rush Jr., Christian Herr, Jacob Grafft, Frederick W. Rehm, John Breneman, John Neff, [signature in German], [signature in German], Christian Hess Jr., Lewis Baily, Henry Heidelbauch, Henry Hess, Goerge [Zarahcher], Daniel Fulton.
1 Item, 1 Piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.