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.
Signers of Petition: Andrew Kaufman, William Mitchener, Andrew Hamilton, John Kauffman, Michael Baushman, Joseph Charles, Stephen Cornelius, John Wissler, and one other.
1 Item, 1 Piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of Petition: Joseph Charles, George Bietz, Christian Baughman, John Kauffman, Jacob Lindemann, Michael Olstadt, Joseph Thormbrough, Jacob Wissler, John Wissler, Jacob Berg, Christian Herr, Johannes Mann, Christian Seidenbender, Henry Reigart, William Lewis, John Whiteside.
Also remonstrance against tavern from Jacob Dritt.
2 items, 2 pieces
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Located near Witmers Bridge, within a mile of Lancaster City.
Formerly occupied by Jacob Smith.
Petition granted.
Signers of Petition: Justus W. [Ebett], Andrew Noble, Christian Hertzler, D. C. Whitehill, John Guy, John [Staman], [name in German], John Butler, John Curry, John Hatz, John Gamber, [unknown signature], Jacob Rathfon, Frederick Hambright, E. Reigart.
1 Item, 1 Piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of Petition: Jacob Peelor, Daniel Sanders, John Hoffman, [signature in German], Jacob Ruth, James Lynch, George Redsecker, Samuel S. F. Burgess, Michael Croll, Henry Fisher, John George, Michael Brenneman, Thomas Eagan, Bartram Galbraith, John Redsecker, R. McClure, John Campbell, David Dempsey, John Fisher, John Bier, Henry [Bilmner].
1 Item, 1 Piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of Petition: Jacob Peelor, John Fisher, A. Campbell, Jacob Immel, Jacob Ruth, [signature in German], Jacob Coble, Thomas Eagan, John Redsecker.
1 Item, 1 Piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
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. Arranged chronologically by year, then alphabetically by purchaser's name. Most are handwritten on printed forms.
System of Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by year, then alphabetically by purchaser's name.
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. Arranged chronologically by year, then alphabetically by purchaser's name. Most are handwritten on printed forms.
System of Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by year, then alphabetically by purchaser's name.
