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.
Summaries of three cases argued by Buchanan and ultimately decided by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvana
Description
Summaries of three cases argued by Buchanan and ultimately decided by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvana:
1. Commonwealth v. Hambright in which a freed Black man named Tom was imprisoned in Pennsylvania until Tom agreed to go to New Jersey by Isaac Law, to whom he was indentured until age 28. Mr. Hopkins, representing Tom, argued that he could not be imprisoned by his master after age 21. Mr. Buchanan represented the master and argued that the master could take Tom to New Jersey. The Surpreme Court ruled in Tom’s favor.
2. Eckart v. Wilson (represented by Slaymaker and Hopkins), a case claiming slander. The defendant accused the plaintiff (represented by Frazer and Buchanan) of poisoning Bob Waters, even though Waters was alive in Western Pennsylvania. The Court of Common Pleas ruled in favor of the plaintiff since Waters was alive. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the defendant and awarded a venire facias de novo.
3. Rohrer (represented by Buchanan and Rogers) v. Stehman (represented by Frazer and Hoplins), a case involving the will of Stehman, who dictated a will to John Hubley, a scrivener. After the will was dictated and written down Hubley read it back and Stehman approved. The case hung on the fact that the memorandum taken at the time was read to Stehman, but the formal will was not. The plaintiff argued that the will was invalid. The lower court ruled for the plaintiff and the Supreme Court agreed.
James Buchanan Papers, Penn State University Libraries,
https://libraries.psu.edu/findingaids/1458.htm
Related Item Notes
James Buchanan Family Papers
MG-96 James Buchanan Collection
Historical Society of Pennsylvania microfilm
Photograph collections
Curatorial collections
Wheatland Mansion
Notes
May 2020 PastPerfect Conversion
Access Conditions / Restrictions
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Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Accession Number
JBMS1995.451abc
Other Number
JBFP Part 1, Series 2, Subseries 3, Folder 13
Description Level
Item
Custodial History
The James Buchanan Family Papers were collected by the James Buchanan Foundation for the Preservation of Wheatland. This collection was relocated from the Wheatland mansion to the LancasterHistory archives in the Spring of 2009. Digitization of the James Buchanan Family Papers was funded by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, PHMC Appl ID # 201808013051, 2019-2020.
Recognizance, charged with stealing wheat from Jacob Miller in Strasburg Twp.
Additional names: Abraham Kendrick, Henry Kendrick, Samuel Armstrong (servant), James Mercer, James Webb (African-American), Michael Wither, Martin Pfouts.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
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.
