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
Part of document is missing.
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Additional Notes
Charged with fornication and bastardy.
Person of color.
Petitioner: Barber, Henry.
Filed against: Shirk, William S. Occupation: prisonkeeper.
Petition.
Warrant of commitment.
Habeas corpus, with a piece missing.
Return, includes copy of warrant of commitment, with a piece missing.
4 items, 2 pieces
Access Conditions / Restrictions
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Copyright
Images have been provided for research purposes. Please contact research@lancasterhistory.org for a high-resolution image an dpermission to publish. There is no publication fee.
Credit
Courtesy of Lancaster County Archives and LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Case Number
1270.000
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.
