This collection contains papers and local government records related to Black history in Lancaster County, including an index to Lancaster County's register of enslaved persons, Mayor's Register of Coloured Persons or Negro Entry Book, and a biographical account of Rev. James William Charles Pennington. There are official records for enslaved persons and their children in Lancaster County, as well as freemen within Lancaster City. The collection also contains a manumission paper from the state of Virginia, a certificate for free persons of color, and letters from anit-slavery societies.
System of Arrangement
Series 1 consists of the "Slave Registers," official county records registering enslaved women and their children after 1780.
Series 2 contains the "Mayor's Register of Coloured Persons," a manumission paper, correspondence, and other records.
1 box, 33 folders, 128 items, 1,178 pages to scan, .5 cubic ft.
Object Name
Archive
Language
English
Object ID
MG0240
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Related Item Notes
Black History Collection (MG0240) https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/2b3d42c6-a313-4ebc-966f-516114048136
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Black History Collection (MG0240), Object ID, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL. Date accessed (day, month, year).
LancasterHistory is committed to preserving and providing access to materials chronicling Lancaster County's heritage. As a historical resource, this collection 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 In order to maintain the historical integrity and context of collection items, LancasterHistory does not censor historical documents or edit language, titles, or organization names when transcribing original content.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please use digital images and transcriptions when available. Original documents may be used by appointment--contact research@lancasterhistory.org prior to visit. Restricted access for the Mayor's Register of Coloured Persons found in Series 2, Folder 2: Use transcript in Folder 3 or microfilm.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@lancasterhistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Other Numbers
MG-240
Classification
MG0240
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
The collection was formerly called "The Slave Records of Lancaster County Collection." Name changed to "African American Records Collection" and arrangement changed on 13 June 2007. Name changed again in 2022 to "Black History Collection."
Signers of Petition: Adam Shaeffer, Jacob Nissly, Mathias Shitz, James Laird, Washington L. Atlee, Frederick Witz, Martin Yetter, Adam Zell, Joshua Bishop, Abraham Hertzler, Jacob Bear, John Reesor.
1 Item, 1 Piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Located in town of Mount Joy on the turnpike road leading to Harrisburg, twelve miles from Lancaster.
Lately occupied by John Miller.
Petition granted.
April term.
Signers of Petition: N. Musselman Jr., Christian Hershey, Jacob Lindemuth, Alexander Patterson, Abraham Breneman, Simon Meredith, Jacob Niesley, Okey Hendrickson, Robert Leaman, Joseph Breneman, Samuel K. Bockius, Robert Dysart, James Laird, David Bender, James Patterson Jr., David Martin, James Mackey.
1 Item, 1 Piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of Petition: David Shelly, John Hershey, Michael Horst, Peter Horst, Andrew Hayes, Edward McCreary, Jacob Stolar, Jacob Greider, Christian Chock, Thomas Sterrett, Jacob Wallich, Abraham Shelly, Abraham Breneman, Abraham Patterson, Christian Hershey, John Strickler, Abraham Brubaker, Miller Fraim, Christian Leib, Samuel Yetter, Henry Mellinger, Frederick Witz, William McFaddan, C. B. Siman, Robert Dysart, Isaac Hershey, Peter Lindamuth Jr., Joseph Breneman, Washington L. Atlee, Adam Schaeffer, James Patterson, George Spear, John Beaird, Samuel R. Bockius, James Patterson Jr., William B. Galbraith, Jacob Lindemuth, Jacob Niesley, David Zook, Henry Nissley, Alexander Dysart, Jacob L. Nagle, John Fenstermacher, George M. Bowman, John Herr, A. S. Patterson, John Hostetter, Jacob Opp, John Zook, Henry P. Carson.
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.
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: Daniel Musser, Daniel Eckman, Phillip Miller, George Wiker, Henry Eckman, Jacob Hoover, William Miller, H. Hains, Samuel Miller, John Erb, and two others.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of Petition: Adam Keller, William Lenix, John Miller, William McBride, Jacob Heistand, James Laird, [signature in German], John S. Sterrett, Miller Traim, Samuel R. Bockius, Jacob Stolar, James B. Ferree, Jacob Rohrer, Thomas J. Patterson, A. Hackman, Jacob Wallick, Jacob Hollinger, Christian Leib.
Second Sheet: John Miller, James B. Ferree, Thomas J. Patterson, John S. Sterrett, Abraham Eshleman, Jacob Wallich, Samuel R. Bockius, Christian Leib, Abraham Hertzler, [signature in German], Jacob Nissley, [signature in German], David Boyce, John Nissly, Jacob Hershy.
2 items, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Series 1, Register of enslaved women and their children who were born after 1780, is a compilation of papers filed by holders of enslaved persons that show date; name and place of residence of slaveholder; name of mother (usually an enslaved person) and child; date of birth; sex of child; age when the child will be freed; official seal and signatures; and date when filed.
17 folders, 89 items, 648 pages to scan, .25 cubic ft.
Object Name
Archive
Language
English
Object ID
MG0240_Ser01
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Related Item Notes
Copies of MG0240, Series 1, Folders 1-9 are also on microfilm in the Research Center Library (Drawer 3, sec. 2, #206) and bound (326 R294p Oversized)
Black History Collection (MG0240) https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/2b3d42c6-a313-4ebc-966f-516114048136
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Black History Collection (MG0240), Object ID, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL. Date accessed (day, month, year).
LancasterHistory is committed to preserving and providing access to materials chronicling Lancaster County's heritage. As a historical resource, these items reflect 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.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please use digital images and transcriptions when available. Original documents may be used by appointment--contact research@lancasterhistory.org prior to visit. Restricted access for the Mayor's Register of Coloured Persons found in Series 2, Folder 2: Use transcript in Folder 3 or microfilm.
Copyright
Images have been provided for research purposes. Please contact research@lancasterhistory.org for a high-resolution image and permission to publish. There is no fee for publication of items in MG0240_Ser01.
Credit
Courtesy of Lancaster County Archives and LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Other Numbers
MG-240, Series 1
Classification
MG0240
Description Level
Series
Custodial History
Processed prior to 1997 and updated from 2007-present. Added to database on 10 January 2022.
Digitization of this document was funded by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, PHMC Appl ID # 202010016624, 2020-2023.
Signers of Petition: Joshua Bishop, Adam Zell, James Johnston, Christian Leib, Jacob Kaufman, David Kolp, Samuel R. Bockius, Jacob Nissley, Samuel Nissley, Jacob Hollinger, Peter Horst, [signature in German].
1 Item, 1 Piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Located on the corner of Jacob and turnpike streets.
Formerly kept by John Miller.
Petition granted.
April term.
Signers of Petition: John S. Sterrett, William B. Galbraith, Samuel R. Bockius, Jacob Myers, James Dysart, Robert Richardson, John Moore, Jacob Stolar, Elias Hoffman, Tobias Miller, John Miller, Michael [Gormaly], William Esterling, Christian Leib, [signature in German], John Kreiner.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
