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.
Note on back of picture: This large stone house was typical of the ones built by the more prosperous farmers and millers of early Lancaster County. It was located on the south side of the Columbia turnpike west of Maple Grove. The building was torn down in 1972 to make way for a fast-food restaurant. Close up of "Old Mill" see picture "Abbeville Mill" torn down April 1972.