The Mayor's Court was established at the incorporation of the City of Lancaster in 1818, and was composed of the mayor, recorder, and aldermen with powers and jurisdiction analogous to the Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace, Oyer and Terminer, and Jail Delivery. It was abolished on 6 February 1849.
System of Arrangement
Organized by court term.
Arranged with general materials first, then constables reports, tavern licenses, un-numbered cases, and numbered cases.
LancasterHistory is committed to preserving and providing access to materials chronicling Lancaster County's heritage. As a historical resource, this document 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 In order to maintain the historical integrity and context of collection items, LancasterHistory does not censor historical documents or edit language, titles, or organization names when transcribing original content.
Additional Notes
Fugitive from labor and service
African-American
Employer/Slaveholder: Smith, Edward J.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Civil proceedings papers filed in the Court of Common Pleas, showing court term, case number, names of parties, nature of plea, disposition, and date filed. NARRS files, also called appearance files, are civil court abstracts.
These papers have not been processed or indexed. If requesting these papers, please allow staff extra time to fulfill this request.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please request at Reference Desk or Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Copyright
Copies of historic Lancaster County, Pennsylvania government records held by LancasterHistory may be published without special permission. There is no fee for publication. Proper credit lines are encouraged in the interest of good documentation.
Credit
Courtesy of Lancaster County Archives and LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Eight hardbound volumes and a portfolio which contain records of civil suits, mostly among corporations. They list the names of plaintiffs, the attorneys, date and court term, and the instrument. Some contain indexes.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection, Title and Object ID, Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please request at Reference Desk or Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Copyright
Copies of historic Lancaster County, Pennsylvania government records held by LancasterHistory may be published without special permission. There is no fee for publication. Proper credit lines are encouraged in the interest of good documentation.
Credit
Courtesy of Lancaster County Archives and LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Papers filed in pleas of error, appealing lower court decisions. Include explanations for the appeal; summaries of evidence, writs, depositions, decisions. Show names of plaintiff and defendant; court term and case number; description of point at error; decision of Supreme Court; names of justices; official seals. Handwritten.
System of Arrangement
Arranged by first letter of plaintiff's surname; except that, in alphabetizing, plaintiffs who are administrators of a decedent's estate are ignored and the papers are filed under the decedent's name; also, the Farmer's Bank of Lancaster is filed under "B."
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection, Title and Object ID, Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please request at Reference Desk or Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Copyright
Copies of historic Lancaster County, Pennsylvania government records held by LancasterHistory may be published without special permission. There is no fee for publication. Proper credit lines are encouraged in the interest of good documentation.
Credit
Courtesy of Lancaster County Archives and LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Court of Common Pleas records of proceedings in assignment cases including assigned accounts, inventories/appraisements, appointments, inquiries, summons, escheat of estate, auditors' reports. Handwritten on printed forms.
System of Arrangement
Not yet arranged, but will be arranged chronologically and then alphabetically.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection, Title and Object ID, Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
This collection has not been processed.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please request at Reference Desk or Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Copyright
Copies of historic Lancaster County, Pennsylvania government records held by LancasterHistory may be published without special permission. There is no fee for publication. Proper credit lines are encouraged in the interest of good documentation.
Credit
Courtesy of Lancaster County Archives and LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
