This collection contains Thomas Baker's three surveying books which document land and property ownership in southern Lancaster County, primarily Colerain Township from 1856-1902. Octorara Creek, Kirkwood, Christiana and Upper Oxford Twp. are among the place names.
Admin/Biographical History
Thomas Baker traces his ancestry back to Sir Richard Baker (1568), born in the county of Kent, England. In 1685, seven generations before Thomas Baker was born, Joseph Baker immigrated to Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Born in Chatham, Chester County to Lewis and Diana Baker, Thomas was well-educated; a teacher until 1840, when he commenced the study of surveying. Land surveying is the location of points on, above and below the surface of the earth and the relation of those points to a common reference system. Employed at Jonathon Goss, at Unionville Academy in Chester, he surveyed over 650 farms in Lancaster County's Colerain Township. He married in 1855; his family adhering to his Quaker faith. The Biographical Annals in Lancaster, published in 1903, describes Baker as "…a man esteemed by his neighbors for his many good qualities and excellent character, and in disposition he is a man of warm heart and kindly feeling."
Signers of petition: Benjamin B. Bear, A. Brubaker, Jacob Sener, John S. Wissler, John Yohn, Isaac Evans, Jacob Baker, John Seachrist, J. Ream, David Ringwalt, [signature in German], John G. Bowers.
3 items, 3 pieces
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of Petition: William Myers, Ezekiel William, David Brubaker, Abraham Weidler, Thomas B. Bear, C. Ream, George Brown, Frederick Hoffman, Henry Bear, [signature in German], Benjamin Bear, Jacob Sehner.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of petition: William Myers, Frederick Hoffman, William K. Martin, Abram Weidler, Michael Seitz, Emanuel Wertz, George Brown, [ ] Ream, [signature in German], [signature in German], Emanuel Hall, Jacob Metzger, Henry Mayer.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of petition: William Myers, Abraham [Weideler], Jacob Baer, Frederick Hoffman, Tobias Miller, [signature in German], Ezekiel William, Jacob Sener, John Ream, George Brown, Henry Myers, Stephen Hornberger Sr.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of petition: Henry Getz, Jacob Baer, Martin Hartman, Peter [Dommz], John Davis, Abraham Weidler, Emanuel Hall, George Brown, Frederick Hoffman, William Myers, William K. Martin, Christian Landis, Jacob S. Kauffman, Martin Schwar.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.