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."
This record group contains canceled orders that were issued by the county commissioners for payment to be made by the county treasurer. The orders show date, order number, amount, name of payee, purpose, and signatures of the county commissioners. In the case of "poor children," teachers were reimbursed by the county for tuition and/or the supplies purchased for students whose parents were unable to pay. Orders include: Poor Children, Almshouse, Bridges, Coroners' Inquests, Prisons, Roads, Court House, and Tax Exonerations.
System of Arrangement
The record group is organized chronologically, then arranged by order number within each year.
Signers of petition: Jacob Baer, Benjamin B. Bear, Isaac Evans, Jacob Hawk, Frederick Hoffman, John Davis, John Ream, David Ringwalt, John Seachrist, Jacob Brubaker, John G. Brenner, Jacob Sener.
Bond: Jacob Baer, John Davis.
Receipt to keep a tavern.
3 items, 3 pieces
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of petition: John Davis, Abraham Brubaker, John S. Wissler, Christian Saner, [H. L. Frintz], John G. Brenner, Emanuel Hall, Uriah Goodman, Jacob Baer, Henry Baker, Daniel Brenner, Joseph B. Mumma, Benjamin B. Bear.
Bond: Adam S. Dietrich, John Davis.
Receipt to keep a tavern.
3 items, 3 pieces
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of Petition: William Myers, Frederick Hoffman, George Brown, H. B. Bear, John Eshleman, Michael Seitz, John H. L. Landis, Christian Kauffman, Jacob Hershey, Edward L. Howard, Christian Riddle, Ezekiel Williams, Henry Getz, Benjamin Bear, Henry Baer.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
