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."
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.
Bonds posted by constables, showing names of constable and surety; date and amount of bond; conditions of obligation; signatures of constable, surety, and witnesses; and date filed. Arr. chron. by date filed. No index. Hdw. and typed on ptd. fm.
Admin/Biographical History
The County of Lancaster has given LancasterHistory.org custodial responsibility of this collection.
System of Arrangement
Arranged by year; alphabetical by surname with in year.
Bonds posted by constables, showing names of constable and surety; date and amount of bond; conditions of obligation; signatures of constable, surety, and witnesses; and date filed. Arr. chron. by date filed. No index. Hdw. and typed on ptd. fm.
Admin/Biographical History
The County of Lancaster has given LancasterHistory.org custodial responsibility of this collection.
System of Arrangement
Arranged by year; alphabetical by surname with in year.
Bonds posted by constables, showing names of constable and surety; date and amount of bond; conditions of obligation; signatures of constable, surety, and witnesses; and date filed. Arr. chron. by date filed. No index. Hdw. and typed on ptd. fm.
Admin/Biographical History
The County of Lancaster has given LancasterHistory.org custodial responsibility of this collection.
System of Arrangement
Arranged by year; alphabetical by surname with in year.
Jeremiah Brown’s gristmill account book "B" Little Britain Township, Fulton Township
Description
Jeremiah Brown’s gristmill account book "B" Little Britain Township, Fulton Township
Contains 200 pages, plus a 12 page index of clients and what pages they appear on.
Front cover has a "B" written on it.
"LEDGER" is printed on spine.
BAck cover inside has an "X" written on it.
Book references itemized list of profits and expenses, and the employees of the mill and what they were being compensated for. The profits list ranges from selling and grinding corn, wheat, and rye as well as sawing boards. The recorded expenses for the mill include employee wages, transportation costs, and dry goods such as salt.
This account book also contains several sections of estate planning for multiple individuals.
o Jeremiah Brown records his will and what his children are to inherit from his estate on pg. 1.
o Jeremiah Brown later records a detailed list of what he gave to his daughter Sarah as she married Timothy Hanes on pg. 10.
o Vincent King estate on pg. 102
o Richard Stedman real estate on pg. 104.
Insert 1 - Blue donor card and "The Book Haven" description.
Insert 2 - Nine account loose pieces of paper and a note dated 1814 outlining the transition of the mill from Jeremiah to his son Slater that was found on pg. 171.
Insert 3 - Ten account loose pieces of paper.
Insert 4 - Ten account loose pieces of paper.
Insert 5 - Ten account loose pieces of paper.
Insert 6 - Ten account loose pieces of paper.
Insert 7 - Ten account loose pieces of paper.
Insert 8 - Ten account loose pieces of paper.
Admin/Biographical History
From: Donor Card and "The Book Haven" description card
Jeremiah Brown was born 1750, descended from Joshua Brown. He received his father’s mill in 1775. Jeremiah’s business became quite prosperous and with the help of other prominent figures in Lancaster County, he helped establish the Farmers Bank of Lancaster. Jeremiah’s fathered several children including the honorable Judge Jeremiah Brown and Slater Brown, later leaving the mill to Slater. At the time of his death in 1831, he was thought to be one of the largest stockholders, if not the largest, of the Farmers Bank of Lancaster at 1,000 shares.
Book is in poor condition. Front and back covers are unattached with most of the leather worn off. Spine is completely worn through at places. Paper has foxing and some pages have water damage. Nine pages are unattached. Index tabs A-B, C-D, N-O, W-X and W-Z are missing.
There is no page 2. Pages 201 to 206 are not paginated.
Object ID
MG0963_F010
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Notes
Preferred citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Edmond is recorded as "Black Edmond"
Hannah is recorded as "Black Hannah"
Patrick is recorded as "Black Patrick"
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection items may be photographed. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Persons wishing to publish any material from this site must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Account book of Slater Brown, Little Britain Township, Fulton Township
Description
Account book of Slater Brown, Little Britain Township, Fulton Township.
Contains 197 paginated pages with verticle column lines, plus a 22 page front index and a 22 page up-side-down back index (blank), the tabs of both indexes were cut from the book pages. Also, 3 unpaginated leaves in front of the back index have account information from 1818, 1819 and 1821, plus 9 blank unpaginated in front of the back index.
Front Cover - Inside: "EARLY 19TH CENTURY; GRIST MILL LEDGER OF; SLAYTER BROWN, SON OF;THE QUAKER LEADER; JEREMIAH BROWN OF; PEACH BOTTOM" is written on bottom half.
Front Leaves: Are a 21 tabbed page index. The back sides of each tab are blank.
End Leaves: Are a 20 page tabbed index, The tabs are upside down and the pages are blank.
Back Cover - "Ledger A" is written on the outside of the back cover, back contains an index of clients and what pages they appear on.
Book references an itemized list of client profits and expenses, and the employees of the mill and what they were being compensated for. The profits list ranges from selling and grinding corn, wheat, clover seed, and rye as well as sawing boards. The recorded expenses for the mill include employee wages, transportation costs, and rent. The last page of the account book lists the work done at the schoolhouse in 1818 by helpers Peter and James. Three pressed ferns were also found within the account book (Pages. 1, 19, & 130).
Insert 1 - Blue donor card and 2 page Biographical sheets.
Son of Jeremiah Brown and brother of Judge Jeremiah Brown, Slater Brown was born in 1787 and inherited his father's mill in 1820. After continuing to grow the family mill and business, Slater died in 1855, leaving the mill to his son, Jeremiah Brown Jr.
Binding is damaged, top of back cover is not attached and top of spine has worn to the pages, cover has red rot; the last 33 pages are not attached at the top half of the pages.
Page in front of the back index is missing the bottom ~1".
Object ID
MG0963_F012
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Related Item Notes
Habeas Corpus paper of Letitia Kenady (Habeas 1814 F025)
Notes
Preferred citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Slater Brown has a writ of habeas corpus against him from Letitia Kennedy.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection items may be photographed. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Persons wishing to publish any material from this site must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Account Book of Slater Brown form Little Britain Township and Fulton Township
Description
Account Book of Slater Brown’s gristmill book D, from Little Britain Township and Fulton Township.
Contains 219 paginated ruled leaves with vertical column lines, plus 1 end leaf that is not paginated, and an 20 page index of clients, the last page of which has account information only.
Front Cover: "D." written in black on outside at top; inside has "ISAAC P. COOK" sold by book stamp. Inside cover is marbleized.
Back Cover - Inside cover is marbleized
Spine - "LEDGER" is stamped on the spine and the letter D was written at 3 places.
Front leaves - 2 leaves. The first leaf is marbleized on one side and has x'ed out 2 lines at the top.; second leaf has "Slater Brown Bern?" written on one side.
Back leaf - Only one that is marbleized on one side.
The letter "D" in written in black on the front cover and three times on the spine.
Book references an itemized list of customers profits and expenses, and the employees of the mill and what they were being compensated for. The profits list ranges from selling and grinding corn, wheat, clover seed, and rye as well as sawing boards. The recorded expenses for the mill include employee wages, transportation costs, and rent.
Insert 1 - Blue donor card.
Insert 2 - 8 loose sheets, 3 are small pieces of paper.
Admin/Biographical History
From Donor Card:
Son of Jeremiah Brown and brother of Judge Jeremiah Brown, Slater Brown was born in 1787 and inherited his father's mill in 1820. After continuing to grow the family mill and business, Slater died in 1855, leaving the mill to his son, Jeremiah Brown Jr.
Book cover is damaged but intact. Red rot of cover and spine is present and the leather has worn to the base at places on the edges. Spine has separated at the top rear seam. Spine had "LEDGER" printed on it and what appears to be a vertical 1/2" burn mark at the top.
The following stamp in on the inside cover.
SOLD BY
ISAAC P. COOK,
BOOKSELLER AND STATIONER,
No. 37 Market street,, Baltimore,
Where a general assortment of
Books and Stationary may be
obtained at low prices.
Orders thankfully received.
The front and back page have separated from the spine. Pages are in good condition, except pages 212 through 218, that have a 6 inch section of lower edges roughly worn. This is minor damage.
Object ID
MG0963_F014
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Related Item Notes
Slater Brown has a writ of habeas corpus against him from Letitia Kennedy.
Notes
Preferred citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact Research@LancasterHistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection items may be photographed. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Persons wishing to publish any material from this site must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
