Petitions filed for admission to citizenship. Documents may contain: petition number, date, name, nationality, declaration of intention, oath of allegiance, affidavits of witnesses, date admitted in court, and official signatures. Twentieth century petitions may include notes of testimony.
Lancaster County Archives, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
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LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
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Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection, Title and Object ID, Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
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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
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Transfer documents submitted to transfer naturalization application from one court jurisdiction to another. Documents may include: transfer application with name, petition number, occupation, last and current address, birthday and birthplace, birthday and birthplace for spouse and children; correspondence; and photograph of applicant.
Naturalization duplicates are certificates filed as a record of those who were admitted as citizens, showing name, local address, age, date of admission, date certificate issued by Court of Common Pleas, petition number, and certificate number. Signed by applicant. Arranged numerically by certificate number.
Orders of court for naturalization are lists of names of those the court has granted or denied citizenship, showing name, date, petition number, name of beneficiary, change of name, and cause for denial or continuance.
Notebook of DAR citizenship committee contains documents related to naturalization including information pamphlets and directions, lists of people who were naturalized, newspaper clippings, and programs from Naturalization Day Luncheons.
Oath of Allegiance notebook contains oath of allegiance applications, showing name, date, address, occupation, birthday and birthplace, physical Description spouse name, spouse birthday and birthplace, and petition number. Notebook also contains an index. Arranged numerically by petition number.
Lancaster County Archives, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Copies
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection, Title and Object ID, Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
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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
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Forms declaring intention to become a U.S. citizen, showing declaration number, date, name, local address, age, birthday and birthplace, occupation, physical description race, nationality, marital status, dates and birthplaces of spouse and children, ports and dates of embarkation and entry, and ship name.
Lancaster County Archives, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Copies
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection, Title and Object ID, Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
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Credit
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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 African-Americans, convicted prisoners, those awaiting trial, relatives of prisoners, parties in child custody disputes, and relatives of army recruits and draftees. Handwritten, handwritten on printed forms, and a very few typewritten.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection, Title and Object ID, Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
These papers are cataloged individually and may be searched in the online collection database. https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/
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Record of habeas corpus proceedings, showing dates of issue and return, names of defendant and custodian of prisoner, nature of writ, time and place of delivery, and disposition. Incomplete index in the back of the docket. Handwritten.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection, Title and Object ID, Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
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Credit
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Stenographic notes taken in naturalization proceedings, showing court term; petition number; names of petitioner, judge, and attorneys; nature of testimony; place of birth; official signatures; and date filed.
Lancaster County Archives, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
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LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
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Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection, Title and Object ID, Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
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Please request at Reference Desk or Research@LancasterHistory.org.
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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.
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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.
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.
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Transcribed testimony of witnesses taken at various locations away from the courtroom, including out of state. Show names of parties in the cases, attorneys involved, date and location of deposition, and name of deponent. Handwritten.
System of Arrangement
Arranged by court term and case number, even though deposition could be filed several years after original action.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection, Title and Object ID, Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
A volunteer sorted through this collection in 2013 and matched documents with cases in the NARRS collection.
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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
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Papers filed in judgment proceedings, where the court made the final decision after a lawsuit, showing court term, case number, names of parties and attorneys, nature of claims, amount involved, and date filed.
System of Arrangement
Arranged by court term, then numerically by case number.
Lancaster County Archives, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection, Title and Object ID, Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Only available on microfilm. See microfilm finding aid.
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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
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Petitions from landowners to the Court of Common Pleas requesting an order to the sheriff to issue deeds for property purchased at the previous sheriff's land sales. Petitions show names of petitioner, former owner, and former sheriff; signature of petitioner; a brief description of the property; location; purchase price; and date. Most are handwritten on printed forms.
System of Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by year, then alphabetically by purchaser's name.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection, Title and Object ID, Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Petitions to Make Sheriff's Deeds may be searched in the online collection database. https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/
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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
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These softbound volumes contain records of payments owed to winners of court cases against certain banks. Index at front lists banks mentioned. Each bank list includes names of parties involved, court term, date, case number, amount owed by bank and record of judgment and/or payment.
Contents and Object IDs:
Vol. 1 (1810-1819) RG 01-00 [1860]-005
Vol. 2 (1855) RG 01-00 [1860]-010
System of Arrangement
Each list is arranged chronologically by court term and date.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection, Title and Object ID, Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
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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
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These volumes contain the court records of Justices of the Peace. Records include names of the parties, costs, judgment, date, and court term. Arranged chronologically by date of hearing. Indexed by the surname of the plaintiff.
Volumes 1 and 2 are the records of Edward Smith of Earl Twp. Volume 3 contains the records of Charles Robinson.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection, Title and Object ID, Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
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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
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These hardbound volumes list records of cases for trial, showing the names of the plaintiff and defendant, the complaint, outcome, and costs. Entered chronologically by term date. Handwritten.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection, Title and Object ID, Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
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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
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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.
These are records of the proceedings in the Court of Common Pleas, showing court terms and case numbers, the names of parties and presiding attorneys, the cause of action, disposition, and date filed. Handwritten.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection, Title and Object ID, Box #, Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
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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
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These volumes contain records of civil proceedings, showing court terms and case numbers, the names of the plaintiffs and defendants, the attorneys presiding, the type and nature of instrument, cause of action, and disposition. Handwritten.
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
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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
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Writ of summons to defendants to appear in court to answer plea against them, showing dates of issue and return, court term and case number, names of parties, cause of action, official seal and signatures, and date filed. Summons are for Court of Common Pleas, as well as District Court. No index. Handwritten on printed form.
System of Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by date filed.
Date Range
1762-1895 inc.
Year Range From
1762
Year Range To
1895
Date of Accumulation
1762-1864, 1866-1895. Documents for 1865 are missing.
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. If requesting a summons, please allow staff extra time to fufill search for the document.
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
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Writs from appellate courts directing the Court of Common Pleas to send all documents relating to cases appealed to them. Show names of parties in the case, attorneys, and judges. The documents sent to and returned from the higher court are usually attached. These documents could include charges, depositions, and findings. May also include a list of exceptions from the higher court giving its reasons for overturning the lower court's decision. Handwritten and handwritten on printed forms.
System of Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by court session, and therein by case number.
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.
