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.
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.
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.
Located at intersection of road leading from Strasburg to Charlestown and Battleswamp.
Formerly occupied by Arthur Andrews.
Petition granted.
November term.
Signers of Petition: James Jackson, John Whiteside, E. K. [Dare], [unknown signature], Arthur Andrews, William Whiteside, William Barcley, Hugh McCullough, Joseph Paxson, Robert Patterson, James Patterson, William Scott, Cyrus Milner, James Johnson.
1 Item, 1 Piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Located from the street from Summerset in Chester County, ot the Unicorn in Lancaster County, a distance of 10 miles
Petition granted.
November term.
Signers of Petition: Samuel Pusey, Hugh McCullough, James Patterson, John Hays, Charles Hays, James Jackson, Martin Eckman, William Whiteside, J. Baxter, Mahlon Pusey, James Patterson, Jr., John Hays, Jr., John Ecklin, Peter Ash, James McCommon, Samuel Jackson, Philip Donahey, John Montgomery, John Johnson, John Whitside, John Maxton, William Clark, John Crawford, Peter Hastings, Samuel Crawford, Robert Wright, Alexander Morrison, Alexander W. Morrison, Robert E. Morrison, Alexander Morrison, Jr., Samuel Morrison, J. M. Kitpatrick, William Bunting.
1 Item, 1 Piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Located on the Street Road from Summerset in Chester County, till the Unicorn in Lancaster County, a distance of 10 miles.
Petition not granted.
August term.
Signers of Petition: Robert Anderson, James Patterson, John Hays, Abner Davis, William Hogg, David Jackson, John H. Jr., James Jackson, Hugh McCullough, Alexander Morrison, Patrick Brown, Peter Hastings, J. M. Kilpatrick, Charles Hays, Isaac Milner, Robert Whiteside, John Hastings, John Ecklin, Samuel Jackson, Samuel Pusey, William Bunting, Samuel Baughman, Boltzes Droucker.
1 Item, 1 Piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.