This collection contains letters written to U.S. Army Private
George L. Caley during his service in World War II. The correspondence is from his parents and siblings in Philadelphia, aunts and uncles and friends in Columbia, Lancaster County, and friends from Millersville University. Many of his friends are also in the service and write to him of their experiences. The letters contain family and local news, as well as news of friends and family in the service.
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."
Located on the Downingtown, Ephrata and Harrisburg turnpike.
Petition granted.
April term.
Signers of petition: R. R. Heitler, Barton H. McCord, John Gross, Andrew Uhrich, George Norton, Daniel Bitzer, John Miskly, Christian Meckly, Alexander Martin, [signature in German], Joseph Gorgas, William Amweg.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Located on the Downingtown, Ephrata and Harrisburg turnpike, nearly equal distance Ephrata and Hinkletown.
Formerly kept by N. Schmoyer.
Petition granted.
April term.
Signers of petition: Joseph Gorgas, Daniel Bitzer, [signature in German], Samuel Kemper, David Groff, David Kemper, Christian Oberholtzer, D. S. Groff, [signature in German], Henry Stoner, John B. Bitzer, Christopher [Miekly], Jacob Hecker.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Renunciations are papers filed in the Orphans' Court by executors of an estate who do not wish to administer that estate. They show the name of the decedent, the decedent's place of residence, the name of the person renouncing administration, the name of the replacement administrator to be appointed, and date. The relationship between the decedent, the executor, and the administrator is usually shown. Arranged chronologically and then alphabetically within each year.
System of Arrangement
Arranged chronologically and then alphabetically within each year.
