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."
Signers of Petition: Peter Martin, Jacob [Fanckhouzer], Richard Davis, Samuel Martin, Samuel Franckhouser, John McColm, Isaac Frey, [J. F. Miller], R. N. Davis, David Bixler, [signature in German], John Miller, Jacob Colden, Jacob Kerns, Henry Mayer, William [Gehlabach], George Martin.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of Petition: George Martin, Mikal Martin, Isaac Martin, William Schlabach, Henry Fankhouser, Jacob Fanckhouser, Jacob Kern, Isaac Frey, Peter Martin, John Lesly, Isaac Weaver, Isaiah McCarty, John McCohm, Isaac Bicker.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.