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: James McCord, William Pickel, John Keylor, David Beyer, William B. Smith, Harrison Graham, J. Brown, William McCord, John McClure, Henry Keylor, William Hollis, John Coulter, Charles Rynear, Samuel Good, Daniel McGowan.
3 items, 3 pieces
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of petition: Joseph McClure, William Pickel, Thomas Armstrong, Christopher Graham, George H. Pickel, Daniel McGowan, Jacob Baughman, Amos Rockey, Jacob Moore, J. Miller Pennington, Harrison Graham, J. Franklin Gilleland, David McClure.
3 items, 3 pieces
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of petition: Jeremiah Swisher, William S. Barkley, John N. Galbraith, Samuel McConnel, Alexander Turner, Robert Beyer, Samuel G. Morrison, W. H. Whiteside, C. Blackburn, S. W. Swisher, G. W. Whiteside, James Swisher, William [Nuly], Joshua Eckman, A. D. Whiteside, H. R. Whiteside, William N. Galbraith.
4 items, 4 pieces
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Signers of petition: David Beyer, Charles Ryrear, John Keylor Sr., Josiah McIlwain, John Graham, Thomas McClure, Edward Thomas, Daniel McGowan, Harrison Graham, Robert A. Ferguson, John McClure, William McCord, [J. Brown].
Bond: J. M. Pennington, Edward Thomas.
Receipt to keep a tavern.
3 items, 3 pieces
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.