Papers filed for construction and repair of bridges. The types of petitions presented to the Court of Quarter Sessions include: petitions for bridge construction and repair, petitions for inspections, and petitions for bridge funds. Other types of items include: specifications, proposals, and contracts for bridge construction and repair; bridge blueprints and plans; correspondence; bills for materials; and bridge condition reports. Many papers show date; court term and case number; names of petitioners, viewers, inspectors, and contractors; costs and fees; location of bridge; and name or number of bridge. The order and report of viewers documents are of particular interest as they usually include a copy of the original petition; the order and names of viewers to inspect the site; the public announcement for the viewers meeting; the report and recommendation of viewers, often with a drawing of the site and surrounding area; and the court decision.
System of Arrangement
Records are arranged by township, then chronologically within each township.
Letter to Absalom Dubree, surveyor in Little Britain Twp. from James [ ] in Lower Oxford Twp., Chester County, regarding a delay in settlement on a house for John Kirk & Hambleton. 22 March 1835.
Letter to Absalom Dubree at Buck, Drumore Twp. from Jeremiah Brown in Goshen asking him to survey a piece of land they wish to sell. 18 November 1841.
Letter to Absalom Dubree in Buck, Drumore Twp. from someone compiling a history of Lancaster County and looking for Dr. Chandler's papers with history on Little Britain Twp., Colerain Twp., and Drumore Twp. that the doctor thought were with Dubree. 31 December 1842.
Admin/Biographical History
Absalom Dubree (1780-1859) was a noted scrivener and surveyor. He was born in Chester County, lived in Drumore Twp. and Little Britain Twp., and is buried at Penn Hill Friends Burial Ground in Fulton Twp.
Jeremiah Brown was a congressman and abolitionist. He was elected to the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1826 and to the PA Constitutional Convention of 1837. He represented Pennsylvania's 4th and 8th Districts in the United States House of Representatives from 1841 to 1845 and served as an associate judge for Lancaster County from 1851 to 1856.
Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
