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: Alexander Morrison, John H. Swisher, Jeremiah Swisher, A. B. Magough, Samuel G. Morrison, George W. Swisher, James Swisher, David Miller, William N. Galbraith, John Walker, A. D. Whiteside, Abram McConnel, Frederic McLenaghan, David Walker, James D. Harrar, Robert Beyer.
Bond: James Swisher, Jeremiah Swisher.
Receipt to keep tavern.
3 items, 3 pieces
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
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.
Signers of Petition: Charles Brooke Jr., Samuel Stafford, William Harrar, Daniel Harrar, Coughran McCanaghan, Abraham D. Whiteside, Robert Jackson, William P. Galbraith, John B. Harrar, Henry Webb, James Clark, Robert Beyer, William Hogg, James Swisher, Henry Swisher, William Neely, Joseph Parker, Abraham McConnel.
1 item, 1 piece
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at Reference Desk; photocopy made by staff member.
Images used by Dr. Henry Wentz, a physician from Strasburg, for various slide lectures on the history of medicine in southern Lancaster County. See also MG-235, Henry S. Wentz, M. D. Collection.
Images used by Dr. Henry Wentz, a physician from Strasburg, for various slide lectures on the history of medicine in southern Lancaster County. See also MG-235, Henry S. Wentz, M. D. Collection.
