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Images of cash books, daybooks, ledgers, journals, receipt book, vouchers, payroll requisitions, and related types of records kept by the Wardens of the Port of Philadelphia. more Information provided varies with type of record but generally documents revenue received and expenditures made by the Wardens in the course of carrying out their duties. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images of lists of attorneys granted permission to practice in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. In order to practice at this level, attorneys were required to more have a sponsor. Information given includes names of attorney and sponsor, and date of admission. From 1903 on, either the county of residence or the place of admission of the attorney are also noted. At the end of the first volume (1742-1902) is a "List of attorneys of the Supreme Court of the Province of Pennsylvania admitted at various times previous to the Revolution," which is noted as having been copied from "Sheriff's Deed Book B," and which shows the names of the attorneys, and their dates of admission. For related records, see link below. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Please visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images of a record of appellate cases in the Supreme Court, Western District. Cases deal with issues under the Court's mandatory and discretionary jurisdiction. Cases falling more within the Court's mandatory jurisdiction dealt with capital punishment, questions of constitutionality, finance and revenue, elections, and others. Cases falling within the Court's discretionary jurisdiction included cases where two intermediate courts had opposing decisions or cases that posed open questions of law, among others. Entries for each case list: the plaintiff (appellant) and defendant (appellee); the names of the attorneys appearing for the parties; the county and the lower courts from which the appellate cases arose; a chronological listing of the documents filed and proceedings held in the case; and the Court's subsequent decision or orders. Justices delivering the opinions are often noted, and from 1795 to 1836, the name of the prothonotary recording the case is entered. During the period 1894-1919, many of the dockets contain statistical summaries concerning the number and types of cases processed, and from 1930 to 1965, penciled notations are found that refer to the published cases and opinions of the Supreme Court in the Pennsylvania State Reports. A reference number that indicates when the case was recorded as having been argued in the Court Minute Books appears from 1935 onwards. Docket sheets dating after 2000 were printed from an electronic database and may contain a report date postdating the docket date. Dockets postdating 2000 may also be found online through the Administrative Offices of the Pennsylvania Courts' website. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images of records of cases brought before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in the Eastern District. An Appearance Docket generally documents the initial proceedings of a more case, while actions taken months or years later after the appearance docket entry was completed, are listed in a continuance docket. Different types of dockets are found for different periods. From 1740 through September of 1795, the volumes may be either Appearance or Continuance Dockets, or combinations of both. From December of 1795 until 1829, there are generally both types of dockets for each term. From December of 1830 through 1837, however, only Continuance Dockets are found, while from 1838 on, all volumes are in the form of Appearance Dockets. Information provided by docket entries may include court term and case number; names of parties and their attorneys; names of county and lower courts from which the appellate case arose; a chronological listing of documents filed and proceedings held; and the court's decision on subsequent orders. For a more in-depth study of particular cases see the (RG-033-A-13) Appearance Papers, 1858-1879. less

Images of dockets of appeals petitioned to the Supreme Court, Eastern District. Information given for each case includes the dates of returnable papers; arguments and opinions; more the decision rendered; the names of the plaintiff(s), defendant(s), and their respective attorneys; and the corresponding case number. For eighteenth and nineteenth century dockets, the date that an original writ was issued by the Supreme Court, and whether it was a summons, capias or writ of error, is also noted. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Please visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images of appointments and commissions issued for civil officers. Information given is name of appointee, name of Governor or commission making the appointment, the position to more which appointed, date of appointment, and the term of the appointment. Microfilm covers the period through 1944. For names of applicants who applied for positions for the period 1775-1790 see "Guide to the Microfilm of the Records of Pennsylvania's Revolutionary Governments, 1775-1790," by Roland M. Baumann. Related records will be found in the following series in Record Group 27, Records of Pennsylvania's Revolutionary Governments: Appointment Book, 1777-1790 series 27.19; Appointments File, Military, 1775-1790 series 27.20; and Appointments File, Political, 1775-1790 series 27.21. For more related and duplicate records, see also, Commission Books, 1775-1842 series 26.46. See internal links below. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images of gubernatorial appointments and commissions. Information usually provided is name of appointee, name of Governor or Commission making the appointment, the title of the position more to which applicant was appointed, the date of appointment, term of the appointment, Gubernatorial certificate signed by the Governor and Secretary of the Commonwealth, and Senate confirmation letter. Correspondence was generally sent on behalf of applicants and may sometimes provide more detailed information about an applicant. The microfilm covers the period through 1808. For names of applicants who applied for positions during the period 1775-1790 see "Guide to the Microfilm of the Records of Pennsylvania's Revolutionary Governments, 1775-1790," by Roland M. Bauman. Related records are in the following series of Records Group 27, Records of Pennsylvania's Revolutionary Governments: Appointment Book, 1777-1790 series 27.19; Appointments File, Military, 1775-1790 series 27.20; and Appointments File, Political, 1775-1790 series 27.21. Also see, MG-001, Appointments and Commissions Collection. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

The documents within this series were extracted from their original series files in 1925 due to their unique historical value. They contain valuable autographs of national more or state figures, including such notables as William Penn, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, Henry Knox, James Madison, Henry Clay, Dr. Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Jared Ingersoll, General Peter Muhlenberg, William Bingham, Gouvernoeur Morris, James Wilson, General Anthony Wayne, and Gilbert Stuart. Some of the documents contained in this series fill major gaps in the original series and include a land grant of 1683, inventory sheets of real estate for attained citizens, papers relating to various court cases, depositions of Benjamin Franklin and Henry Clay, rules of court, petitions, affidavits, and recognizances. Disclaimer: The Pennsylvania State Archives provides digital access to a wide variety of historical documents, some of which may be considered offensive by current standards. The Archives does not endorse views expressed in these historical collections, but presents these collections to aid in scholarly research. less

Images of the earliest surviving records of the Commonwealth including William Penn's charter from King Charles II, the earliest frames of government for the province, the more deeds by which Pennsylvania lands were purchased from the American Indian tribes, copies of all of the state constitutions and Pennsylvania's copy of the federal constitution. less

Collection of accounts of boundaries surveyed include Delaware River Jurisdiction, the Northern Boundary, the Virginia Boundary, the Western Boundary, and the Wyoming Controversy with Connecticut. Detailed more accounts of expenditures during the boundary surveys of the mentioned years contain records of all people paid by the state for performing the surveys, and the amount of their reimbursement. The accounts of prominent surveyors, such as William Armstrong and Stephen Porter, are included along with their correspondence to the Comptroller General. There are also detailed lists of bills and receipts for items purchased by the surveyors, and the wages which they paid their laborers. In addition, there are account listings of expenditures during the Wyoming Controversy for the years 1782 through 1810. This grouping includes ledgers of pay to militiamen, receipts of supplies purchased, bills from various surveyors, and certificates of indebtedness from Pennsylvania to landowners who were removed from their property because of the controversy. Images are arranged alphabetically according to boundaries surveyed and thereunder chronologically according to the years in which the survey took place. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

Images of various documents filed with the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, including petitions, transcripts, maps of streets and land tracts, copies of opinions, affidavits, wills, charges more of the court, and the Orphan's Court Rules for Northampton County in 1842. Of interest may be a writ of error from the United States Supreme Court authorized by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney in the 1860 case of The Pennsylvania Railroad Company v. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and papers concerning the case of Charles Fatman v. Armstrong County, Pennsylvania (1862). Also included is a series previously titled Reports, 1814-1885, which contains reports of Auditors, Examiners and Masters. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Please visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images of case files for cases brought before the Court of Admiralty in Philadelphia. Included in the files are descriptions of the proceedings, copies of the more record, lists of evidence, depositions, true bills (of indictment), subpoenas, and account records of the ships in question. Information provided typically includes date of session, names of parties and ships involved, descriptions of the courtroom proceedings and case background, and the outcome of the case. Of interest may be the case of George Gibbs vs. the Brigantine "Two Friends." Gibbs' ship, the brigantine "Susanna," was seized as a prize of war by the Dutch ship "Two Friends," and included in the file are both Dutch and English copies of documents used as evidence. Also of interest may be the case of the brigantine "Betsey", which was appealed to the Pennsylvania High Court of Errors and Appeals and tried in 1795 by the Vice Admiralty Court of Bermuda. Other cases include those of the brig "Patty," the ship "L'Empreur," the ship "Elizabeth," "Shaw vs. the ship "Lethe," James Montgomery vs. James Wharton, the Commonwealth vs. Caspar Israelow, and Anderson et. al. vs. Forbes (Commander of the ship "Dolphin"). Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images of primarily petitions for clemency addressed to the President of the Supreme Executive Council, the Governor, or the Board of Pardons and pardon proclamations issued more by the Governor, but also remissions of forfeitures, extracts of pardons and remissions, copies of death warrants, court transcripts, newspaper notices, and related trial records. Information found varies with each dossier and time period. While for some cases only the name of the person seeking clemency, a description of the nature of the offense, and the sentence or fine imposed is provided, others may give the persons occupation and particulars about his or her personal life and family. Information given in the pardon proclamations is the name of the person pardoned, the name of the court where convicted, a description of the crime, the name of the presiding judge, sentence imposed, name of the institution where incarcerated, the grounds upon which a pardon was sought, the names of those who supported the petition, and the date the pardon was granted. In a few instances, photographs of the prisoners are also present. Disclaimer: The Pennsylvania State Archives provides digital access to a wide variety of historical documents, some of which may be considered offensive by current standards. The Archives does not endorse views expressed in these historical collections, but presents these collections to aid in scholarly research. less

Images of dockets that list subsequent actions taken and papers filed in a case after the initial entry in another docket. Information given includes names of more plaintiff and defendant; original court term; and nature of the actions. Disclaimer: Not all records in this series are digitized. Please visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. The Pennsylvania State Archives provides digital access to a wide variety of historical documents, some of which may be considered offensive by current standards. The Archives does not endorse views expressed in these historical collections, but presents these collections to aid in scholarly research. less

Images of reports of inquisitions conducted by a County Coroner and a twelve man panel who had viewed a body attesting to the cause of death. more These inquests determined the need for criminal prosecutions, and were used as the basis for conviction at the grand jury inquest if needed. Information provided includes name of decedent; date and cause of death; date of inquest; and county in which it took place. Causes of death listed include criminal acts (assault, murder); medical problems (poison, drinking water, apoplexy, flu, burns, fits, palsey, opium overdoses, and suffocation); and accidents (drowning, being hit by falling trees and logs, sleepwalking out a window, falling from buildings, horses, ladders, and chairs, or into wells, and being run over by wagons or horses, or both). Other causes listed are suicide, natural causes, and "upon the visitation of God." Places where inquests were conducted include Berks, Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, Delaware, Northampton, and Northumberland Counties, and Philadelphia. Other documents sometimes included with the inquisitions are Sheriff's Inquests and Grand Jury Inquests for Oyer and Terminer in Bucks County, death verifications, and witness depositions. Disclaimer: The Pennsylvania State Archives provides digital access to a wide variety of historical documents, some of which may be considered offensive by current standards. The Archives does not endorse views expressed in these historical collections, but presents these collections to aid in scholarly research. less

Images of certified returns for election of candidates to federal, state, and local offices. Information given is date of election, name of each candidate, the total more number of votes each polled, office to which elected, and signatures of county officers who certified the results. less

This collection contains account records of payments authorized by the Comptroller General's office for services rendered by such county officers as sheriffs, prothonotaries, and clerks of more court or by orders of the county court of quarter sessions or other courts. Among these are lists of fines and forfeitures imposed upon defendants in the court of quarter sessions for the peace in the county or other county courts. Information generally provided in the account prerecord is the date the payment was authorized by the county commissioners, amount of payment, name and office held by person receiving payment, signatures of the commissioners authorizing payment, signature of the State Treasurer, and date payment was recorded in the Register General's Office. The lists of the fines and forfeitures incurred generally give the name of the county sheriff, names of the persons fined, nature of the offense, when offense occurred, amount of fine, and remarks. Also found are account papers for payment of expenses incurred for transporting election return results. Images are arranged alphabetically by county and thereunder by surname of county officer. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

A record of county tax accounts. Information about each county includes detailed quotas of taxes owed by each county, listing of effective supplies and the amount more of taxes paid in each county. Also documented within the county records are the names of various taxpayers, the amount of land they held and the taxes paid upon it, the date taxes were received and the amount still owed. Records document carriage, land, funding, excise, and supply taxes paid by each county. Images are arranged alphabetically by county. Counties are indexed within a separate ledger with page numbers, corresponding to a larger account book, listed to right of each county. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

Images of death warrants signed by the Governor. Information given is condemned prisoners name, nature of the crime, location of trial, and execution date. In most more cases the name of the official charged with carrying out the sentence is also recorded, and occasionally clemency petitions and trial transcripts are found. Also present are lists of the names of convicted persons and correspondence acknowledging receipt of death warrants. Disclaimer: The Pennsylvania State Archives provides digital access to a wide variety of historical documents, some of which may be considered offensive by current standards. The Archives does not endorse views expressed in these historical collections, but presents these collections to aid in scholarly research. less

This series contains information about the following Delaware River fortifications: Fort Mifflin, Billingsport and Redbank, and Mud Island. Information about each fortification includes an account of more wages paid to laborers, the names of the laborers, and the dates on which the labor was performed. The receipt books of payments to laborers are arranged chronologically by the date of payment. Also included in this series are detailed receipts for goods bought to supply of the fortifications. Images are arranged by specific fortification, although not alphabetically. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

Contained within the accounts files are dated Depreciation Interest Certificates, 1782-1787, which normally list the name and rank of the soldier, the military organization to which more he was attached, and the amount of the interest. A published account of this record appears in Pennsylvania Archives, Fifth Series, Volume IV. Images are grouped by military unit, and thereunder arranged alphabetically by surname of soldier. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

Images of case files for divorce cases brought before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in the Eastern District. Documents filed may include petitions (libels) for divorce, more subpoenas for divorce, interrogatories, depositions, and decrees for divorce. In the divorce process, the original petition was made to the Supreme Court, accusing either the wife or husband of a particular marriage offense, and asking the Court to force his or her appearance before the justices. The Court would then issue a warrant for the appearance of the libellee, and questions would be drawn and statements taken for the libellant and libellee. The Court would then render its decision. Information provided by these papers includes names of the couple; date married; court term and case number; and reason for divorce. less

Images of a record of cases brought before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in the Middle District. Information provided about each case may include names of more parties; a brief description of the case; an explanation regarding its origin; by what means it reached the Supreme Court (by writ of error, certiorari or appeal); where the case was filed; and amounts of court costs incurred. After 1810, the final decision of the court is also noted. The dockets also contain entries giving the location of the court for various sessions, and the names of the justices who presided; as well as notations of adjournment motions, rules adopted concerning payment made to the Court, and other court actions. less

On September 29, 1787 "An Act to Declare and Regulate Escheats" became law. According to it, the law established a process by which the Commonwealth would more incorporate the real and personal property of persons who died intestate or without heirs. For the execution of this, the Supreme Council commissioned an Escheator-General; specifically John Nicholson (also Comptroller-General), Clement Biddle, and William Irwin. A deputy was appointed for each county. Deputies mentioned include Thomas Sergeant (Bucks), Isaac Darlington (Chester), Robert Porter (Montgomery) and Collinson Reed (Berks). These officers held an inquisition and rendered a decision concerning the escheated property. Inquisitors were warranted by the county sheriff and testimony of witnesses was taken. If the escheators court found no claim or will the property was turned over to the state. Otherwise, claimants were to appear at the next session of the Supreme Court. This process was changed by act of Assembly on April 2, 1821 when the auditor general assumed duties of the escheator general and the Courts of Common Pleas replaced the Supreme Court. Images of documents included in this series are: Inquisition Returns, Warrants, Claims on Estates, Testimony, Jury Lists, Estate Inventories, and Certificates of Marriage. Also within this series are commissions for the deputy escheators and for the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth from the governor. For further information see records of the Department of the Auditor General and records from the Office of the Comptroller General. less

Images of records of Supreme Court cases in which the execution of the Court's judgment was carried out to enforce payment of debts. Information provided by more the dockets includes names of plaintiff, defendant, and their attorneys; suit and court costs; and the nature of the judgment and of the action of the court to recover costs. less

Images of executive correspondence of the governors of Pennsylvania maintained by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Subject matter is wide ranging and covers all aspects of more official gubernatorial activity. In addition to the loose documents, the correspondence covering 1861-1866 includes the Curtin Letterbooks, two volumes of gubernatorial correspondence, both incoming and outgoing, focusing on military matters. Correspondents include Simon Cameron, Edwin Stanton, and Abraham Lincoln. An unpublished descriptive inventory and index for the Curtin Letterbooks are available in the Pennsylvania State Archives Search Room. Disclaimer: The Pennsylvania State Archives provides digital access to a wide variety of historical documents, some of which may be considered offensive by current standards. The Archives does not endorse views expressed in these historical collections, but presents these collections to aid in scholarly research. less

A record of persons whose estates were seized because of their allegiance to the British crown during the Revolutionary War, and for other sundry reasons. Data more provided by this series about each forfeited estate includes date of seizure by the state, name of the owner, and appraisal of the goods on the estate. Names of purchasers of seized goods and the prices they paid at auction are listed, as well as the date of sale. Additionally, the series contains records from the justices of the peace and the supreme court for fees imposed for administering the oath of allegiance, and court orders for payment of funds to sundry persons from the various forfeited estates. Names of the agents of forfeiture for each county are also included along with their receipts for expenditures, and the amount of money they delivered to the treasury from the seized estates. Images are grouped according to volumes: General accounts, alphabetically by county, and alphabetically by the surname of person whose land was forfeit. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

This series contains numerous folios, with detailed information, relating to the debt of the Commonwealth. Contained within these records are accounts of depreciation certificates, when they more were received, and when they were redeemed; specified interest rates and interest paid on funded depreciation, debt and militia certificates. The names of those persons possessing funded depreciation, debt, or militia certificates can frequently be found, and the date of purchase of those certificates. Also included in this series are original debt certificates which give the name of the purchaser, the date purchased, and the amount of the certificate. Images are unarranged, see the PA State Archives for a volume level listing. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

This series includes letters, reports, notes, drafts of letters and accounts, and copies of taxation acts dating from 1776-1809. The majority of the correspondence comes from more county tax collectors, other county or militia officers, and state officers asking for the reimbursement of outstanding bills or explaining why their accounts are late or out of order. Also included is correspondence from the U.S. Congress, the Commonwealth Assembly, and the Council of Censors. These letters include requests for payments to various officials, bills for services provided by laborers, and requests for account books to be audited. Extracts from minutes of the Pennsylvania Assembly, Congress, and Council of Censors regarding expenditures, receipts, and orders of payment affecting the Comptroller General are also included. Miscellaneous letters from taxpayers regarding their inability to pay and questioning the rate at which they were taxed, as well as letters from soldier's widows who never received their husbands pay are also contained within this series. The General Correspondence has a rather complex arrangement. For the most part, it is arranged chronologically by the month, day and year letters were written. If there is no date for when they were written, letters are filed by the month, day and year they were received by the Comptroller General. Records that do not note the day they were written or received are filed at the end of the month and year they are dated. If only the year the record was written or received is known, it is filed after December 31 for that year. Copies of records are filed by the date they were copied. If there is no copy date, they are filed under the date of they were received. Correspondence lacking dates entirely is filed under "no date" [n.d.]. If the correspondence was addressed to a Comptroller General, they are filed at the end of his term(s) of office. Undated records without addresses are filed in the back of carton 15. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

Images of records of criminal cases heard and adjudged in Allegheny, Bedford, Berks, Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Huntingdon, Lancaster, Luzerne, Lycoming, Montgomery, Northampton, more Northumberland, Philadelphia, Washington, Westmoreland, and York Counties. Information provided includes dates of sessions; names of defendant, witnesses, judges, sheriff, grand jurors and petite jurors involved; nature of crime committed (ranging from misdemeanors to high treason, and including crimes related to Blacks); the verdict; and the sentence. The prosecution may have been either the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or the United States ("Republica"). less

This docket contains images of two separate sections, one being a record of rules, resolves and orders of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and the other, more a record of divorce cases brought before that court. The section entitled "General Motions" (1750-1837) documents the administrative workings of the Supreme Court by listing decisions made concerning general procedures, as well as specific cases. Topics include dealing with writs of habeas corpus and certiorari; pleas by general issue; new trials in arrest of judgment; admission of attorneys; the exchange of pleas and responses; filing times for affidavits; acts of assembly pertaining to the court; the setting or court dates for the Supreme, Circuit and Nisi Prius Courts; and the deaths and appointments of Chief Justices, Associate Justices, Prothonotaries, Criers, Commissioners of Bail and Tipstaffs. Of particular interest is a libel case brought against Eleazer Oswald, publisher of "The Independent Gazetteer or the Chronicle of Freedom" (1782). The "Divorce Docket" (1800-1805) contains copies of original petitions for divorce, as well as of the Court's judgments. Information provided includes names of husband and wife; reason for filing the divorce petition (abandonment, adultery, cruelty, previous unended marriage, etc.); names of referees; and the nature of the final judgment. less

Images of an account of vessels arrived kept by Captain Nathaniel Falconer, Health Officer of the Port of Philadelphia. Information provided is date of arrival, description more of vessel, name of vessel, name of commander, name of port from which last sailed, record of vessels visited and fee collected, and the number of passengers and servants on each vessel. Disclaimer: The Pennsylvania State Archives provides digital access to a wide variety of historical documents, some of which may be considered offensive by current standards. The Archives does not endorse views expressed in these historical collections, but presents these collections to aid in scholarly research. less

Images of a register of the names of passengers and servants arrived at the Port of Philadelphia that was returned to Health Officer Captain Nathaniel Falconer more by the commanders of the vessels. Information provided is date of entry, name of vessel, name of commander, and name of each passenger and servant. Disclaimer: The Pennsylvania State Archives provides digital access to a wide variety of historical documents, some of which may be considered offensive by current standards. The Archives does not endorse views expressed in these historical collections, but presents these collections to aid in scholarly research. less

A joint effort between Register General John Donaldson and Comptroller General John Nicholson to provide state debt data to the Treasurer. Six columns divide the data more into the following categories: column one has a number that is brought forward on each page; column two has a one or two digit number that can either be in a pattern or randomly placed; three has a four or five digit number; four is titled "brought up" and contains few numbers, most of which are three to five digits long; five uses the same system as three but the numbers are not consistent in each row; and six holds a number. In all probability, these indents are a record of the U.S. certificates issued in Pennsylvania at the close of the American Revolution for interest due on the public debt. Images are arranged alphabetically by surname. This collection is part of the Office of the Register General which was created in 1789. less

Images of an index to RG-033-A-75 - Naturalization Papers, 1794-1819, 1821-1868, filed with the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in the Eastern District. Information provided by entries more in Volume 1 of the index (1794-1824) includes name of alien, date of admission as a citizen, and occasionally the filing date of the declaration of intention. Volume 2 (1842-1868) shows names of aliens and numbers of their petitions for naturalization, although all of these petitions were not necessarily accepted. less

This collection contains an inventory of goods delivered to various Indian nations in the Commonwealth, as well as promissory notes to these nations for the purchase more of land from them. The financial records of the Indian Commissioners for Pennsylvania are also included in this series. These records contain accounts, bills, and receipts of money spent on goods for the Commissioners; and a general record of expenses incurred by the Commissioners during their tenure. Images are unarranged. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

Images of a record book containing the transcripts of royal charters and Indian deeds. The Indian deed entries give the date, the names of the Indian more grantors, a description of the boundaries of the tract, the amount and nature of payment, and the pictograms used by the grantors as their signature, and sometimes letters from witnesses attesting that whey were present at the signing. Also present is a transcript of a document concerning laying out the Mason-Dixon Line and several maps. All of the above Indian deeds, together with other Pennsylvania and Delaware Indian treaties, that were completed through 1756 have been published in Early American Indian Documents, Treaties and Laws, Pennsylvania and Delaware Treaties, 1607-1789 edited by Alden T. Vaughan and Donald H. Kent (2 volumes, Washington, D.C., 1979, 1984). less

This series includes account ledgers and receipt books of supplies bought for the various internal improvements. The names of the commissioners presiding over the building projects more are given as well as the names of some suppliers, the quantity of goods bought, and the amount paid. Pay schedules for workers are sometimes included and show the name of the laborer, occupation, and rate of pay. Specific accounts for improvement of the Philadelphia Courthouse to accommodate Congress, the building of the President's mansion, and the costs for moving the seat of the Commonwealth's government from Philadelphia to Lancaster are also included in this series. River survey accounts for improvements include the Delaware, Juniata, Lehigh, Schuylkill, and Susquehanna. General survey accounts of eastern and western waterways are also in the volumes containing accounts for the construction of roads, information is listed alphabetically according to the town of the road's origination. These account books provide the name of the county where the road is being built, its cost, and sometimes the laborers involved in construction. Images are grouped according to specific construction project and thereunder chronologically by the year in which the improvement was made. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

Images of records relating to the construction of bridges, canals, river improvements, roads and turnpikes, public buildings and their grounds. Records cover the following date spans more for each category, bridge companies, 1790-1902, canal and navigation companies, 1792-1873, river improvement papers, 1790-1871, public buildings and grounds, 1790-1897, and road and turnpike records, 1790-1902. Among the earliest records is A General Statement of the Contracts for Opening and Improving Roads and Clearing River, 1797 and appropriation records for internal improvements funded by the Commonwealth, 1790-1814. Buildings documented by the records include Congress Hall (1790-1801), the Presidents House (1791-1802), and the State House (1790-1816). The microfilm covers the period through 1816. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

This series consists of two journals which record the warrants issued by the Comptroller Generals Office during the above listed dates. Entries for each warrant might more show the name of the person receiving the warrant and the position he held in the state government or the military. Typical persons to whom warrants were issued include judges, assemblymen, councilors, militia officers, county tax collector, sheriffs and various laborers of the state. Other expenses recorded in these warrant entries included payment of interest on the funded debt and pensions to widows of the Pennsylvania Line. Please note that the Journal containing pages 1-728 could not be located and was probably lost over time. Images are grouped by year warrants or vouchers were issued. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

Images of twelve volumes of indices containing the following information for each judgment: case title, court term when judgment was rendered, page number, and sometimes additional more information on the settlement. less

Images of letter books and rough copies of executive correspondence sent either by the Governor or his Secretary. Information given is date of correspondence, name of more person to whom addressed, and the body of the text of the letter. less

Images of letter books of correspondence exchanged by Wardens of the Port of Philadelphia with a variety of correspondents including most prominently the Governors or members more of their staff. Information provided is date of correspondence, names of correspondents, and transcripts of the letters. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

A list of people who owed money to the Comptroller-General, the amount of money outstanding, when the account was settled, the date it was submitted to more the comptroller, and when the records were returned to the governor. Images are grouped alphabetically by first letter of surname of account holder. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

This appears to be a listing of names of accounts. No information is given about the accounts and the type of business being documented except the more names, which may be difficult to decipher. Images are unarranged. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

Images of the Index to Military Commission Books, 1800-1944 (series 26.65) for the period through 1861. The index gives the names of officers commissioned in both more voluntary and compulsory militia organizations for the period 1800-1849 and for officers commissioned under voluntary service only for the period 1849-1864. Information provided is name and rank of commissioned officer and the volume and page number in the militia books where the entry will be found. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Department of State which was created in 1776. less

Images of military commissions issued for officers. Information given is name, county of residence, rank, date of taking rank, military unit, regiment, company, and date of more commission. Notations also reveal information concerning discharges, transfers, and deaths during service. This collection is part of the Pennsylvania Department of State which was created in 1776. less

A listing of warrants payable to the militia as indicated by the Receiver General. Information provided includes certificate number, name of person to whom certificate was more issued, number of years interest was paid, principal of the individual debt, interest allowed in the land office, and a dollar amount. The principal is totaled at the bottom of each page. Images are radomly arranged. This collection is part of the Office of the Register General which was created in 1789. less

This series provides information about men exempt from militia duty. Data provided for each regiment includes the number of the regiment, the county to which it more belonged, the captains in the regiment, the number exempt according to class, and the total number exempt in each regiment. Also included are accounts of exempt fines which are listed according to county, and lists of exempted men by county. The names or numbers of the militia units in which men served is also given. Images are grouped chronologically by years which exemptions were accounted for. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

Statements filed by Pennsylvania residents to demonstrate that they or their kin should be exempt from fines being imposed for not serving militia duty. The data more appearing differs from document to document. While some statements only list the person's name, residence and reasons for seeking an exemption, others indicate the individual's age, occupation and parents' names. Images are grouped by county. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

These images are grouped into the following subseries: Certificate Counterparts, 1784-1792; Certificate Books, 1784-1792; Distribution Vouchers, 1784-1785; Distribution Ledgers, 1784-1785; Interest Paid Receipt Books, 1785-1792; Pay more Rolls, 1781; Registers, 1784-1785. Certificate Couterparts are the stub receipts for interest bearing certificates issued to soldiers in lieu of money. The corresponding redeemed certificates can be found in the Certificate Books. Distribution Vouchers include requests for payment certificates and receipts for certificates received as well as requests for payment by some militiamen. Interest Paid Receipt Books list the interest paid to militiamen on loan certificates. The pay certificate names and numbers listed in the book correspond to the Certificate Counterparts and Certificate Books. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

Images of minutes of cases heard by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in the Lancaster District. Information provided includes names of plaintiff, defendant, attorneys and jurors more involved; date of court session; and an account of the proceedings. less

Images of record books containing minutes of the meetings of the Wardens of the Port of Philadelphia. Information provided is date and place of meeting, names more of those present, and a description of the business transacted. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images of minutes of cases heard by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and the Court of Nisi Prius in the Eastern District. Information provided includes: justices more present or absent; date of session with respective times of convention, recess, and adjournment; and details of cases submitted, cases discontinued, quashed appeals, judgments on non-pros entered; cases remanded to a lower court; judgments and opinions filed, cases argued, and cases continued from previous sessions. Details provided for each case include: names of the plaintiff(s), defendant(s), representing attorneys and jurors; charges and/or complaints against the defendant; justices who did not participate in the case; whether a dissenting or concurring opinion filed; party responsible for costs associated with the appeal; and whether the appeal was affirmed or reversed. Some entries are marked as to whether or not the case continues, or as to whether it was heard in the Supreme Court, or in Nisi Prius. Other items of interest, such as induction ceremonies, memorial services, admissions to the bar, and portrait presentations, are also noted. Minutes dating from 1952-1981 are from the Supreme Court, Eastern District only. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Please visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images are organized into the following subseries: Abstracts of Continental Certificates, 1791-1797; Assumed Debt, 1791-1793; Certificates for Horses and Provisions, 1780; Day Books, 1789-1810l; General Accounts, more 1789-1809, n.d.; U.S. Accounts, 1775-1791; and U.S. Account Ledgers, 1775-1788. Abstracts of Continental Certificates (1791-1797) provide a listing of loan certificates issued by Pennsylvania for a loan to the United States, the amount of the certificates, interest earned, and the serial number of each certificate. A list of warrants, redeemable and expected, is also included. In the Assumed Debt (1791-1793) records, there are loan certificates and corresponding stub booklets. Information on the certificates includes the value of the certificate, the owner and the date of purchase, and the cancellation seal. A ledger is also included which provides a listing of the certificates in rising numerical order, the amount of each certificate, the date on which interest would commence, and the rate of depreciation. Certificates for Horses and Provisions, 1780. Information about horses and provisions certificates include a book containing lists of certificates for horses and provisions granted to various men. Data in each entry includes the name of the issuer, the name of the grantee, the date of issue, and the county of residence. There is also an account of when the certificates were redeemed for reimbursement by the state, how much was paid and to whom. The corresponding certificates this information can also be found and are filed according to county. Day Books, 1789 - 1810. Arranged chronologically by date of transaction, these books are a bi-monthly record of accounts kept on a daily basis for the purpose of auditing, liquidating and adjusting Commonwealth accounts. Types of accounts include salaries, expenses, taxes, revenue and transactions of government officials. Entries give a description of each transaction, followed by the amount involved. General Accounts, 1789-1809, n.d. The General Accounts section of this series includes such information as lists of goods seized by the British, their estimated value, and who filed the claim; various accounts of state officials and military officers. Other important accounts are: the Settlement of the Proprietaries, William Turnball's account, and accounts of the seizure of British goods. Other information contained in this section of the series includes vouchers and receipts for purchase of arms, provisions, food, and supplies for the state militia; and documents relating to the forfeiture and escheat of estates. U.S. Accounts, 1775 - 1791. In the records relating to the United States Account, information includes vouchers, receipts, and account books involving the militia during the Revolution and the Whiskey Rebellion and the money owed to Pennsylvania or individual commanders for service to the United States. Records in these volumes vary greatly and information can include detailed accounts of expenditures giving names of laborers and merchants, receipts for goods purchased for military units, and day books. The numbered certificates will match with the United States Account Ledgers. United States Account Ledgers (1775-1788) include much of the same information in the United States Account, and is arranged in ascending order according to account number. This information might include names and ranks of officers paid, reasons for payment; names and wages of laborers paid and where the work was performed; names and titles of various county officials and the reason for payments; and reimbursement to men for goods and possessions lost in the Western Expedition. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

These records were originally presented to the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania after the basement of the State House in Philadelphia was cleared out in 1895. These more records were then compiled and deposited by the Genealogical Society with the Pennsylvania State Archives. This is a series of volumes that contains a wide variety of miscellaneous Supreme Court records. Some types of records include Court Minutes; Coroner's Inquisitions; Proceedings in Cases; Lists of Marriage, Public Housekeepers, and Tavern Licenses issued. Volume 45 contains the "Pa. Sunday Court Records," which contain records of Fines and Forfeits, Tavern Licenses, Return of Public Housekeepers Recommended and Marriage Licenses. Some pre-Revolutionary records exist and identify George III as the reigning monarch. Disclaimer: The Pennsylvania State Archives provides digital access to a wide variety of historical documents, some of which may be considered offensive by current standards. The Archives does not endorse views expressed in these historical collections, but presents these collections to aid in scholarly research. less

Images of a record of persons petitioning the Supreme Court for naturalization. Although the declarations of intent date from as early as September 12, 1812, to more as late as November 2, 1867, and the dates of naturalization cover the period September 12, 1818, to November 27, 1856 and the majority of the listings are from 1830 to 1855. Entries list the name and nationality of the petitioner; the name of the voucher; the date of declaration; and the date naturalized. less

Images are organized into the following subseries: Addition of Principal and Interest Unpaid on Cancelled Certificates, 1784-1795; Amount of Principal and Interest Unpaid on Cancelled Certificates, more 1777-1790; Calculations of Principal and Interest on Cancelled Certificates, 1777-1788; Cancelled Certificate Registers, 1777-1790; Certificate Books, 1786-1788; Certificate Exchange Proposals, 1789-1793; Certificate Registers, 1786-1788; Differences in New Loan Certificates, 1776-1788; Interest Certificate Counterparts, 1786-1788; Interest Paid Receipt Books, 1786-1792; Principal and Interest Paid on Cancelled Certificates to January 1, 1791, 1777-1791. Images of the New Loan Accounts which were established in March 1786 by act of the General Assembly. Addition of Principal and Interest on Cancelled Certificates (1784-1795) contains a record of interest and principal unpaid on these cancelled certificates. Information is grouped according to certificate books A through D and the amount unpaid is listed according to page number of certificate registers. Calculations of Principal and Interest on Cancelled Certificates (1777-1788) contains similar information as is in Addition of Principal and Interest on Cancelled Certificates. Cancelled Certificate Registers (1777-1790) contain the certificate number, the payee, the principal amount, and the date which interest commenced for all cancelled New Loan Certificates. Certificate Books (1786-1788) are 11 volumes of New Loan Certificates arranged in ascending numerical order of certificate number. The certificates contain the following information: the owner's name, the amount, the interest rate, the date of issue of the original certificate, the date of redemption. Many of the original certificates were issued before March 1786 when the General Assembly passed an act establishing these certificates. Certificate Exchange Proposals (1789-1793) are petitions to exchange New Loan Certificates for Continental Certificates. Information on each proposal includes the names of the person who wished to exchange certificates, the name of whom the certificate was issued, the number of the certificate, the principal of the certificate, the date which interest commenced, and the year's interest paid. Most proposals consists of numerous New Loan Certificates originally owned by various people but which are being exchanged by an unrelated person. Certificate Registers (1786-1788) contain a listing of some certificates issued by the Comptroller General. Entries in these registers correspond to the Differences in New Loan Certificates, as do the amount of principle and interest paid. Interest Certificate Counterparts (1786-1788) are for certificates 2 through 19,171. Included on each counterpart is the certificate number, the payee, the period for the interest received, and the amount of interest. Interest Paid Receipt Books (1786-1792) are records of interest paid on certificates for the stated years. Entries are made chronologically according to the date paid, and include the principal of the certificate, the certificate number, the original owner of the certificate, the person receiving the interest, the total amount of interest being paid at that time, and the amount of time the interest was for. Principal and Interest Paid on Canceled Certificates to January 1, 1791 contains account books relating to canceled certificates. Information in each entry includes the date the certificate was issued, the principal amount, and the amount of interest. Also included in these volumes are records relating to depreciation certificates accounts, and miscellaneous accounts involving the New Loan Certificates. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

A detailed listing of clothing articles, food, and miscellaneous items delivered to Pennsylvania regiments during the Revolution. Typical information in these registers might include the name more of the officer who received the supplies, the cost of the purchases, and the money owed to vendors after an initial deposit. Also provided in this series are the names of various military officers, their personal account certificates, and the names of merchants who supplied the officer's uniforms. The military units documented in this series are the 1st through 10th Regiments, the Artillery Regiment, and the Light Dragoons. Images are unarranged. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

This volume contains an account of sundry officers of the revolutionary army for clothing which they purchased for their service in the army. Each officer's account more is listed individually and includes the articles and amount of clothing bought, the amount paid, and a corresponding voucher number which the officer had used to purchase the clothing. Images are unarranged. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

Images of commencing "proclamations" written by the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth stating the names of those people accused of high treason. Those accused were more either discharged, outlawed or tried. If outlawed or successfully tried, their property was then appropriated by the Commonwealth. Types of documents filed include lists of persons who surrendered, or who were discharged, outlawed, or attainted of a capital crime; claims and decrees against forfeited estates; newspaper advertisements for the accused; recognizances; and an alphabetical listing of those suspected of high treason and capital crimes. (The actual court actions for claims against forfeited estates can be found in RG 033-A-29 Claims Papers Relating Primarily to Forfeited Estates, 1778-1791). less

Images of pardons granted to persons convicted of crimes. Information generally provided is a brief case history, date of pardon, and the amount and date of more remission of any fine. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Perpetuation of testimony refers to the transcribing of that testimony so that it can be read as evidence in a court. Images of the entries in more this volume were transcribed by the Prothonotary of the Supreme Court and document proceedings of equity in the form of complainants' declarations, calls of appearance by the court, and interrogatories of witnesses. The cases represented deal mainly with land titles and conveyances and information provided about them includes names of parties involved, and dates and locations of title transfers. The nature of the decision, however, is not revealed. less

Images of certificates signed by John Pierce who was Paymaster General and Commissioner of Accounts for the United States Continental Army. Certificates were issued to the more men of the Pennsylvania line in lieu of cash. The certificates bore 6 percent interest and have an official date of July 1, 1784. This series is organized into the following subseries: Pay Roll Books, Voucher Indexes, Ownership Certificates, and an Account of Certificate Loaned to the United States. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782 and abolished in 1809. The full title for this series is: ‘Pierce's Certificate Accounts,...Pay Roll Books Voucher Indexes Ownership Certificates and an Account of Certificates Loaned to the United States, circa 1784-1793’. Disclaimer: The Pennsylvania State Archives provides digital access to a wide variety of historical documents, some of which may be considered offensive by current standards. The Archives does not endorse views expressed in these historical collections, but presents these collections to aid in scholarly research. less

Images of records of indentures of apprenticeship to river pilots. Information provided is date of indenture, name of apprentice, name of pilot, term of indenture in more years and months, and conditions of the indenture agreement. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images of record books of ships piloted. Information provided is date of entry, name of vessel, name of commander, name of pilot, from whence sailed, and more the number of persons on board. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

This collection provides a record for the duties and drawbacks collected during each month of the above mentioned years. The total amount of annual duties and more drawbacks is given at the bottom of each page. The images are arranged chronologically by month. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

This volume contains a list of ships which entered the port of Philadelphia between May 1, 1783 through September 17, 1783, and the duties which were more imposed upon them. Images are arranged in volume order. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

This volume contains a record of passenger ships entering the port of Philadelphia. Information in each entry includes the name of the ship, its date of more entry, the name of its master, the number of passengers on board, and its port of origin. The total amount of head money collected is listed at the end of each fiscal year. Certificates given to the Register of German Passengers are also included in this series. Information on these certificates includes the ship's port of origin, the number of passengers, and the captain's name. An account of money given to the State Treasurer can also be found in this series. Images are arranged in volume order. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

Manifests of various ships which delivered goods to the port of Philadelphia. Entries include the names of the exporters, the importers, the quantity of goods shipped, more and their value. Images are unarranged. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

Two coasting permits are contained within this collection. They are for the Sloop Maria, and the Schooner Friendship and provide the name of the ships master, more its weight, the cargo, the port of origin, and the final port of destination. Images are unarranged. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

A recognizance is an obligation of record, which a party enters into before some court of record or magistrate, with a condition to perform some particular more act. Failing to do so, the party (recognizor) is obliged to pay a specific sum to the court or to the other party involved in the case. The object of a recognizance is generally to secure the presence of a defendant to perform or suffer the judgment of the court. Images of recognizance papers filed include writs of error, writs returned to the court, writs for appearance, writs sur certiorari, writs for peace and good behavior, and writs for bail. Information provided includes name of plaintiff, name and residence of defendant, amount of recognizance, and duties required. Other documents are also found, such as distringas to nisi prius, exceptions to bail, orders of the court, and bonds. Of interest may be the final folder, which documents a United States Circuit Court (Third District) case, as well as one from within the Commonwealth involving a conspiracy charge. less

Images of a record book of articles of agreement made by Governor Thomas Mifflin with various private armament suppliers under the terms of the Act to more Provide Arms to the Commonwealth passed March 28, 1797 for purchasing 10,000 stands of arms for field service. Information given is date of article of agreement, name of armaments supplier, where supplier was located, quantity ordered, a description of the type of armaments, and amount to be paid. less

A record of all accounts examined by the Comptroller General, which had been submitted to him by the Register General for his advice and approval. Typical more information about each account might include the name of the person responsible for the account, his military rank or government position, the amount of each transaction, and a brief description of the transaction and the parties involved. Images are arranged chronologically by the date which the account from the Register General was examined by the Comptroller General. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

Information provided is name of pilot, place of residence, date bonded, and the name, occupation and place of residence of the person who stood as security more on behalf of the pilot. Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Registers of vessels arriving and clearing the port of Philadelphia. Information provided is date of arrival or clearance, name of vessel, from whence or to where more bound, name of owner or consignor, name of pilot on the inward leg, name of pilot on the outward leg, draught of water and signature of the captain. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

Images in this collection include the name of the individual, the lot number, and the number of acres drawn. The rank of the soldier is sporadically more supplied as well. Images are arranged alphabetically by surname of soldier. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

Images of entries record the name, rank and corps of the soldier and the number of acres drawn. Remarks concerning whether the person was killed in more action or was a foreign officer are often included. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

Pay and muster rolls that may show the name, rank, regiment, company and pay rate of each soldier; the name of his commanding officer; and the more dates and locations of the musters. At times the dates that a soldier enlisted, deserted or was discharged are also noted. In a few instances enlistment papers are included. Images are grouped by regiment and thereunder arranged alphabetically by surname of soldier. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

Register of letters and petitions received by Senate committees. Information provided is date petition or correspondence was received, committee to which referred, and a brief description more of the subject of the petition or correspondence. Images are grouped by committee and arranged thereunder chronologically by date of entry. Indexed internally, alphabetically by subject. This collection is part of the General Assembly which holds the legislative power in Pennsylvania. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. less

These registers verify that the accounts payable by the state were indeed settled. In five columns is the following data: account number, payee, reason for payment, more date account was settled, and a dollar amount. These are the same accounts mentioned in the Index to Payments, 1806 - 1809 {#24.9} which is available at the PA State Archives. The memorandum book included in this series contains the same basic information as the other settlement register except that the accounts were received and settled earlier, and unlike the more recent settlement register, the memorandum book lists both the governor's and claimant's account number, but not the reason for payment. Also, the memorandum book gives the dates the account was received, settled, and submitted, whereas the more recent register lists just the settlement date. Images are grouped alphabetically by surname, then numerically by account number, and finally arranged chronologically by date account was settled. This collection is part of the Office of the Register General which was created in 1789. less

Images of transcriptions of land property conveyances, originally taken in execution upon an estate or in a suit by virtue of a writ of fieri facias more and sold at public auction by writ of venditioni expinas. Information provided includes names of plaintiff, defendant, grantee, and the Sheriff involved; date of deed poll; property location, size, boundaries and names of neighbors; and date grant was received. less

Images of official records of the arrival of foreign passengers at the port of Philadelphia that were required to be kept by captains of ships importing more strangers into the province beginning in 1727. Originally, the captains were intended by the Provincial Council to record the names, occupations, and places of residence of all such passengers. Most of the so-called A Lists, however, give the names of adult male passengers only, though twenty-five captains also recorded the names of women, and children. Three captains gave the names of both men and women while omitting children and sixty-four captains also provided the ages of passengers, though this information was not required. The B Lists consist of the signatures required of the passengers to the oath of allegiance to the British Crown and a declaration of fidelity to the proprietor of the province. These were supposed to include the names of all adult male passengers but actually contain only the names of adult male passengers who were well enough on the day of the signing to appear at the courthouse. After 1739, the Clerk of Council signed the names of absent passengers. The C Lists contain the signatures of passengers who signed the Declaration of Fidelity and Abjuration that was required by the Act of May 10, 1729. This Act required all male passengers who were at least sixteen years of age to, within forty-eight hours after their arrival, take both an oath of allegiance that acknowledged the supremacy of the King and an oath of abjuration of the authority of the Pope. The abjuration declared impious and heretical that wicked Doctrine and Position that Princes Excommunicated or deprived by the Pope, or any Authority of the See of Rome, may be deposed or murthered (sic) by their Subjects . . . (and) that no Foreign Prince, Person, Prelate, State or Potentate hath, or ought to have, any Power, Jurisdiction, Superiority, Preeminence or Authority, Ecclesiastical or Spiritual, within the Realm of Great Britain or Dominions thereunto belonging. less

"A record of accounts for the following state departments: the Council of Censors, the General Assembly, the Master of the Rolls, the Adjutant General, the Comptroller more General, the Receiver General, the Register General, the State Treasurer, the Surveyor General, the Secretary of the Commonwealth, the Land Office, and the Secretary of the Supreme Executive Council. Included in this series are accounts of expenditures of the various commonwealth departments, as well as cash vouchers, and receipts. These accounts detail the day to day function of each department. Recorded expenses might include: translating laws into German and distributing copies of bills and government reports; the daily pay and mileage pay of members of the General Assembly; expenditures by the Master of the Rolls relating to elections and the enrolling of acts passed by the Assembly; fees charged by the Secretary of the Commonwealth for such things as marriage licenses, certificates of bankruptcy, use of the great seal, pardons and other certificates; expenses of the Secretary of the Supreme Executive Council for government payroll; and collection of revenue for licenses, petitions and passes. Many of the receipts and vouchers relate to expenditures for writing supplies, paper, and printing copies. For these tasks and similar ones, the names of men employed and contracted merchants are listed. Also included in this series is a volume from the Secretary of the Supreme Executive Council which provides a detailed list of all fees received in the secretary's office between 1783 and 1790. Images are grouped by department and thereunder according to year the record was kept. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782." less

Monthly state treasurer's reports which include records of expenditures and receipts, however there are some accounts pertaining to the value of stock certificates of the United more States held by various people, and bills of credit for specific years. Information provided about each transaction includes the name of the person(s) involved, the register number and the treasury number. Receipt records include the reason why money was paid into the treasury. In some cases, explanations for expenditure are also found in the reports. Images are arranged chronologically by date of transaction. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

This series contains several lengthy public account statements. The monetary value in these records is based upon Bills of Credit which were issued during the following more periods: June 1780, April 1781, March 1785, and April 1785. Information can be found in these records about the expenses of the civil list, inland navigation accounts, pension expenditures, grants to the Penn family, Indian expenses, militia expenses, the state lottery, and various taxes. A record of bills of credit which were burnt by a committee of the treasury after being withdrawn from circulation is also included. Likewise, information concerning loan accounts, stock accounts, marriage and tavern licenses, and account of the wardens of the port is also provided by these statements. Images are unarranged. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

Images of record books revealing names of pilots and dates of bonds for the first, second and third rate pilots, accounts of anchors and cables received more by the wardens, and daily attendance record of the Wardens of the Port. Information provided in the attendance record is the name of the warden, dates of attendance, and amount he was paid. less

Images primarily of transcripts of reports, manifests, and bonds for cargoes carried by vessels captured under Letters of Marque entering the Port of Philadelphia and from more the ports of Africa, New York, Tuckerton, Elizabeth City, Little Egg Harbor, and St. Bartholomews. Also included are lists of the names of crews of ships. The type of information provided on the lists is name of vessel, date of manifest, name of master, names of each crew member, their rating, their native country, place of residence, age and height, quantities of each type of merchandise and the duties due. The ship manifests give the name of the vessel and the name of vessel which was the prize, name of prize master, where cargo was loaded, weight, breadth, depth, where constructed, name of owner, name of merchant, date embarked, and a description of the contents. less

Identified indexes include indices for Day Books, New Loan Accounts, and Revolutionary War transactions. Other indexes which are not labeled give names and page number, certificate more numbers, and sometimes the occupation of the particular individual. The following are descriptions for the two loose volumes in this series: Accounts A: Identified on the cover as "Accounts A," this volume contains an undated alphabetical index of individuals and subjects. Entries indicate the name of the person(s) or subject, followed by two numbers. One set of numbers directly follows the name and ranges from 1 to 6716. Each entry is also referenced by a number ranging from 1 to 1479 and proceeded by the abbreviation "No." In addition to names of individuals, the index contains references to subjects such as: Commissioners and Assessors, the Council of Safety, Commissioners for Exploring Rivers, Civil Officers, Decrees Relating to Forfeited Estates, Delinquent Returns, Fees Received, the Hospital of Pennsylvania, Appraisal of Horses, the House of Employment, the Invalids Corps, Judges of the Supreme Court, Loan Office Accounts, Legislator's Report, Miscellaneous Papers, Northumberland and Westmoreland County Militia, Orders for Orphans Court, Prothonotaries' Receipts, Traveling Expenses of Judges, Trustees of Province Island, Vouchers for Certificates, Wardens of the Port of Philadelphia, Writs of Attachment, and Wyoming Disturbances. The name "Geo. Bryon" is written in script inside the back cover. A-Z, 1780-1809: Alphabetical index to an unidentified volume indicating names of individuals, counties, or subjects and their corresponding page number. Dated entries range from 1780-1809. Subjects appear to be mainly financial, with entries including topics such as taxes, bonds, appropriations, accounts, funds, expenses, fines, licenses, bills, funded and unfunded debts, continental money, certificates, contingent expenses of various offices, general revenues and accounts, specie accounts, state money accounts, U.S. Stock, and Pennsylvania Bank Stock, with several references to the Loan Office. Entries associated with individual counties consist of accounts of sheriffs, treasurers, and prothonotaries dealing with court fines, exempt fines, taxes, and licenses. References to Land Records include accounts of new and old purchases, certificates, grants, and various lots. Entries associated with the Militia relate to officers of the Pennsylvania Line, ordnance for militia, militia fines, pensions, arrears in clothing, brigade inspectors, frontier defense, and depreciation pay. There are also references to the Pennsylvania Hospital, Pennsylvania claimants' accounts of expenses, road appropriations, canal funds, French Emigrants, and marriage and tavern licenses. Images are arranged numerically by folio number. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

A record of the warrants paid and issued by the Commonwealth through the Office of the Register General. Most relate to salary, pensions, and state debt more payments to individual persons. Volume 1 is split into sections of pension accounts, warrant unpaid by a certain date, warrants issued after a certain date, etc., and for each category shows the following data: account number, date of warrant, entry date, and to whom payable/issued and for what, starting warrant value, and current value. The section "Warrants Issued after July 1st, 1792" also includes three more columns for to whom the warrant was delivered, particular amount of the warrant, and the general amount of the state debt to that point. Volume 2 shows an entry date, dollar amount, and explanation for each payment including the account number. Volume 3 is a register of warrant accounts that provides the following information: warrant number, date issued, entry date, payment explanation, date paid, and amount of warrant. All volumes total monetary amounts at the bottom of each page and then add them to the overall total of that volume at the end of a section, if applicable. Images are arranged chronologically by entry date. This collection is part of the Office of the Register General which was created in 1789. less

This collection contains the warrants issued to people in lieu of money, and compiled together after being redeemed for specie when the state was able to more supply it. The warrants provide such information as the warrant and account numbers, the amount of the warrant and interest, the warrant holder and the date of issue. Images are arranged numerically by warrant number. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

These images contain counterparts to warrants issued to people to which the state owed money. The counterparts served as the state's copy of the warrant and more include such information as the warrant number, to whom the warrant was issued, the amount of the warrant, the date of issue and a corresponding account number. Images are arranged chronologically by date of issue and thereunder numerically by warrant number. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

A warrant of attorney is more specific than a letter or power of attorney, in that it is addressed to one or more attorneys authorizing them more to appear in any court or in some specified court on behalf of a client to confess judgment in an action of debt, and contains a stipulation not to bring any writ of error or file a bill in equity. The defendant confessing judgment may also enter this warrant without an attorney by filing it with the Prothonotary. The Warrant of Attorney Dockets contain images of records of those cases in which such a warrant was entered and judgment confessed. Information provided includes names of plaintiff, defendant, and warranted attorney(s); amount of debt; notations of other papers filed; and date of confession of judgment. Some dockets contain actual warrants. less

This series contains several warrant registers which list information about warrants that the state issued in lieu of money which it may have owed to government more officials or other persons. Information in entries includes the warrant number, the warrant holder's county of residence, the position he held (if any), the date of issue, when it was redeemed for its cash value, and the amount of redemption. An index is also included in this series which refers to warrants on the Treasury dated May 1782 through July 1782. The index is for a Day Book and Books A, B, C, and D which are not included in this series. Images are grouped chronologically by date of issue and thereunder numerically by warrant number. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

This series contains warrants which were issued by the Comptroller General in lieu of money owed to various persons by the state. Information on each warrant more includes the date of issue, the amount, the name of the person receiving the warrant, and a brief description of work performed by that person. Images are grouped chronologically by month in which warrant was issued. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

Images of two index volumes documenting the names mentioned in Waste Books, 1776-1792, which is also digitized. In one volume, the folio number of where the more person's account information is listed in the Waste Books is given to the right of each name. The other volume contains both the folio number and the statement number to the right of each name. The dates in the title statement are based on the dates for the Waste Books which they index. Images are grouped alphabetically according to first letter of surname of persons listed in the Waste Books and thereunder according to each Waste Book. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

A record of state monetary transactions relating to the payment and settlement of public money, kept for the purpose of auditing, liquidating and adjusting Commonwealth accounts. more Although the receipts and payments recorded date from 1776-1792, the books themselves were probably compiled at later times (Vol.A - 1782-1788, Vol.AA - 1788, and Vol.AAA - 1788-1792) for auditing purposes. Entries relate to expenses, revenue, taxes, fines and transactions of individual county officials. Information provided includes a description of each transaction, and the amount involved. The Waste Book Indexes are also digitized. Images are arranged chronologically by date of transaction. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

Images of account books of payments to Pennsylvania regiments. Typical information within these books might include the names of commanders, duration of service, the payment amount more and the payment date. The counties from which the military units originated are also listed. Bounty accounts of military officers are included as well as receipts from unit commanders for pay received by them for their troops from the paymaster. The series also contains ledgers recording fines imposed on enlisted men for failure to perform duties, the amount of the fine imposed, and the outstanding amount due on the fines. Militia accounts for individual counties are also included. Typical information in these volumes might include the rosters of county militia units and the bounty paid to each man, receipts of commanders for payment by the state and a list of fines imposed in each regiment. Transportation accounts for the Western Expedition included in this series are listed alphabetically according to the commander of the military unit or the person conducting the transportation. Information in these accounts includes the amounts charged; numbers of horses, wagons, and carriages used; miles traveled; encampments; amount of supplies used; and the names of waggoneers. This collection is part of the Office of the Comptroller General which was created in 1782. less

The petitions were originally made to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, requesting that he issue a writ of habeas corpus which would then allow more the petitioner to appear before the court to inquire into the legality of his confinement. Information provided by the petitions and their accompanying writs includes names of petitioner (detainee), reason for detention (including robbery, desertion, going AWOL, and not re-enlisting after being paid to do so), filing date, and action taken by the court. Other documents filed include manumissions, paper books, memoranda, processes, enlistment papers, and witness lists. Individuals named may include those in charge of jails and workhouses, military commanders of the Revolution, and a Vice Council of France. Most of the cases represented relate either to military affairs or slave holdings. Of special interest are documents from the state of Rhode Island. A related series (RG-033-A-119) Writs of Habeas Corpus for Black Slaves and Indentured Servants, 1784-1787. Many of the writs provide such information as name of slave, place of residence, name of master, type of crime, and sometimes particulars concerning the slave's familial relationships, occupation, and purchase. Disclaimer: Not all records in this collection are digitized. Please visit the PA State Archives to see the rest of the collection. The Pennsylvania State Archives provides digital access to a wide variety of historical documents, some of which may be considered offensive by current standards. The Archives does not endorse views expressed in these historical collections, but presents these collections to aid in scholarly research. less