About This Collection
Petitions submitted to the first unicameral General Assembly by citizens of the Commonwealth. Many of these are requests for monetary compensation for voluntary military service along Pennsylvania's frontiers and grants of local authority to call out a militia to protect the frontier. Others concern the proper treatment and feeding of sailors and prisoners of war, moving of courts to more convenient locations, and revising election laws. Some petitions concern cutting holes in dams on the Conewago Creek to allow salmon to ascend the stream. Information generally provided includes names of petitioners, their counties of residence, date petition was submitted, and a more or less detailed description of the circumstances resulting in the petition. Images are arranged more or less chronologically by year submitted. This collection is part of the General Assembly which holds the legislative power in Pennsylvania. Disclaimer: The Pennsylvania State Archives provides digital access to a wide variety of historical documents, some of which may be considered offensive by current standards.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.