Pennsylvania State Archives Collection

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. 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.

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 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.

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; 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.

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 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. Baumann. 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.

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 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. 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.

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 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.

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 plaintiff and defendant; original court term; and nature of the actions. 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.

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 number of votes each polled, office to which elected, and signatures of county officers who certified the results.

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, 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.

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 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. 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.