Pennsylvania Court Records: Difference between revisions

There were apparently no court records kept by the Swedish settlers in Pennsylvania. After the Dutch gained control of the area, minutes were kept of court actions. Minutes from 1655-1657 are found in vol. 12 beginning on page 133 of John Romeyn Brodhead and E. B. O'Callaghan, ''Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York: Procured in Holland, England, and France'', 15 vols.; volume 12, ''Documents Relating to the History of the Dutch and Swedish Settlements on the Delaware River ''(FHL book 974.7 H2d; film 824389 item 2).

In 1673, the Dutch organized three judicial districts, two in what is now Delaware and one in Upland, now Chester County, Pennsylvania. For the records of this court see Edward Armstrong, ed., ''Record of Upland Court from the 14th of November, 1676, [to] the 14th of June, 1681 ''(FHL film 571147 item 1). The English retained these districts for a period of time after they gained permanent control of New Netherlands. Appeal from these courts was made to the Court of Assizes in New York.

Courts Justice of the prespeace courts for each township were established from the time of William Penn. These courts have become less influential and no longer exist in some localities. The library has a few records from these courts, such as ''Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, Justice of the Peace, Court Dockets, 1811-1905 ''(FHL films 1032470-71). This source includes some marriage records. Other records of this type may also contain marriage records.

Orphan's courts dealt with orphan, guardianship, and estate issues. In the larger cities, the orphan's courts became totally separate from other courts. The orphan's court also appears to have been the main equity court for much of the colonial period. The library has some orphan's court records such as ''Pennsylvania, Orphan's Court (York County)'', ''Orphan's Court Dockets, 1749-1881''<nowiki>; </nowiki>''General Index to Dockets, 1749-1887'' (on 24 FHL films beginning with 22150).

The court of common pleas and the orphan's court were closely allied and had the same judges, but they were distinct in practice. These courts had countywide jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases including real estate, bankruptcy, tax collection, naturalization, and divorce. As an example of these records, the library has ''Pennsylvania, Court of Common Pleas (Cumberland County), Appearance Dockets, 1769-1905; Adsecturm Index, 1750-1894 ''(on 40 FHL films beginning with 1010167); and Pennsylvania, Court of Common Pleas (Cumberland County), ''Divorce Decrees, 1810-1905'' (FHL films 1011472-84).