Philadelphia and Lancaster counties militia records


Collection Am .23

( Bulk, 1778-1782 ) 1778-1789
(0.4 Linear feet ; 1 box)

Summary Information

Repository
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Creator
Lancaster County (Pa.). Lieutenant.
Creator
Lancaster County (Pa.). Sub-Lieutenant.
Creator
Philadelphia County (Pa.). Lieutenant.
Creator
Philadelphia County (Pa.). Sub-Lieutenant.
Title
Philadelphia and Lancaster counties militia records
ID
Am .23
Date [bulk]
Bulk, 1778-1782
Date [inclusive]
1778-1789
Extent
0.4 Linear feet ; 1 box
Author
Finding aid prepared by Cary Majewicz
Sponsor
Processing made possible by a generous donation from George Ahern.
Language
English
Mixed materials [Box]
1

Preferred Citation note

Cite as: [Indicate cited item here], Philadelphia and Lancaster counties militia records (Am .23), The Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

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Scope and Contents note

This small collection mostly consists of journals used to record general returns, returns of absentees, and nonattendance fines of the First and Second battalions of the Pennsylvania Militia, Philadelphia County, between 1778 and 1782 (folders 1-7). There is also one return of absentees, dated 1786 to 1788, for the First Battalion of Lancaster County (folder 9). In a partial journal from 1784 (folder 7) are lists of soldiers by city ward and a summary of the total numbers of men in six county battalions and the artillery battalion. The last folder in the collection (folder 10) contains two bundles of exoneration slips, all dated 1789, for men who were cleared of their muster fines. For the most part, these records were signed and apparently created by county-designated lieutenants and their assistants, sub-lieutenants. These civilian officials were responsible for administering and collecting fines, preparing units with arms and supplies from the state, and made certain that militia units attended their exercises.

For further information on the history and formation of the Pennsylvania Militia see "The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777" by Hannah Roach Benner in The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 23, no. 3 (1964): 161-230.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

 The Historical Society of Pennsylvania , 2010

1300 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA, 19107
215-732-6200

Conditions Governing Access note

The collection is open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Provenance unknown.

Processing Information note

This collection was formerly called "Pennsylvania Revolutionary manuscripts."

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

  • Pennsylvania. Militia. Lancaster County Battalion, 1st.
  • Pennsylvania. Militia. Philadelphia County Battalion, 1st.
  • Pennsylvania. Militia. Philadelphia County Battalion, 2nd.

Geographic Name(s)

  • Pennsylvania--Genealogy--Sources.
  • Pennsylvania--History--Revolution, 1775-1783--Registers, lists, etc.
  • Pennsylvania--Militia.
  • United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783--Registers, lists, etc.

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Collection Inventory

Box Folder

Return of nonattendance fines - Pennsylvania Militia, Philadelphia County, First Battalion, 1st-4th classes (1778) 

1 1

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Return of nonattendance fines - Pennsylvania Militia, Philadelphia County, Second Battalion, 6th-8th classes (1778) 

1 2

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Return of nonattendance fines - Pennsylvania Militia, Philadelphia County, Second Battalion, 1st-2nd classes (1779) 

1 3

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General return of nonattendance fines - Pennsylvania Militia, Philadelphia County, First Battalion (1779) 

1 4

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General returns and returns of absentees - Pennsylvania Militia, Philadelphia County, Second Battalion, 1st-8th classes (1780-1781) 

1 5

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Return of absentees - Pennsylvania Militia, Philadelphia County, First and Second battalions (1781) 

1 6

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Copy of nonattendance - Pennsylvania Militia, Philadelphia County, First Battalion (1782) 

1 7

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Partial list of soldiers by ward - Pennsylvania Militia, Philadelphia County, various battalions (1784) 

1 8

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Return of absentees - Pennsylvania Militia, Lancaster County, First Battalion (1786-1788) 

1 9

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Exonerations from muster fines (1789)   2 bundles

1 10

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