Peters family papers


Collection 0499

[1687/8]-1871, undated; bulk 1749-1853
(4.1 Linear feet ; 10 boxes, 1 volume)
© Historical Society of Pennsylvania1300 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA, 19107
215-732-6200

Summary Information

Repository
Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Creator
Peters family
Creator
Peters, Richard, 1704-1776.
Creator
Peters, Richard, 1743-1828.
Creator
Peters, Richard, 1780-1848.
Title
Peters family papers
ID
0499
Date
[1687/8]-1871, undated; bulk 1749-1853
Extent
4.1 Linear feet ; 10 boxes, 1 volume
Sponsor
This collection was rehoused and inventoried with the generous help of members of the Association of Registrars and Collections Specialists.
Language
English

Preferred citation

Cite as: [Indicate cited item or series here], Peters family papers (Collection 499), Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

Return to Table of Contents »

Scope and content

The Peters family papers is organized into three sections: Richard Peters estate papers (Series 1), Rev. Richard Peters papers (Series 2), Judge Richard Peters papers (Series 3). The collection spans eleven boxes and one volume

Richard Peters (1780-1848) was a lawyer and a merchant. The papers he created and collected (Series 1) include miscellaneous estate papers and papers on the family's Belmont property from the 19th century; papers on western lands of Pennsylvania, 1798-1871; correspondence, 1824-1834; Venango County lands, 1810-1841; General Robinson estate, 1808-1843; account with James Kay, Jr., for printing supreme court reports, 1829-1840; bankruptcy case of Peters, Campion, and Linder, 1841-1847; land papers, 1846-1862; J.W. Howe letters, 1849-1853; account book, 1807-1849; receipt book, 1812-1819; Willing estate papers, 1687-1806; Schuylkill Permanent Bridge papers, 1797-1828; Sarah Peters correspondence with Thomas Cowperthwaite and Company, 1850-1853; and other items.

Reverend Richard Peters (1704-1776) was pastor of Christ Church, Philadelphia, and secretary of the proprietaries of Pennsylvania from 1749-1755. His papers (Series 2) include: correspondence, legal documents, that deal with domestic affairs, land transactions, legal cases, Thomas Cookson estate, in Lancaster, of which Peters was an executor; also some items, 1776, pertaining to Christ Church.

Judge Richard Peters (1743-1828) was an eminent legal authority and agricultural scientist. His papers (Series 3) chiefly pertain to his experiments in agricultural science, including professional and personal correspondence, daybooks, 1792-1828; bills and receipts, 1803-1828, "City Lots," 1786-1790; accounts with Joseph Kennedy relating to an island and fishery in the Schuylkill River, 1804-1813; accounts with Isaiah Kirk for William Peters' board and clothing, 1808-1819; York County, lands (correspondence between Richard Peters and D. Cassat), 1816-1821; Mantua Farm, 1815-1849, promissory notes and bank checks, 1811-1819. Twelve letters to Judge Richard Peters, 1793-1807 published in the P.M.H.B., 44 (1920): 325-342.

Return to Table of Contents »

Administrative Information

Publication Information

 Historical Society of Pennsylvania ; 2020.

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

Access restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Provenance

Gift of Captain Richard Peters.

Return to Table of Contents »

Controlled Access Headings

Subject(s)

  • Agriculture--18th century.
  • Agriculture--Early 19th century.
  • Estate administration--18th century.
  • Estate administration--19th century.
  • Estate administration--Pennsylvania--18th century.
  • Estate administration--Pennsylvania--19th century.
  • Estate administration--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia--18th century.
  • Estate administration--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia--19th century.

Return to Table of Contents »

Collection Inventory

 Series 1:  Richard Peters (1780-1848) Estate papers 
Box Folder

Miscellaneous estate papers and Belmont papers 19th century 

 1 1-6
Box

General mixed papers 19th century 

 2

General mixed papers, including those pertaining to Clearfield and Centre counties (PA) 19th century 

 3
Box Folder

Lands of Western Pennsylvania 1798-1850 

 4 1

General mixed papers 1854-1865 

 4 2

Lands of Western Pennsylvania 1866-1871, undated 

 4 3

Letters from Clarion and Franklin counties written by J. W. Howe; account of John W. Howe 1835-1853 

 4 4

Letters to Nancy B. Peters 1865 

 4 5

General mixed papers 1846-1862 

 4 6

Schuykill Permanent Bridge 1797-1828 

 5 1

Miscellaneous bills, bonds, letters, and other papers circa 19th century 

 5 2-3

Miscellaneous legal documents - wills of A. Swanson [copy], General Charles Lee, and A. J. Dallas; deed of John Adlum to Benjamin Chew; writ of Hicks vs Jekyll [1687/8]-1806 

 5 4

Correspondence of Sarah Peters with Thomas Cowperthwaite & Co. RE: "Decisions of the Supreme Court" 1850-1853 

 5 5

Willing Estate papers 1772-1834, undated 

 5 6-9
Volume

Receipt book 1812-1819 

 1
Box Folder

Correspondence; stock certificates of the Bald Eagle and Spring Creek Navigation Company 1824-1847 

 11 1

Venango County lands 1810-1841 

 11 2

Robinson, Gent. - settlement with his family 1809-1843 

 11 3

Accounts with James Kay Juner, for printing Supreme Court reports 1829-1840 

 11 4

Bankrupt case of Peters, Campion, & Linder 1841-1847, undated 

 11 5-8

Return to Table of Contents »

 Series 2:  Reverend Richard Peters (1704-1776) 
Box Folder

Papers pertaining to Peters as executor of the estate of Thomas Cookson of Lancaster 1749-1767 

 7 1-4

Christ Church 1775 

 7 5

Return to Table of Contents »

 Series 3:  Judge Richard Peters (1743-1828) 
Box Folder

Daybooks 1792-1828 

 6 1-5

Correspondence relating to agriculture 1772-1815 

 8 1-6

Correspondence relating to city lots 1786-1790 

 9 1

Accounts, etc., with Isaiah Kirk for William Peter's board and clothing undated 

 9 2

accounts and agreements with Joseph Kennedy relating to island and fishery in the Schuykill 1804-1813 

 9 3

Monaghan Township, York County, Pennsylvania, lands - correspondence between Richard Peters and D. Cassat 1816-1821 

 9 4

Promissory notes 1817-1819 

 9 5

Estate papers - Mantua Farm 1815-1849 

 9 6

Bills and receipts 1803-1828 

 9 7-15

Bank checks 1811-1819 

 9 16

Correspondence relating to agriculture 1816-1827, undated 

 10 1-8

Return to Table of Contents »