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Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
Bureau of Archives and History
Pennsylvania State Archives
General Administrative and Financial Records
Accounts Put in Suit,
1811-1829.
(1 volume)
{series #2.1} [Holdings]
Grouped alphabetically by first letter of surname.
A list of accounts put in suit that most often concern unpaid militia fines,
exemption fines, and tavern licenses. Prior to March 29, 1813 such suits were
brought under the direction of the State Treasurer. Entries generally provide
the name of the attorney to whom the suit was sent, the town or county of residence,
the date, the name of the individual being sued, the type of account, and the
amount outstanding. Occasional notations reveal the dates when accounts were
settled.
Accounts Settled,
1812-1886.
(22 volumes)
{series #2.2} [Holdings]
Arranged sequentially by claim number.
Indexed internally by surname of claimant.
A record of general administrative and financial accounts settled by the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania. Information usually found includes the name of the claimant,
county or town of residence, the amount settled, and sometimes the date of settlement.
A volume entitled "Old Claims Against the Commonwealth Reexamined Under
the Act of May 22, 1856" provides sequentially numbered entries giving
the claimant's name, county of residence, the date of the original claim, the
nature of the claim, the name of the person to whom the claim was assigned,
the county or town of residence of the person to whom the claim was assigned,
and the amount in dispute. Also noted are whether the claim was allowed, disallowed,
or was a duplicate of another claim, and the date the claim was paid.
Annual Reports,
1854-1875.
(7 volumes)
{series #2.3} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically.
Rough drafts of Annual Reports of the Auditor General to the Governor of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The drafts provide a complete summary of the revenues
received and expenditures made by the State Treasury.
The revenues are broken down by their source, such as land sales, auction commissions,
tavern licenses, retailer licenses, peddler licenses, brokers licenses, and
taxes on dividends, corporation stock, and perennial estates. Also includes
breakdowns of revenues derived from theater licenses, circus licenses, menagerie
licenses, distillery and brewery licenses, billiard room licenses, bowling alley
licenses, ten pin alley licenses, eating house licenses, beer house licenses,
restaurant licenses, patent medicine licenses, the pamphlet law, militia tax,
millers tax, foreign insurance agency tax on writs, wills, and deeds, collateral
inheritance tax; canal and railroad tolls, canal fines, the Tax on Enrollment
Law; premiums on charters, taxes paid on loans, interest on loans, sales of
public property, tax on tonnage, escheats, accrued interest, and other miscellaneous
sources.
The expenditures are specified for public improvements, militia, pensions, support
of charitable institutions such as the Pennsylvania Colonization Society and
the Pennsylvania State Agricultural Society, the Common Schools, the Commission
of Banking Fund, interest on loans, guaranteed interest, damages to public works,
special commissions, maintenance of public buildings and grounds such as the
House of Refuge, the penitentiary, escheats, and commitments made under various
acts of legislation passed from 1799 forward.
Audio and Video Recordings,
1979-1988.
(1 carton)
{series #2.90} [Holdings]
[APPOINTMENT
REQUIRED]
Arranged by format.
Audio and video recordings containing public service announcements and news conferences, produced for radio and television broadcasts, covering activities of Auditor Generals Al Benedict and Don Bailey. Formats include magnetic tape sound recordings, 2" video tape reels, and U-matic and U-matic S video cassette tapes. Topics include the Taxpayer Information Hotline Program (TIP) and Benedict's news conference concerning the State Treasurer, Bud Dwyer, allegedly accepting a bribe from California-based firm, Computer Technology Associates, in exchange for a multi-million dollar state contract.
To view special media, please make an appointment in advance by contacting the Pennsylvania State Archives.
Audit Reports,
1985-1989, 2003-2010.
(11 cartons, 2 boxes)
{series #2.92} [Holdings]
Grouped into two date spans, each date span arranged chronologically
by year.
Official audit reports submitted by the Auditor General to the Governor. Some
audits are accompanied by a letter to the Governor explaining which office or
department was audited, the dates the audit was performed, and the justification
for the audit (management directive, administrative code, etc.), as well as
a letter to the audited department with additional instructions. Compliance
audits are labeled with the name of the department, the specific office or bureau
targeted, and audit period, and contain background information; objectives,
scope, and methodology; deficiencies and/or errors to be corrected; other results
or findings; status of prior audits; audit summaries; and glossaries, appendices,
and audit distribution list. Special audits contain: an executive summary; background
information; objectives, scope, and methodology; findings; summary; and evaluation.
Audit criteria varies by department or institution.
Balance Books,
1809-1863.
(6 volumes)
{series #2.4} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically.
The Balance Books of the Auditor General's Office provide monthly balances incurred
by the Commonwealth for expenses related to the Pennsylvania Militia, the Surgeon
General's Office, the State Land Office and the State Legislature as well as
income from warrants, licenses, brigade inspection fines, and other fees collected.
Bridge Company Accounts,
1809-1859.
(1 box)
{series #2.5} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by first letter of the name of the company.
A collection of financial accounts for various private bridge companies active
in Pennsylvania. Also present is a complete listing of bridges that were authorized
by the state legislature to be constructed by private companies under various
acts of incorporation between 1793 and 1820. Individual files contain a variety
of different types of documents but the most common are financial statements
of the bridge companies and records of the number of shares of stock issued
by each company. The types of information found include tolls collected, expenditures
for construction and maintenance, profit and loss statements, and the value
of shares held by various individuals and by the state.
Canal and Navigation Company Accounts,
1818-1852, 1872.
(8 folders)
{series #2.6} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by the first letter of the name of the canal
company.
Annual financial records of the Bald Eagle and Spring Creek Navigation Company
near Bellefonte, the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, the Monongahela Navigation
Company, the Harrisburg Canal, Fire Insurance, and Water Company; the Locust
Mountain Coal and Iron Company; the Schuylkill Navigation Company; and the Union
Canal Company of Pennsylvania. The records consist of profit and loss statements,
account balances, an enumeration of the number of shares of stock sold, and
occasionally the results of legal suits filed.
Circulars and Tax Laws Sent to Corporations,
1855-1866.
(1 volume)
{series #2.7} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by type of corporation.
A record of circulars and copies of tax laws sent to the banks, bridge companies,
coal and iron companies, gas companies, insurance companies, navigation companies,
plank road companies and railroad companies operating in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania. Information found includes the date the circular was sent, the
name of the corporation, the circular number, and the place where the corporation
was located.
Commonwealth Stock Share Certificates,
1812-1880.
(8 volumes)
{series #2.8} [Holdings]
Arranged sequentially by date of issuance.
A record of various private corporate stocks owned and sold by the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania. Among the items found are sequentially numbered stock certificates
for shares that were subsequently transferred to private individuals or companies.
These certificates are endorsed on the back with the date of the transfer and
the name of the person or entity to which the stock was transferred.
Corporations documented in the records are the following turnpike companies:
Harrisburg, Carlisle, and Chambersburg; Chambersburg and Bradford; Bradford
and Stoystown; Stoystown and Greensburg; Greensburgh and Pittsburgh; Harrisburg
and Millerstown; Millerstown and Lewistown; Lewistown and Huntington; Huntington,
Cambria, and Indiana; Pittsburgh and Butler; Pittsburgh and New Alexandria;
Butler and Mercer; Mercer and Meadville; Centre and Kishacoquilley; Bellefonte
and Phillipsburg; Phillipsburgh and Susquehanna; Susquehanna and Waterford;
Abington and Waterford; Johnstown and Ligonier; Indiana and Ebensburg; Lycoming
and Potter; Clifford and Wilkes Barre; Bellefonte and Arronsburg; and the Centre
Turnpike Road from Reading to Sunbury. Also included are records for construction
of bridges on the Susquehanna at Northumberland, Wilkes Barre, and where the
Phillipsburg and Susquehanna Road crossed the West Branch as well as bridges
on French Creek at Franklin and on the Beaver Creek in Beaver County.
This series also contains records of private stock shares owned by the state
that were transferred to other individuals or corporations between 1826 and
1876. Among these is a volume compiled by commissioners appointed under legislation
passed by the General Assembly dated April 8, 1843 entitled "An Act to
Provide for the Payment of the Domestic Creditors of the Commonwealth, the Sale
of the State Stocks, and for other purposes" which records the sale of
shares of stock in private companies sold by public venue at banks located in
towns and cities across Pennsylvania. The entries provide the number of shares
sold, the name of the individual or corporation purchasing the stock, and the
cash value.
Day Books,
1809-1879.
(35 volumes)
{series #2.9} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of disbursement or receipt.
A record of contingent expenses disbursed and taxes and fees collected by the
Auditor General's Office. Disbursements most often covered such routine items
as pensions, canal and bridge expenses, and militia expenses. Information found
include the name of the individual to whom funds were disbursed, the purpose
of the disbursement, the date of the disbursement, and the amount of the disbursement.
The income was most frequently derived from canal tolls, tavern and retail licenses,
land sales, taxes on collateral inheritances and stock dividends, country rates,
and auction duties. Information found includes date of receipt or disbursement,
name of person remitting or receiving the funds, and the amount remitted or
disbursed.
For the Civil War era, the books contain a record of funds disbursed for militia
and troop transportation and funds collected from tolls, licenses, and land
sales. Militia expenses cover defense of the Commonwealth, acquisition of land
for the soldiers' cemetery at Gettysburg, and the removal and burial of deceased
Union soldiers.
Debtor Bond and Summons Forms,
[before 1776].
(1 volume)
{series #2.83} [Holdings]
Grouped by type of form.
A bound volume containing unused forms of two types, each form bearing printed text with blanks for the entry of particulars. One of the forms was designed to document the owing of money by one party to another and the attestation of witnesses to same. The sentence describing the date of the bond qualifies it with the language "in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord _____ by the Grace of God of Great-Britain." Most of the forms are of this type, but in the middle of the volume are a few examples of the other type of form, which is addressed to Courts of Common Pleas and seems to be intended for bringing suit against a debt who has not fulfilled his or her obligation. None of the forms have been filled out. This series was originally part of an unascribed group of volumes known as "Unidentified Indexes". It is the descriptive staff's best estimate that this series pertains to RG-2, the Records of the Auditor General. However, due to the close relationship and related provenance of records of other early financial officials, it is conceivable that they may instead pertain to records of the Comptroller General (RG-4), Register General (RG-24), State Treasurer (RG-28) or Secretary of the Commonwealth (RG-26) or Commonwealth Land Office (RG-17).
Departmental Contingent Expense Record,
1865-1870.
(1 volume)
{series #2.10} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of expenditure.
Indexed internally by type of expense.
A record of expenses paid for renovations and repairs to the State Capitol buildings.
The type of information found generally includes the dates and the section numbers
of bills under which funds were appropriated by the State Legislature, the amounts
of the appropriations, and a disbursement breakdown that provides the dates
and amounts of each of the individual warrants and disbursements for each project.
Examination Reports of Treasury Department Securities,
1979, 1980.
(4 volumes)
{series #2.91} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of report.
Reports prepared by the Auditor General based on his examination of Pennsylvania
Treasury Department Securities. Each report contains general information
on the Treasury Department, scope of the examination, report of the Auditor
General, additional notes, and financial schedules, including securities owned
by the Commonwealth, securities held as collateral (at face value), securities
owned by the Commonwealth purchased from custodial investment accounts, and
U.S. Savings Bonds on consignment to the State Treasurer.
Extradition Accounts,
1809-1839.
(1 box)
{series #2.11} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of expense.
A record of expenses incurred in apprehending and bringing to justice criminal
suspects who fled the state. Information generally found includes the names
of persons to whom expenses were paid, names of prisoners apprehended, and a
breakdown providing descriptions of the type of expenses incurred and the amounts
paid.
General Accounts,
1808-1908, 1915, 1924-1928.
(32 cartons)
{series #2.12} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of document.
This series consists primarily of bills and receipts for various items and services
purchased by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Information found generally includes
the name of the person or firm receiving payment, the date of the transaction
and/or payment, the nature of the expense, and the amount paid. Also found in
the series are extracts from the books in the Office of the Secretary of the
Commonwealth containing records of pardons and remissions granted by Pennsylvania
for persons convicted of various offenses and statements concerning the issue
and redemption of funded state certificates.
General Correspondence,
1809-1909.
(48 boxes)
{series #2.13} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically.
A file consisting of correspondence received and sent through the Office of
the Auditor General including letters concerning collections of fees at the
port of Philadelphia, expenses incurred through the activities of the State
House and Senate, account settlements with the State Treasurer's Office, and
submittal of fees by county treasurers' offices. Some letters from the Civil
War era relate to prosecution of the war, claims made by soldiers or their widows
for back pay, payment of troops, and claims for providing services such as transportation.
Also found are abstracts of debts and credits reported by private banks in Pennsylvania
that give the totals of bills, notes, and bonds held, overdrafts, the value
of stocks issued, the amount of specie on hand, amount due from other banks,
the amount due to and from other banks, and the value of unclaimed dividends.
Scattered through the file are letters from bank managers reporting minor violations
of various provisions of the 1850 Banking Law by their institutions and the
corrective measures taken. The last folder contains a number of undated documents
of an unusual character including materials relating to the implementation of
Pennsylvania's first public school system during the 1830s, the educational
theories of Joseph Lancaster, and several specimens of poetry, including a long
original poem signed A. Richardson.
Geological Survey Accounts,
1837-1840, 1851-1857, 1875.
(1 box)
{series #2.14} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date payment was made.
Accounts of expenses incurred for the first geological survey of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania. The sequentially numbered expenses for 1837-1840 most often
cover freight charges, food, postage, stationary, and other supplies and generally
provide the name of the person receiving payment, the nature of the expense
incurred, the amount paid, and the signature of the person receiving payment.
Also found for these years are a large number of loose receipts for expenditures
paid. Suspended in 1840 due to inadequate funding, the geological survey was
resumed when the state legislature appropriated an additional $32,000 for the
purpose in 1851. The Expenditures (1851) and Vouchers (1875) provide a record
of salaries and expenses paid toward completion of the survey in those years.
Index
to A. D. Cash and B. Brown's Accounts Current, Old Philadelphia,
1835.
(1 volume)
{series #2.84} [Holdings]
Grouped alphabetically by first letter in name of account, and thereunder
arranged chrono-numerically according to date of entry.
An index to A. D. Cash and B. Brown's accounts current. Entries provide names
and page references. Samples of account names listed include Charles Allen,
Pierce Butler, J. R. Coates, James Deal, Charles Evans, Peter Fritz, Reuben
Haines, J. Gaskill, William Johns, Joseph Kite, Franklin Lee, Clement Miller,
Russel H. Nevins, G. L. Oliver, George Phillips, Joseph Thompson, Thomas Weaver
and B. H. Yarnall. This series was originally part of an unascribed group of
volumes known as "Unidentified Indexes". It is the descriptive staff's
best estimate that this series pertains to RG-2, the Records of the Auditor
General. However, due to the close relationship and related provenance of records
of other early financial officials, it is conceivable that they may instead
pertain to records of the Comptroller General (RG-4), Register General (RG-24),
State Treasurer (RG-28) or Secretary of the Commonwealth (RG-26) or Commonwealth
Land Office (RG-17).
Index to Certificates,
1866-1867.
(1 volume)
{series #2.15} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by first letter of surname.
An index to certificates issued to finance state debt at the end of the Civil
War. The index gives the full name of the certificate holder, the certificate
number, and the date the certificate was issued.
Index to Churches and Beneficial Societies,
1831.
(1 volume)
{series #2.16} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by name of church or beneficial society.
An index created in 1831 that lists the names of all of the churches, seminaries,
and beneficial societies then active in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Entries
occasionally note the name of the town where the church, seminary or beneficial
society was located.
Indexes to
Ledgers,
[ca. 1781] & undated.
(4 volumes)
{series #2.85} [Holdings]
Grouped alphabetically by first letter in name of account, and thereunder arranged
chrono-numerically according to date of entry.
Four indexes all specifying by their titles or contents that they relate to
unidentified ledgers. The indexes may or may not be related. They can be described
as follows:
Journal,
1826-1830.
(1 volume)
{series #2.18} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date expense was paid or income was collected.
A running record of expenses paid or income collected by the Office of the Auditor
General commencing September 4, 1826 through the year 1830. After that year
this type of account information was transferred directly from daybooks to ledgers.
The entries cover contingent expenses for the operation of the penitentiaries,
payment of pensions, and maintenance of the militia and income derived from
retail and tavern licenses, various taxes, and other fees collected. Information
found frequently includes names of persons to whom disbursements were made or
of officers remitting fees, the place and date of disbursement or collection,
and the amount of the transaction.
Ledgers,
1808-1878.
(16 volumes)
{series #2.19} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by county, and thereunder chronologically by
date of entry.
Indexed internally by surnames of prothonotaries, registers, recorders, or other
county officers remitting taxes and fees.
A record of income collected from various taxes and fees collected at the county
level. Information found includes the name of the county where collected, the
name and title of the county officer remitting the taxes or fees, and the amount
collected.
Legislative Newspaper Subscription Account Book,
1847-1850.
(1 volume)
{series #2.20} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by year, and thereunder alphabetically by first
letters of legislator's surname.
A record of monies spent for newspaper subscriptions for Pennsylvania legislators.
Information provided includes the names of newspapers for which each legislator
was provided a subscription, the towns where the newspapers were published,
and the amounts paid for each subscription. A table in the front of the book
discloses the publication schedules and subscription rates for each newspaper.
Letter Book of the Register General and the Auditor General,
1802-1810.
(1 volume)
{series #2.21} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date sent.
Indexed internally, alphabetically by surname of addressee.
A record of letters sent by the Register General and the Auditor General to
various persons regarding the collection of revenue or disbursement of funds
for the operation of state government. Information found includes the date the
letter was sent, a transcription of the text, and the name of the person to
whom addressed.
Letter Books and Indexes,
1810-1866, 1894-1897.
(23 volumes)
{series #2.22} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date sent.
Indexed internally, alphabetically by surname and/or title of correspondent
to whom addressed.
The letter books contain copies of letters sent by the Auditor General to various
individuals, corporations, and county agencies. The letters relate primarily
to the collection of various state taxes and fees.
Letter Register,
1878-1879.
(1 volume)
{series #2.23} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date letter was received or sent.
An abstract of letters received and sent by the Office of the Auditor General
of Pennsylvania. Information found includes the date the letter was received
or sent, the name of the author or the addressee, the postal address, the date
answered, an abstract of the contents, and the departmental file to which assigned.
Oaths and Bonds,
1895-1935.
(2 folders)
{series #2.25} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of bond.
A file containing surety bonds and requests for replacement of bonds and lost
warrants for fire insurance coverage by various boroughs in Pennsylvania. Also
present are copies of oaths signed by private contractors swearing that they
had not previously received payment from the Commonwealth for contracted services
and bonds from various banks required by the Commonwealth for the deposit of
state funds.
Partial Index
(H-J),
undated.
(1 volume)
{series #2.87} [Holdings]
Grouped alphabetically by first letter in name of account, and thereunder arranged
chrono-numerically according to date of entry.
A partial index to an unspecified volume. Entries list a person's name and a
page number. Account names include Thomas Hughs, Thomas Husband, James Hunter
and Benjamin Jones. This series was originally part of an unascribed group of
volumes known as "Unidentified Indexes". It is the descriptive staff's
best estimate that this series pertains to RG-2, the Records of the Auditor
General. However, due to the close relationship and related provenance of records
of other early financial officials, it is conceivable that they may instead
pertain to records of the Comptroller General (RG-4), Register General (RG-24),
State Treasurer (RG-28) or Secretary of the Commonwealth (RG-26) or Commonwealth
Land Office (RG-17).
Payment Books,
1809-1897.
(6 volumes)
{series #2.26} [Holdings]
Grouped chronologically and thereunder alphabetically by agency.
A record of payments made in support of the general expenses of government including
the Common and Soldier Orphan Schools, the Board of Pardons, the State Library,
maintenance of various public buildings and grounds, inspection of coal mines,
the House of Refuge, the Revenue Commission, various military claims, the State
Military Board, the Pennsylvania State Agricultural Society, and other departments.
Entries generally provide the names of the individual receiving payment, his
or her title where appropriate, and the amount paid.
Port of Philadelphia Accounts,
1809-1868.
(1 box)
{series #2.27} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically.
A record of accounts kept by the Warden of the Port of Philadelphia. Among the
items found are records of salary and expenses paid by the Commonwealth to the
Master Warden of the Port from 1809 and a record of fees collected from pilots
for licenses and for recording indentures. After 1820, the file also contains
returns for inspection of lumber exported through the port of Philadelphia.
These generally give the date of inspection, the name of the seller and the
purchaser, the name of the vessel, the surname of the captain, the total number
of pieces, and a breakdown of the number of pieces of yellow pine, white pine,
cherry and maple, oak, red cedar, and hemlock. The accounts also give the total
number of board feet in each lot sold and the surname of the inspector. Returns
made under the Bark Inspection Law provide breakouts of monthly fees collected
and annual expenses. There are also accounts documenting inspections of flour,
rye, and cornmeal and of domestic distilled spirits, numerous receipts for salaries
paid to inspectors, and records of tonnage duties collected for the purpose
of removing obstructions in the Delaware River. Following an Act of the Legislature
passed on April 15, 1835, beef, pork, and fish were added to the list of items
requiring inspection.
Public Buildings and Grounds Accounts,
1809-1873.
(5 boxes)
{series #2.28} [Holdings]
Grouped alphabetically by name of building and thereunder chronologically.
A record of amounts paid for construction and maintenance of the Arch Street
Prison, Eastern State Penitentiary, Western State Penitentiary, various fire
proof buildings, the State Capitol, and for removal of the seat of government
during the War of 1812. Information found includes nature of expenses incurred,
the name of the person receiving payment, and the amount paid.
Receipt of Expenditure Books,
1812-1857.
(10 volumes)
{series #2.29} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically.
A record of receipts and expenditures of the Office of Auditor General. Sequentially
numbered entries generally provide the names of individuals paying receipts
to or receiving payment from the Commonwealth. A brief description of the nature
of the receipt or expenditure also usually appears in addition to the amount
of the payment. The types of transactions covered include fees collected by
the state for various types of licenses, warrants for the purchase of sundry
items, expenses paid to settle suits brought against the Commonwealth, and expenses
connected with the military defense of the Commonwealth.
Record of Fees Received by Notaries Public,
1858-1861.
(1 volume)
{series #2.30} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by county, and thereunder chronologically by
date of remittance.
A record of fees collected by notaries public in the various counties of the
Commonwealth. Entries provide the name of the notary who collected the fees,
the town of residence, the date from which the most recent fees submitted commenced,
and the amount collected for the period.
Records of the Auditor General,
1958-1976.
(35 cartons, 1 box)
{series #2.89} [Holdings]
Loosely grouped by subject matter.
Records maintained by the Auditor General, the bulk of which belonged to Robert
P. Casey, Sr., who served in that capacity from 1969-1976. Files are varied,
and contain correspondence, reports, financial documents, audits, and minutes
from various commissions on which he was a statutory member, including the Pennsylvania
Higher Educational Facilities Authority (PHEFA), the State Public School Building
Authority (SPSBA), the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA), the Local Government
Records Committee, and the Joint Interstate Bridge Commission (Pennsylvania
and New York). Also included are minutes and reports from the Delaware River
Joint Toll Bridge Commission (DRJTBC) and State Highway Bridge Authority (SHBA)
of which he was an appointed member.
For related records, please see Minutes,
1968-2004 {series #49.2} within the Records of the Pennsylvania Higher Educational
Facilities Authority (RG- 49); Minutes,
1947-2004 {#78.2} within the Records of the State Public School Building
Authority (RG-78); Delaware River Port Authority
and Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission
within the Records of the Special Commissions (RG-25); and Minutes,
Reports, and General Correspondence of the State Highway and Bridge Authority,
1950, 1954-1965 {#12.5} within the Records of the Department of Highways
(RG-12).
Register of Bank Notes (Issued Under Act of May 31, 1860),
1860-1898.
(1 volume)
{series #2.31} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date issued.
A register of war loans issued to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to finance
military operations during the Civil War. Information found includes the number
of bonds issued, the name of the institution holding the loan, the date of issue,
the date when due for reimbursement, the date of reimbursement, and the amount
reimbursed.
Returns of Operators of Collieries, Oil Wells, Ore Banks,
and Quarries,
1871.
(3 boxes)
{series #2.32} [Holdings]
Grouped alphabetically by county, and thereunder chronologically by
date of return.
Returns filed by individuals and companies under the provisions of the Act for
the Collection of Mineral Statistics passed by the General Assembly on May 9,
1871. The returns are for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1871 and provide
the name of the owner or other designation of each colliery, oil well, ore bank,
or quarry; the name of the township where located; and the name of the land
owner, or lessee if applicable. The quantity of coal mined for colliery purposes
and whether it was sent to market via railroad or canal, or navigable river
or used in a rolling mill, blast furnace, or salt works is noted. The quantities
of iron ore, petroleum, salt, limestone, soapstone, clay, slate, or building
stone extracted are also reported.
River Improvement Accounts,
1810-1835.
(4 boxes)
{series #2.33} [Holdings]
Grouped by waterway and arranged thereunder chronologically.
A file consisting of correspondence, receipts, and financial statements concerning
projects to improve navigation on the Susquehanna River, Muncy Creek, North
Branch of Susquehanna, West Branch of Susquehanna, Loyalsock Creek, Sinnimahoning
Creek, Juniata River, Monongahela River, Cheat River, Allegheny River, Beaver
River, Redbank Creek, Ohio River, French Creek, and the Youghiogheny River.
Information found includes the names of contractors, dates of contracts, a brief
description of work done, and the amount paid.
Road and Turnpike Accounts,
1809-1840, 1872.
(5 boxes)
{series #2.34} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by name of turnpike company and thereunder chronologically.
Partially indexed in {13.118} Road and Turnpike
Papers Card Index in Record Group 13, Records of the Pennsylvania Historical
and Museum Commission.
A collection of annual reports to the Pennsylvania Auditor General by presidents
of the various private turnpike companies that operated in the Commonwealth.
Information generally found includes the cost of road construction, the amount
of individual subscriptions, the amount paid by the state, the amount of debts
due by the company, the value tolls collected, the value of expenditures for
repairs, amount of debt paid to contractors for construction, and the amounts
paid to the president, managers, treasurer, secretary, and toll collectors.
Also found is the value of dividends declared if any, the value of any surplus
funds, the amount due from the Commonwealth, and statements of expenditures
providing the names of individuals receiving payments and the amounts each was
paid.
Salary Ledger,
1809-1824.
(1 volume)
{series #2.35} [Holdings]
Grouped by office, and thereunder chronologically.
Indexed internally by surname.
Ledger containing accounts of salaries paid to brigade inspectors to January,
1824;
to presiding judges of court to October, 1813; and to the state Adjutant General.
The dated entries provide a breakdown of the periods covered by salary payments
and the amount of each payment.
State Loan Books,
1826-1882.
(1 box)
{series #2.36} [Holdings]
Arranged numerically by loan certificate number.
Indexed externally, alphabetically by name of certificate holder.
A record of loans made to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by a variety of individuals
and private companies. Information usually found includes the name and place
of residence of the person or company holding the loan certificate, the date
the certificate was issued, the amount of the loan, the amount of interest due,
and occasionally the dates interest payments were made. Among the items found
are the following:
· List of bondholders holding bonds used to fund state internal improvement
projects, 1826-1830. (1 folder)
· Record of unclaimed interest due on Pennsylvania Loans from February
1, 1831 to August 1, 1841. (1 folder)
· State loan certificates issued at 6% interest on April 7, 1842. (1
folder)
· List of state loan certificates issued by the Auditor General in compliance
with the Act of the General Assembly of April 8, 1843. (1 folder)
· Receipts for payment of interest on state loans due on April 7 and
May 1, 1843. (1 folder)
· Alphabetical list of stockholders holding 5% Interest Loans on February
1, 1845. (1 folder)
· Record of interest paid on state loans on February 1, 1852. (1 folder)
· Unclaimed interest on state loans payable on February 1, 1858. (1 folder)
· Certificates for state stock reissued to replace lost certificates
in 1870. (1 folder)
· List of holders of Pennsylvania state Loans as they appeared on the
books of the Farmers and Mechanics National Bank on November 1, 1882. (1 folder)
State Loan Holders Books,
1852-1899.
(33 volumes)
{series #2.37} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by year, and thereunder alphabetically by first
letter of surname.
A record of the names of stockholders holding Pennsylvania loans. Information
found includes the percentage rate of the loan, the name of the stockholder,
and the value of the stock held.
Stub Books,
1841-1873.
(1 box)
{series #2.38} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically.
A record of sums paid to private individuals, private firms, military personnel,
and local government agencies for services rendered to the state between November
15, 1841 and April 12, 1873. The types of expenses covered include such diverse
services as repairs to powder magazines, holding special court sessions in various
communities, militia expenses, and printing costs. The entries are sequentially
numbered and provide the name of the individual receiving payment, a brief description
of the reason the expense was incurred, the amount of the payment, and the date
the payment was made.
Treasurer's Reports,
1809-1813, 1817-1819.
(3 boxes)
{series #2.39} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically.
Original reports filed by the State Treasurer of Pennsylvania of the receipts
and payments made in and for the Commonwealth. Entries on the annual reports
provide monthly balances of funds held in the State Treasury and of amounts
paid for warrants returned to the Treasury. The monthly reports of receipts
and expenditures provide the balances carried forward from the previous month,
the dates of collections and disbursements, the names of individuals remitting
fees and receiving payments, and the amounts of each receipt or expenditure.
In the case of expenditures made for the House and Senate, the expenditures
incurred by each representative and senator are given.
Unidentified
Index,
undated.
(1 volume)
{series #2.88} [Holdings]
Grouped alphabetically by first letter in name of account, and thereunder
arranged chrono-numerically according to date of entry.
Entries in this small, twelve page index give a page reference to an unspecified
volume, a person's name, and a monetary amount. There is a summary of accounts
in pencil on the first page. Examples of account names listed include J. M.
Atwood, Sarah Bass, Chas. Bird, Thomas Biddle, William Baldwin, Phebe Baldwin,
Sarah Button, William Bose, Sarah Button, John Brooks, W. Bonnell, Isabella
Baker, P. L. Berry, John Conrad, G. R. & H. Campbell, John Campbell, H.
J. Connelly, John Connelly, Seth Craig, David Correy, Mary Carson, Thomas Cook,
Jas. Cartairs, Sophia Dulles, Mrs. Dalhlgreen, William Drysdale, John Ewing,
Samuel Emery, Martha Gorman, John Gano, John Huff Nagle, James Hamilton, George
Handy, Joshua Haven, John Holmes, Mary Hadaway, William Hadder, James Hunter,
Jonathan L. Hays, John Hall, Robert Jordan, Mrs. Jordan, Mrs. Kepele, A. Kittera,
William Kerr, Robert Kidd, S. Kingston, A. King, John Kissick, William Lea,
J. G. Longstreth, E. Littell, R. Mason, M. McKinlay, Isaac McCaulay, John McCauley,
James McCrea, A. McConnell, Robert Milnor, Dr. J. K. Mitchell, A. Montgomery,
William Mingle, Benjamin Mifflin, McMehan, Dr. H. Neill, T. B. Newman, Joseph
Norbury, Catharine Orr, Samuel Park, Andrew Petit, R. Patton, W. D. Park, John
Richardson, James Read, Samuel H. Reid, Robert Ralston, P. & D. Richards,
Robert Rae, Samuel Roberts, George Raltson, William Rogers, Thomas Sergeant,
John Struthers, T. Sparhawk, J. Sloan, A. Summers, Jonathan Smith, Thomas Stewart,
John C. Smith, Soloman Smith, Thomas Shewell, M. Shanklin, R. Stephens, A. Shibley,
William E. Tatem, Tagert, R. Tybout, A. Taquaire, A. Turnbull, A. Vinton, Thomas
Vinton, J. M. Van Harlingen, Ambrose White, E. Withington, M. Wilson and William
Wright. This series was originally part of an unascribed group of volumes known
as "Unidentified Indexes". It is the descriptive staff's best estimate
that this series pertains to RG-2, the Records of the Auditor General. However,
due to the close relationship and related provenance of records of other early
financial officials, it is conceivable that they may instead pertain to records
of the Comptroller General (RG-4), Register General (RG-24), State Treasurer
(RG-28) or Secretary of the Commonwealth (RG-26) or Commonwealth Land Office
(RG-17).
Warrant Books,
1807-1828, 1851-1879.
(19 volumes)
{series #2.40} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of warrant.
A record of warrants for services and supplies and of fees collected by the
Auditor General's Office. The entries recording fees derived from licenses give
the name of the individual remitting the fee, the county of residence, the date
received, and the amount remitted. The warrants for expenditures provide a record
of disbursements to pay salaries, mileage, and supplies for the operation of
the Senate, House of Representatives, and the Executive Department. The entries
are sequentially numbered and generally provide the date, the name of the individual
receiving payment, the nature of the disbursement, and the amount disbursed.
Warrants,
1809-1874.
(78 cartons)
{series #2.41} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of warrant.
This series consists of original warrants issued for various services and supplies
for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Information found generally includes the
date the warrant was issued, the name of the warrantee, the nature of the service
or product, and the amount the state treasurer was directed to pay.
Records Relating to Military Service
The three folders of Pension Accounts contain a record of pension applications submitted by Civil War widows or orphans in response to the Pension Acts of May 15, 1861 and April 11, 1862. Information found includes the names of the deceased soldiers and their widows, dates of marriages, names and birth dates of children, periods of service, and dates of death. Sometimes more additional information about the soldier, such as occupation before enlistment and physical description, appears within the pension applications. Signed receipts from surviving Civil War veterans receiving pensions are included in the third folder.
Claims for Land Damages Submitted to Common Pleas Court,
Index to Old
Soldiers' Applications and Admissions on the Pension Books by the Board,
1826.
(1 volume)
{series #2.86} [Holdings]
Grouped alphabetically by first letter in name of account, and thereunder arranged
chrono-numerically according to date of entry.
An index to the "Old Soldiers File". Information provided by each entry is name of applicant, page number of the corresponding Board record, and a number reference to the "papers file in the book case". Names entered include such individuals as John Allison, James Brown, Patrick Cavenaugh, Francis Donnelly, Evan Evans, Captain Andrew Forrest, Robert Gordon, Captain John Hughs, Captain Andrew Johnston, John King, Samuel Leonard, Jacob Mayers, James Newberry, Matthew Organ, James Patton, John Rowan, Arthur St. Clair, Allen Tennant, Thomas Vaughn, Robert Wilson, Robert Young and Henry Zibbens. This series was originally part of an unascribed group of volumes known as "Unidentified Indexes". It is the descriptive staff's best estimate that this series pertains to RG-2, the Records of the Auditor General. However, due to the close relationship and related provenance of records of other early financial officials, it is conceivable that they may instead pertain to records of the Comptroller General (RG-4), Register General (RG-24), State Treasurer (RG-28) or Secretary of the Commonwealth (RG-26) or Commonwealth Land Office (RG-17).
Index to Register of Military Claims,
[ca. 1863-1905].
(1 volume)
{series #2.49} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by surname of claimant.
An index to the Register of Military Claims (Submitted Under Act of April
16, 1862, 1863-1905 {series #2.58} for clothing, subsistence, and service
(filed under the provisions of the Act of assembly dated 16 April 1862 and supplemented
by Act of 22 April 1863). Information is entered alphabetically by claimant's
name followed by claim number.
Index to Revolutionary Documents,
undated.
(1 volume)
{series #2.17} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by first letter of surname.
An index that provides the full names of Pennsylvania soldiers who fought in
the Revolutionary War and the page numbers on which related documents could
originally be found. This index is now an orphan as it is divorced from those
original documents.
Mexican War Accounts and Related Papers,
1846-1880.
(12 boxes)
{series #2.50} [Holdings]
Arranged by regiment and company, and thereunder alphabetically by first
letter of veteran's surname.
A collection of muster rolls and claims for pay for the 1st and 2nd Regiments
of the Pennsylvania Volunteers who participated in the Mexican War. The muster
rolls generally provide soldiers' names, ages and ranks; dates and location
of muster-in; names of mustering officers; names of units, regiments, and companies;
and the names of commanding officers to which assigned. The Claims for State
Pay usually provide the soldiers' names, units of service, and the reasons the
claims were filed. Some claim forms also provide the claimants' residences,
dates of enlistment, terms of service, wounds suffered, dates of discharges,
and pensions received.
Military Claims File: Claims Settled,
1862-1905.
(38 cartons)
{series #2.51} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by year, and thereunder alphabetically by surname.
Indexed internally, alphabetically by name of claimant, except for the years
1875-1882.
These files resulted from the Acts of April 16, 1862 and April 22, 1863 providing
for the Adjutant General, the Quartermaster General, and the Commissary General
to act as a board to adjudicate and settle claims for pay of Pennsylvania volunteers,
officers, and enlisted men. Included are affidavits, certifications, and declarations
that provide the militiaman's name, signature, rank, company, regiment, unit,
and county of residence; date warrant was issued; the amount of pay that was
received; the period of service covered by the pay; and the place where the
claim was filed.
Military Claims File: Claims not Settled,
[ca. 1862-1905].
(4 cartons)
{series #2.52} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by year, and thereunder alphabetically by surname.
A record of claims that were not settled in response to the Acts of April 16,
1862 and April 22, 1863 providing for the Adjutant General, the Quartermaster
General, and the Commissary General to act as a board to adjudicate and settle
claims for pay of the Pennsylvania Volunteers. Among the items found are affidavits,
certifications, and declarations that provide the militiaman's name, signature,
rank, company, regiment, unit, and county of residence; date warrant was issued;
the amount of pay that was to be received; the period of service that was to
be paid; and the place where the claim was filed.
Military Pension Accounts and Related Papers,
[ca. 1795-1883].
(2 boxes, 9 volumes)
{series #2.53} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by surname of pensioner.
Indexed externally, alphabetically
by surname of pensioner.
The file consists of various pension books and lists of the names of Pennsylvania
veterans who served between 1795 and 1883. Most of the accounts concern pensions
granted by special legislative acts and usually provide the pensioners' names
and counties of residence, dates on which pension payments were either due or
made, the amounts of money paid, and the act governing the allotment. Sometimes
the claimants' approximate dates of death are also recorded. These records are
continued from a series of Comptroller General records, Revolutionary War
Pension Files and Related Accounts, 1785-1809 {series
#4.52}. See also the following related series, and the online name
index to the Revolutionary War pensioners documented therein:
Militia Accounts,
1809-1864.
(53 cartons)
{series #2.54} [Holdings]
Arranged by division and brigade.
Contains payrolls for officers and militia, pay receipts, and records of militia
fines collected or imposed. The type of information found includes names of
militiamen receiving pay or paying fines, the amount received or remitted, and
the date of the transaction.
Militia Enrollment Lists and Related Records for Philadelphia
City and County,
1870-1872.
(6 boxes)
{series #2.55} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by surnames.
A record of persons residing in Philadelphia City and County who enlisted in
the Pennsylvania Militia in the period from 1870 through 1872. Information found
includes each militiaman's name, place of residence, age, and occupation.
Power of Attorney Papers and Receipts Relating to Military
Claims,
[ca. 1863-1871].
(1 volume)
{series #2.56} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of power of attorney.
Original powers of attorney submitted by soldiers filing military claims under
the provisions of the "Act of the General Assembly for the Adjudication
and Payment of Certain Military Claims" dated April 16, 1862 and amended
April 1, 1863. Information found includes the name of the soldier, company and
regiment in which he served, place of residence, and the name of the attorney
appointed. The powers of attorney are signed by three witnesses and also generally
provide the mailing address of the claimant.
Register of Deficient Claims,
1862-1865.
(1 volume)
{series #2.57} [Holdings]
Arranged sequentially by regiment.
This register, found in the back of the Board of Military Claims Minute Book,
1864-1869 {series #2.45}, is a record of disallowed claims for clothing,
subsistence, and service filed by servicemen under the provisions of the Act
of Assembly dated 16 April 1862 and supplemented by the Act of 22 April 1863.
It contains a record of disallowed claims arranged by regiment that provides
the name of the claimant, his rank and company, the dates covered by the claim,
the amount of the claim, and the reason for the disallowance.
Register of Military Claims (Submitted Under Act of April
16, 1862),
1863-1905.
(1 volume)
{series #2.58} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically.
Indexed in Index to Register of Military Claims, [ca. 1863-1905] {series
#2.49}.
A register of military claims submitted between September 9, 1863 and July 5,
1905 under the provisions of the Acts of April 16, 1862 and April 22, 1863.
The register provides the name, rank, company, and regiment of the claimant;
the time claimed; the pay rate per month; the date when the claim was received
and paid; the amount claimed and paid; and the nature of the claim.
Register of Recruits, 1st and 2nd Regiments, Pennsylvania
Volunteers,
1847-1848.
(1 volume)
{series #2.59} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by surname.
A record of recruits who served in the 1st and 2nd Regiments of the Pennsylvania
Volunteers in 1847-1848. The register entries provide the volunteers' names,
ages, and regiments; the dates and places where mustered in; and the names of
the enlisting officers. Data about whether a recruit was rejected or deserted,
and the place and date of discharge are also occasionally found. Many of these
names have been published in Volume 10 of the Sixth Series of the Pennsylvania
Archives.
Revolutionary War Pension File,
1809-1893.
(4 boxes)
{series #2.60} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by surname of pensioner.
Indexed externally, alphabetically
by surname of pensioner.
Certifications prepared by the Orphans' Court or the State Supreme Court entitling
Revolutionary War veterans or their wives to obtain state compensation such
as that provided for in the Act of September 22, 1785. Information found varies
with each document. While some certifications only list a soldier's name, place
of residence, and military unit, others include information on rank, age, date
of enlistment and wounds suffered. In those cases where the pension was paid
to a veteran's widow it is not unusual to find additional information about
the family and the date of the veteran's death. See also the following related
series, and the online name
index to the Revolutionary War pensioners documented therein:
War of 1812 Index of Soldiers,
undated.
(5 volumes)
{series #2.61} [Holdings] [Images]
Arranged alphabetically by surname of soldier.
An undated list of soldiers who served during the War of 1812. The index lists
each soldier's name, term of service, and the name of the company commander.
Written remarks noting desertions or the name of the battalions in which a militiaman
served are also sometimes found.
War of 1812 Militia Accounts,
1812-1827.
(14 boxes)
{series #2.62} [Holdings]
Arranged by military unit.
General accounts of Deputy Quartermaster Frederick Foering and paymaster accounts
of various companies, brigades, and regiments. Also present are documents relating
to the paying of, or exoneration from, fines by members of the Pennsylvania
Militia and a copy of a General Order of 12 May 1812 providing for the recruiting
of a militia. In most cases the materials are dated and give only the militiaman's
name and military unit, though in some cases the county and township of residence
and the names of commanding officers also appear.
War of 1812 Militia Accounts: Final Settlement with the
United States,
1812-1838.
(2 boxes)
{series #2.63} [Holdings]
Grouped according to military detachment and arranged thereunder by
military unit.
An index of final settlements accompanies the file.
General accounts and orders, receipts, pay vouchers, muster rolls, and payrolls
for Pennsylvania militia on active duty during the War of 1812. Included are
payrolls for the defense of Erie, records of courts martial, and the property
settlement under the Act of 29 March 1824. Although most documents provide only
the names, ranks, and regiments of soldiers, in those instances where muster
rolls are found information such as dates of enlistment, discharge, promotion,
or death also appears.
War of 1812 Partial List of Pensioners,
[ca. 1868].
(1 folder)
{series #2.64} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by county.
A list of claims filed by veterans of the War of 1812 and their widows for the
annuity provided under the Acts of March 30, 1866 and March 24, 1868. The list
gives the name of the veteran, place of residence, and occasionally the amount
of the annuity.
War of 1812 Pension File,
1866-1896 (bulk 1866-1879).
(57 boxes, 26 folders)
{series #2.65} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by surname of pensioner.
Indexed externally, alphabetically
by surname of pensioner.
A record created as a result of the Legislative Act of April 30, 1866 (together
with subsequent supplemental amendments) that granted annuities, gratuities,
or pensions to Pennsylvania soldiers (or their widows) who had served at least
two months duty, or who had been wounded or otherwise disabled during the War
of 1812. Files usually contain either of the following two types of notarized
documents:
Applications of Soldiers were submitted by veterans and provide the veterans'
names, signatures, residences, ranks, regiments, and military units; the names
of commanding officers; the periods of service; and the approximate dates of
enlistments and honorable discharges.
Applications of Widows were submitted by wives of deceased veterans and generally
contain information similar to that found on the Applications of Soldiers. From
the 1870s onward the dates of marriages and of the husband's death are also
frequently found. A few applications also provide both the widow's age at the
time of application and her spouse's age and place of death.
Published muster rolls and payrolls for the War of 1812 appear in the Pennsylvania
Archives, Sixth Series, Volumes 7-10 and Second Series, Volume 12. A list
of medallists can also be found in the Fourth Series.
War of 1812 Pension Receipts for Philadelphia City and
County,
1871-1876.
(11 folders)
{series #2.66} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of receipt.
Receipts for pensions paid to veterans and their widows for service in the War
of 1812 under the provisions of the Acts of March 30, 1866 and March 24, 1868.
The pension receipts contain the name and signature of the person receiving
payment, the place of residence, the amount of pension received, the date of
the receipt.
Records Relating to Civil War Border Claims
Included here are receipts for payments to Chambersburg citizens awarded claims
from the $500,000 appropriation of 1866 for the relief of Chambersburg citizens
who lost property in the 1864 Confederate raid. Information includes the name
of the claimant, the number of the warrant, the date of the payment, and the
amount of the payment.
Damage Claim Applications (Submitted Under Acts Passed
1863-1871),
1871-1879.
(53 boxes)
{series # 2.69} [Holdings]
Arranged by county and thereunder alphabetically by surname of claimant.
Damage claims by Adams, Bedford, Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton, and York county residents. Each application consists of a handwritten petition and a printed form called an "Abstract of Application For Damage" (primarily relating to the Acts of April 9, 1868 and May 22, 1871). The applications itemize the property lost or damaged and assign a monetary value, and frequently include witness testimony supporting the claim. Information shown includes the claim number and filing date; the name and residence (county and township) of the applicant; an inventory of personal property and real estate lost or damaged; the estimated monetary loss (aggregate as well as discrete) incurred; and the amount and date of the award granted. Particulars, such as the names of southern commanders responsible for the damage, are sometimes noted.
Index to Damage Claim Applications (Submitted Under
Acts Passed 1863-1871),
[ca. 1871-1879].
(1 volume)
{series # 2.70} [Holdings]
Arranged by county and thereunder by surname of the claimant.
Register of border raid damage claims filed in Adams, Bedford, Cumberland, Franklin,
Fulton, and York Counties. There is also a supplemental section regarding the
burning of Chambersburg, which claims were filed separately from the rest of
the border counties' claims. The register contains the filing date of the application,
date of appearance, the claim number, the name and address of the applicant,
the original claim number under the Act of 1868, the amount of the original
award under the Act of 1868, the amount of the award (real and personal property)
under Act of May 22, 1871, the certificate number (first or second series),
and the name of the attorney, the assignee, or administrator. The Chambersburg
entries have additional information regarding payment amounts issued pro rata
to claimants in pursuance of state appropriations of $500,000 and $300,000 in
1866 and 1871, respectively.
Index to Issued War Damage Adjudicated Claim Certificates,
1872-1879.
(1 volume)
{series # 2.71} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by the first letter of the claimant's surname.
This index lists those claimants who actually received their adjudicated claim
certificates. Information also includes the issued certificate numbers. Although
these claimants received certificates, they never received any cash value from
the government for these certificates.
Index to Unissued War Damage Adjudicated Claim Certificates,
1872-1879.
(1 volume)
{series # 2.72} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by the first letter of the claimant's surname.
This index lists those claimants for whom adjudicated claim certificates were
completed, but never issued. Subsequently, these certificates have remained
in the custody of the Auditor General. Information in this index also includes
the UN-issued certificate numbers.
Minutes of the Board of Appraisers of Chambersburg War
Damages,
1866.
(1 volume)
{series # 2.73} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by the session dates of the Board.
A daily record of the Chambersburg Board of Appraisers, created to appraise
all damages associated with the Rebel invasion of July 1864. The board met at
the Franklin County Courthouse from March 14th to April 21st and listened to
claimant and witness testimony regarding their lost property. When all claimants
were heard, the board decided how much to award each claim, and then turned
its adjudications, along with the claim applications, over to the Auditor General.
Included in the minutes are the numbers of the claims that were addressed each
day and miscellaneous transactions completed. Also present are a set of rules
the appraisers were to follow in judging the claims, a certified letter outlining
the appointment of the appraisers, and a copy of the Act of Assembly that created
the Board.
Minutes of the Board of Appraisers to Examine Damage
to Property Along the Southern Border,
1863-1864.
(1 volume)
{series # 2.74} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by the session dates of the Board.
A daily record of the Board of Appraisers convened by an act of the General
Assembly to appraise all damages and losses associated with the impressment
of horses and supplies by the Anderson Cavalry in September 1862 and General
Stuart's rebel raid one month later. The Board met at several key locations
in the southern counties (including Harrisburg, Chambersburg, and Gettysburg)
from November 6, 1863 to November 25, 1864. Claimants would come before the
Board to present their testimonies and cases regarding their loss of property.
Once all claims were reviewed and accurately adjusted, the appraisers submitted
their findings to the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas for final review
before an official report was sent to the Governor. Included in the minutes
are the numbers of the claims that were addressed each day in session and any
miscellaneous transactions that were completed.
Record of Chambersburg War Damage Claim Final Awards
Issued Under Act of February 15, 1866,
1866.
(1 volume)
{series # 2.75} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by the first letter of the claimant's surname.
This is a record of the pro rata payment amount that each Chambersburg claimant
received as a result of the $500,000 state appropriation. Information for each
entry includes the claim number, the name of the claimant, the total amount
claimed (in real and personal property), the warrant number, the total amount
awarded (in real and personal property), and the pro rata amount received.
Reports and Damage Claim Abstracts,
1868-1871.
(1 box)
{series # 2.76} [Holdings]
Arranged by county and thereunder alphabetically by the first letter of
the claimant's surname or by claim number.
These are miscellaneous reports and abstracts relating to the adjudications
of the two Appraisal Boards (of 1868 and 1871) to assess or reassess all damages
in the border counties. The first board was convened with the express purpose
of hearing and ruling on all claims within all the border counties. The board
was hampered by time and organizational constraints and many of their findings
were found to be inadequate. Subsequently, a second board was organized three
years later to review all claims once again and to make any adjustments to the
first board's conclusions. Information in these volumes include the name of
claimant, date the claim was heard by the board(s), county within which the
damage occurred, damage done by Federal troops, damage done by Confederates,
total amount claimed, and total amount awarded to each claim. These reports
and abstracts also include a minute book corresponding with the proceedings
of the Appraisal Board of 1871, a compilation of damage claim aggregates by
county, and a listing of claimants for which damage claim certificates were
never made out.
War Damage Adjudicated Claim Certificates,
1872-1879.
(6 boxes)
{series # 2.77} [Holdings]
Arranged numerically by certificate number.
Indexed externally, alphabetically by the first letter of the claimant's surname,
in two separate volumes: the Index to Issued War Damage Adjudicated Claim Certificates,
1872-1879 {series # 2. 71} [Holdings], and
the Index to UN-issued War Damage Adjudicated Claim Certificates, 1872-1897
{series # 2. 72} [Holdings].
This series documents the state's desire to liquidate damages sustained by
all claimants within the border counties. Pursuant to the Act of May 22, 1871,
claimants were to receive certificates that validated their adjudicated awards
with the state. Certificates were to be redeemed for their monetary value only
when the federal government appropriated money for the relief of said claimants.
However, not all the certificates actually made it into the hands of the claimants.
Moreover, the ones that were issued proved worthless, as the federal government
never allocated money to Pennsylvania for the relief of its citizens. Certificate
information includes the claimant's name, the certificate number, the amount
of claim, and the date the certificate was prepared. The certificates also contain
the signatures of the Auditor General, the Governor, and the State Treasurer.
Records Relating to State and County Offices
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