Docket Book of Justice of the Peace.
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania: March 14, 1809 - January 18, 1815. Item #885 Tall folio. 320 x 195 mm. [13 x 8 inches]. Manuscript in ink. 215 pp. Alphabetical index of cases, plus some official printed forms and 15 loose notes and receipts. Contemporary calf backed boards, spine separated, front board detached; text block brown with age; deep stain to first 20 pages of the index, some other light staining, but still highly legible. With faults a highly readable and information manuscript document. Dated docket entries for Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, which contain about two cases per page, many of which involve Pennsylvania Germans. The plaintiffs and defendant are named, and the judgments and payments entered. Often, the entry contains the signature of one of the parties acknowledging receipt of monies. Many cases concern debts owed. A typical entry: "Feb 12, 1810. Michael Bartman vs. Frederick Buck. Book debts £ 2.18.7 1½2. Justice fees £ 2.3, Judgment by confession in favor of the pltf for the above debts and costs.” Another example for “Feby 20th Rudolph Harley sp. Bail. May 6th pd John Richards six dollars, 29th ditto paid seventeen shillings & nine pence. Credited to judgment obtained by Samuel Schoch against Michael Bartman 5th docket pa. 293". Another cases describes accusations by Maria Hartranft against John Yerger. The depositions reads. “The examination of Maria Hartranft of Douglass Township. Single woman taken an Oath before me, John Richards the thirteenth day of February 1810. Who saith that on or about the middle of November last feast and at several times before and since a certain John Yerger of the same place, Cordwainer, had Carnal Knowledge of her body, whereby [?] this examinant, is now big with Child and that the said John Yerger, is the father of the said Child, and further saith not.” On April 27, 1810, a case between Catharine Liebenguth vs William Birns was also heard by Mr. Richards. “On a Complaint that the said William this day on the Road between Pottstown, and Glasgow Forge behav’d himself in an unbecoming and improper Manner, by Scaring her horse by which her life was endangered. Parties appeared and by the Testimony it appeared that the charge was not founded and unsupported. Judg’t the action was dismissed, and her Father Mathias Liebenguth pad the cost to J. R.” Other women involved in court case include Elizabeth Esterline, Elizabeth Liebenguth (four times for non-payment of debt) Mary Decker (assault and battery on the body of Abraham Mowser), Catherine Decker, Maria Hartranth (testifying that John Yeager had carnal knowledge of her body resulting in pregnancy; Yeager says not); Elizabeth Reissnyder, Elizabeth Richtstine, Susannah Romfeld, Eliz. Shiner (a dispute over inheritance), Catherine Stettler, and Magdalena Swenck, The book contains about 400 entries, many with details of accusations, defense and judgements and provides an important view of a communities legal issues and the way justice was rendered. Although the book has no title-page, based on receipts and papers contained therein, authorship is likely the John Richards (1753-1822) who was the brother of Matthias Richards. Born in New Hanover, Philadelphia County, Pa., April 18, 1753, he was educated under private tutors, served as magistrate during the Revolutionary War, appointed justice of the peace for Philadelphia County June 6, 1777, and served until his death. He was the judge of the court of common pleas for Montgomery County in 1784. Richards was a delegate to the Federal Constitutional Convention in 1787 and elected as a Republican to the Fourth Congress (March 4, 1795-March 3, 1797). He was a member of Pennsylvania State Senate from 1801 to 1807. In 1809 he was elected Justice of the Peace. By trade Richards was an ironmaster and engaged in mercantile and agricultural pursuits; He died in New Hanover, PA., November 13, 1822; interment in Faulkner Swamp (Lutheran) Church Cemetery .
Price: $2,000.00