Petition for forming the County of York from Lancaster County PA
- Contributed by Margaret Gagliardi
To the Honourable House of Representatives of the Freemen of the Province of Pennsylvania
The humble Petition of severall of the Inhabitants of this Province being on the West side the River Susquehanna in the County of Lancaster.
Most humbly showeth, That your Petitioners Labour under great difficulties & hardships by reason of their distant situation from the town of Lancaster where the Courts are held for the punishing offenders and the Distribution of Justice the great expense of Carrying on a prosecution at such a distance and the small number of Officers Residing amongst us Encourage wicked and disorderly persons Resorting to the Remote parts of the Settlement to Commit thefts and other Offences & to neglect Paying their Just Debts who too often find a means to escape the Punishment provided by the Laws for the Crimes.
That your Pet's are often oblidged to attend the courts at Lancaster as well __ Publick Service as to __ their private business these depriving to their great loss of time & often to the danger of their life & health in travailing in bad Weather and at a high expence occasioned as well by their distance from Lancaster as in Crossing the River Susquehanna having many times __ at expences several days in going and Returning before ye River can be Crossed.
That your Pet'rs also Suffer much by the high amount of Officers Mileage the Costs in Civil Actions frequently exceeding the Debt occasioned by your Pet'rs being Situate so far distant from the County Town.
That your Pet'rs beg leave humbly to Represent that the Settlement & Tract of Land lying on the West side Susquehanna between ye Maryland Line & ye South Mountain is of ___ Sufficient for a New County as your Pet'rs humbly Concieve. That the Settlements are very numerous & the Improvements greatly enlarged within these few years & daily increasing & that the People are Capable & Willing to Contribute to the raising of such sums of money as may be necessary for the Publick Service.
Therefore your Pet'rs most humbly pray that your hon'ble house in Conjunction with his Honour of Governour for preventing the above hardships & Mischief for the future, for the benefit and welfare of your Pet'rs and to ye Intent that the Good and wholesome Laws of the Province may be more easily & duly put in Execution amongst us may please to Erect the Tract of Land and Settlement into a separate County & further to doe as your Hon'ble house in your great Wisdomes upon Consideration of our Case shall __ meet for our relief in the Sumes And your Pet'rs shall upon all occasion do discover their gratitude and as in duty bound shall pray &c. Signed among many others - John Franckeberger
Note: Many names are signed on this petition in German.
Note: York County was formed from Lancaster County in 1749. Since this petition was not dated, it must have been written about 1748.