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Lancaster PA Petition Bernard Fitzpatrick City Watchman Signed Manuscript
Original 19th-century handwritten petition from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, submitted to the Mayor of Lancaster, requesting the appointment of Bernard Fitzpatrick as City Watchman.
The petition is addressed to Hon. John Zimmerman, Mayor of the City of Lancaster, and states that Fitzpatrick, of the South East Ward, is “a man both worthy and competent for the office.” The document is signed by numerous local citizens, making it an excellent piece of municipal, law-enforcement, and local Pennsylvania history.
🔍 Key Details
Document Type: Handwritten civic petition
Subject: Bernard Fitzpatrick – appointment as City Watchman
Location: Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Addressee: Hon. John Zimmerman, Mayor of Lancaster
Ward: South East Ward
Date: Circa 1850s (period handwriting, paper, and context)
Signatures: Multiple original ink signatures of Lancaster residents
Paper: Lined period paper, folded as issued
📜 Notable Signers (as legible)
Includes multiple named citizens such as:
⚠️ Condition
Authentic antique condition consistent with age:
Edge wear, folds, staining, and ink bleed
Small paper losses and holes (see images)
All writing remains legible
No restoration. Sold as found.
🏛 Historical Significance
City watchmen were early forms of organized municipal policing. This petition provides direct insight into mid-19th-century local governance, public safety, and community endorsement practices in Lancaster, PA.
A strong piece for:
Pennsylvania history collectors
Law enforcement & policing history
Lancaster County genealogy
Manuscript & ephemera 8.5" by 7.5"
Book 10 Page 45
