USA > Pennsylvania > Northumberland County > History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania > Part 21
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Provincial Conference, June 18, 1775 .- William Cooke, Alexander Hunter, John Weitzel.
Provincial Conference, June 18, 1776 .- William Cooke, Alexander Hunter, John Weitzel, Robert Martin, Matthew Brown.
Constitutional Convention, July 15, 1776. - William Cooke, James Pot- ter, Robert Martin, Matthew Brown, Walter Clark, John Kelly, James Craw- ford, John Weitzel.
Council of Censors .- Section XLVIIth of the constitution of 1776 pro- vided for an election in 1783 and every seventh year thereafter of two per- sons from each county and the city of Philadelphia, said persons to comprise the Council of Censors, the duties of which included an inquiry into the manner in which the constitution was observed and enforced. Two different returns were made from Northumberland county to the first session of this Council, which convened on the 10th of November, 1783; on the 26th of the same month, William Montgomery and Samuel Hunter were declared elected. James Potter, elected vice Hunter, deceased, took his seat, July 7, 1784.
Constitutional Convention, November 24, 1789 .- Charles Smith, Simon Snyder.
Constitutional Convention, May 2, 1837 .- Senatorial delegate, Robert Fleming-district: Northumberland, Centre, and Lycoming; Representative delegate, William Gearhart.
Constitutional Convention, November 12, 1872 .- Senatorial Representa- tives: Joseph Bailey, Levi Rooke, John P. Cronmiller-district: Northum- berland, Union, Snyder, and Perry.
LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATION.
Members of Assembly .- Northumberland county was first represented in the Assembly that met at Philadelphia on the 14th of October, 1772. The following is a list of members from that time until the adoption of the con- stitution of 1790, with the year in which the members were respectively elected: 1772-75, Samuel Hunter; 1776, Thomas Hewitt, Samuel Dale, Jacob Follmer, Robert Fruit, David Robb, Samuel Wallis; 1777, Samuel Dale, Robert Fruit, James Murray, William Irwin, Simon Hemrod, Robert Fleming; 1778, Samuel Dale, Simon Hemrod, James McKnight, Robert Mar- tin, Robert Fruit, James Crawford; 1779, Robert Martin, Samuel Dale, Will- iam Montgomery; 1780, William Montgomery, David Mckinney, John Kelly; 1781-82, William Montgomery, William Maclay, William Cooke; 1783, James McClenachan, William Cooke, William Maclay; 1784, Frederick Antes, Daniel Montgomery, Samuel Dale; 1785, Frederick Antes, Samuel Dale, William Maclay; 1786, Frederick Antes, Samuel Dale; 1787-89, Samuel Maclay, John White.
191
ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION.
Member of the Committee of Safety .- Samuel Hunter, June 30, 1775, to July 22, 1776.
Members of the Council of Safety .- John Weitzel, July 24, 1776, to March 13, 1777; John Hambright, October 17, 1777, to December 4, 1777.
Members of Supreme Executive Council .- Under the constitution of 1776, the general executive functions of the government devolved upon the president and Supreme Executive Council. This body was composed of one member from the city of Philadelphia and each of the counties of the State, elected for the term of three years. The first members from Northumberland, Bedford, Northampton, and Westmoreland, however, served but one year, in order that a certain proportion of new members might be received each year thereafter. The representation of this county, with the year in which each member was elected, was as follows: 1776, John Lowdon; 1777, John Ham- . bright; 1780, James Potter; 1783, John Boyd; 1786, William Maclay; 1789, William Wilson.
State Representatives .- The following is a list of members of the lower house of the legislature since the adoption of the constitution of 1790, with the year in which each member was elected: 1790-91, Samuel Maclay, John White; 1792, Samuel Dale, John White; 1793, Josiah Haines, James David- son; 1794, Flavel Roan, George Hughes, Jacob Follmer; 1795, Flavel Roan, Hugh White, Robert Martin; 1796, John White, Hugh White, Thomas Grant; 1797, Simon Snyder, Samuel Maclay; 1798-1800, Simon Snyder, Jacob Follmer; 1801, Simon Snyder, Jacob Follmer, Jesse Moore, Samuel Dale; 1802, Jesse Moore, Jacob Follmer, Daniel Montgomery, Simon Sny- der; 1803, Simon Snyder, Robert Giffen, Leonard Rupert, John Bull; 1804, Simon Snyder, Leonard Rupert, John Bull, Abraham Mckinney; 1805, Robert Smith, Leonard Rupert, John Bull, Abraham Mckinney; 1806, Simon Snyder, Leonard Rupert, Abraham Mckinney, Robert Smith; 1807, Simon Snyder, Leonard Rupert, Abraham McKinney, John Murray; 1808, John Murray, Leonard Rupert, Frederick Evans, Andrew Albright; 1809, John Murray, Leonard Rupert, Abraham Mckinney, Frederick Evans; 1810, John Murray, Jared Irwin, Leonard Rupert, Frederick Evans; 1811, Samuel Bond, Jared Irwin, Andrew McClenachan, Frederick Evans; 1812, Samuel Bond, Andrew McClenachan, Leonard Rupert, George Kremer; 1813, Samuel Bond, Leonard Rupert, Thomas Murray, Jr., George Kremer-district: Northumberland, Union, and Columbia; 1814, David E. Owen, Robert Wil- lett, Joseph Hutchinson, Henry Shaffer-district: Northumberland, Union, and Columbia; 1815, Henry Shaffer, Joseph Hutchinson-district: North- umberland; 1816, Lewis Dewart, Abraham Mckinney; 1817, Lewis Dewart, Joseph Hutchinson; 1818, Lewis Dewart, John Miller; 1819-20, Lewis Dewart, John Haas; 1821, Daniel Scudder, Andrew Albright; 1822-23, Thomas Painter; 1824-27, Daniel Scudder; 1828-30, Henry Frick; 1831, E. Greenough; 1832, Peter Martz; 1833, Albe C. Barrett; 1834-37, Lewis
192
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Dewart; 1838-39, Charles W. Hegins; 1840, Jesse C. Horton; 1841, David B. Montgomery; 1842, Jacob Gearhart; 1843-45, Edward Y. Bright; 1846, Samuel Hunter; 1847-48, George A. Frick; 1849-50, John B. Packer; 1851, William Follmer; 1852, Samuel A. Bergstresser; 1853, David B. Mont- gomery; 1854, G. M. Yorks; 1855-56, Jeremiah H. Zimmerman; 1857, Joseph C. Rhoads; 1858, Charles Hottenstein; 1859-60, Amos T. Beisel; 1861-62, J. Woods Brown; 1863-64, Truman H. Purdy; 1865-66, C. W. Tharp; 1867-68, William H. Kase; 1869-70, Robert Montgomery; 1871, J. B. Newbaker, Dennis Bright-district: Northumberland and Montour; 1872-73, A. T. De Witt, Jesse Ammerman; 1874, Jesse J. John, William P. Withington-district: Northumberland; 1876, Jeremiah Snyder, Daniel L. Sherwood; 1878, Daniel L. Sherwood, J. W. Scanlan; 1880, J. W. Scanlan, William Elliott; 1882, R. C. Mc Williams, James Riland; 1884, James Riland, William Gable; 1886, William A. Dean, H. T. Eckert; 1888, Jacob M. Foll- . mer, Daniel F. Gallagher; 1890, Peter J. Criste, Isaiah J. Renn, present Representatives.
State Senators .- The State Senate was created by the constitution of 1790, succeeding to some of the functions of the Supreme Executive Coun- cil. The following table exhibits the representation of Northumberland county, with the district from which each member was elected and year in which elected. (Where the counties composing the district are not indicated, it is understood that its boundaries were the same as in the preceding year): 1790, William Montgomery-district: Northumberland, Luzerne, and Hunt- ingdon; 1794, William Hepburn, elected January 8th, vice Montgomery, who resigned; 1794, George Wilson, William Hepburn-district: Northum- berland, Luzerne, and Mifflin; 1795, Samuel Dale, vice Hepburn, who resigned, April 20, 1795; 1796, Samuel Dale - district: Northumber- land, Luzerne, Lycoming, and Mifflin; 1798, Samuel Maclay; 1800, James Harris; 1802, Samuel Maclay-district: Northumberland; 1803, Jacob Foll- mer, vice Maclay, who resigned, September 2, 1803; 1806, James Laird; 1808, Nathan Palmer-district: Northumberland and Luzerne; 1810, James Laird; 1812, William Ross; 1814, Thomas Murray, Jr .- district: Northum- berland, Union, Columbia, Susquehanna, and Luzerne; 1816, Charles Fraser; 1818, Simon Snyder; 1820, Redmond Conyngham; 1822, Andrew Albright -- district: Northumberland and Union; 1823, Lewis Dewart, vice Albright, deceased; 1826, John Ray; 1830, Samuel J. Packer; 1834, Isaac Slenker; 1839, Robert Fleming-district: Northumberland, Lycoming, and Centre; 1842, Jesse C. Horton; 1845, Benjamin Jordan-district: Northumberland and Dauphin; 1848, Robert M. Frick; 1851, John C. Kunkel; 1854, David Taggart; 1857, Charles R. Buckalew-district: Northumberland, Snyder, Montour, and Columbia; 1858, Reuben Keller, vice Buckalew, resigned; 1860, Frank Bound; 1863, David B. Montgomery; 1866, George D. Jackson- district: Northumberland, Montour, Columbia, and Sullivan; 1869, Charles
193
ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION.
R. Buckalew; 1872, Andrew H. Dill-district: Northumberland, Union, Sny - der, and Perry; 1876, Andrew H. Dill-district: Northumberland, Union, and Snyder; 1878, Simon P. Wolverton, vice Dill, resigned; 1880-84, Simon P. Wolverton; 1888, S. D. Bates, present Senator.
EARLY TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
The administration of township affairs is usually intrusted to men of some prominence and influence in their respective neighborhoods, and a list of township officers includes, therefore, the names of many citizens whose con- nection with public life would otherwise be forgotten, and whose services, although purely local in their nature, are none the less essential to the com- munity at large. The following is a list, as complete as existing records permit, of township officers during the first twenty years after the organiza- tion of the county, when, owing to the extensiveness of the county and its subdivisions, a relatively greater degree of importance attached to the offices than at present.
A list of justices commissioned under the provincial regime (1772-76) is given in the chapter on the Bench and Bar. The following were commis- sioned from 1777 to 1785, some of whom resided beyond the present limits of the county: Andrew Culbertson, Mordecai Mckinney, January 8, 1777; Samuel Hunter, Thomas Hewitt, Robert Crawford, John Weitzel, Robert Martin, Michael Troy, John Livingston, Samuel Allen, John Aurand, June 10, 1777; Benjamin Weiser, January 21, 1778; Thomond Ball, David Mc- Kinney, Wilton Atkinson, July 8, 1778; Frederick Antes, July 13, 1779; John Heckert, May 9, 1780; John Buyers, Christian Gettig, September 28, 1780; Alexander Patterson, John Seely, David Mead, John Martin, Septem- ber 10, 1783; Henry Shoemaker, February 7, 1784.
The following were commissioned from 1785 to 1792 for districts situated wholly or in part within the present limits of the county: William Maclay, January 24, 1785-Sunbury and Augusta; William Shaw, January 24, 1785- Turbut; William Cooke, October 3, 1786-Point; Samuel Weiser, October 29, 1787-Mahanoy; Christian Gettig, October 29, 1787-Sunbury; Joseph Jacob Wallis, October 29, 1787-Sunbury; George Hughes, February 28, 1788-Catawissa; John Weitzel, June 20, 1789 Augusta; Robert Smith, September 1, 1791-Turbut and Derry; John Buyers, September 1, 1791- Sunbury and Augusta; George Hughes, September 1, 1791-Shamokin and Catawissa; Samuel Weiser, September 1, 1791-Mahanoy; John Weitzel, September 1, 1791-Sunbury and Augusta; William Cooke, October 26, 1791-Northumberland; David Hammond, October 26, 1791-Chillisquaque and Turbut; Alexander Dixon, June 20, 1792-Turbut and Derry; John Simpson, July 5, 1792-Point and Northumberland.
1772.
Augusta .- Constable, Alexander Grant.
194
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Turbut .- Constable, William McMeen; supervisors: John Clark, Jr., James Murray.
1773.
Augusta .- Constable, Adam Haverling; supervisors: Alexander Grant, John Tucker; overseers: Arthur Auchmuty, John Harrison.
Turbut .- Constable, John Blair; supervisors: William Piper, Hugh Mc- Williams; overseers: James Murray, Adam Marr.
1774.
Augusta .- Constables: William Boyle, John Tucker; supervisors: David Fowler, Robert Durkee; overseers: John Weitzel, Jacob Haverling.
Turbut .- Constable, John Blair; supervisors: John Simpson, Richard Malone; overseers: James Murray, Adam Marr.
1775.
Augusta .- Constables: Robert McBride, Stephen Sutton, Michael Brad- ley; supervisors: David Mckinney, William Clark; overseers: Thomond Ball, Wilton Atkinson.
Mahanoy .- Constable, Sebastian Brosius; supervisors: John Shaffer, Peter Almang; overseers: Samuel Weiser, John Fisher.
Turbut .- Constable, John Blair; supervisors: Marcus Hulings, Jr., Ben- jamin Jones; overseers: John Cheney, William McKnight.
1776.
Augusta .- Constables: Joseph Lorentz, Zachariah Robins; supervisors: Stophel Gettig, Samuel Lewis; overseers: John Maclay, John Buyers.
Mahanoy .- Constable, Abraham Schreyer; supervisors: Peter Smith, George Yagey; overseers: Samuel Weiser, John Fisher.
Turbut .- Constable, William Johnson; supervisors: John Dixon, Bartho- lomew Haines; overseers: Samuel McKee, Paul Geddis.
1777.
Augusta .- Constables: William Dewart, Henry Richards; overseers: John Maclay, John Buyers.
Mahanoy .- Constable, Nicholas Brosius.
Turbut .- Constable, Henry Vanderslice.
1778.
Augusta .- Constable, William Dewart; supervisors: James McLees, Frederick Dunkelberger; overseers: George Cliver, Elias Youngman.
Mahanoy .- Constable, Martin Kerstetter; supervisors: Christian Whit- more, Jacob Zartman; overseers: Martin Thomas, Daniel Kaubel.
Turbut .- Constable, George Frederick.
195
ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION.
1779.
Augusta .- Constables: William Robins, John Harrison; supervisors: John Black, John Buyers; overseers: John Behm, George Dougherty.
Mahanoy .-- Constable, Maximilian Haines; supervisors: Abram Schnei- der, Gottlieb Lefler; overseers: Henry Krebs, Michael Lenker.
1780.
Augusta .- Constable, Michael Rousher; supervisors: Henry Sterritt, Christian Gettig; overseers: Henry Richards, Conrad Shaffer, Zachariah Robins.
Mahanoy .- Constable, Gottlieb Lefler.
1781.
Augusta .- Constables: George Keyser, Joseph Lorentz; supervisors: Henry Sterritt, Ludwig Gass; overseers: William Sims, Abram De Witt; fence viewers: Henry Sterritt, Philip Opp.
Mahanoy .- Constable, John Herter; supervisors: Peter Ferster, Nicholas Groninger; overseers: Peter Albert, George Kline.
Turbut .- Constable, Simon Hemrod; supervisors: James Stedman, John Gamble; overseers: John Yost, George Teeples.
1782.
Augusta .- Constables: Henry Sterritt, George Cliver; supervisors: Will- iam Sims, Joseph Lorentz; overseers: John Harrison, Bernard Eyregood; fence viewers: Nicholas Rousher, Daniel Cruger.
Mahanoy .- Constable, John Fisher; supervisors: William Ferster, Francis Shaffer; overseers: Valentine Rebuck, John Tobbs.
Turbut .- Constable, James Stedman; supervisors: Jacob Links, John McHenry; overseers: Richard Malone, James Harrison.
1783.
Augusta .- Constable, Jacob Gass; supervisors: Peter Hall, Frederick Weiss; overseers: Martin Epley, John Black; fence viewers: Paul Baldy Robert McBride.
Mahanoy .-- Constable, Daniel Kobel.
Turbut .-- Constable, Paul Geddis.
1785.
Augusta .-- Constables: Henry Lebo, Adam Gilger; supervisors: John Harrison, Christian Shissler; overseers: John Black, Peter Smith; fence viewers: Joseph Lorentz, William Dewart; auditors: John Snider, Martin Withington.
Mahanoy .- Constable, Andrew Reitz; supervisors: John White, Yost Schockingast; overseers: John Herter, Peter Smith.
196
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Turbut .- Constable, John Nelson; supervisors: John Montgomery, David Ireland; overseers: Matthew Smith, James Harrison; fence viewers: William McKnight, William Murray.
1786.
Augusta .- Constables: John Tombe, Martin Epley; supervisors: John Weitzel, John Harrison; overseers: Ludwig Gass, Nicholas Rousher; fence viewers: Joseph Wallace, Paul Baldy; auditors: David Mead, Christian Gettig, Charles Gobin, Martin Withington.
Point .- Constable, Joseph Torbett; supervisors: James Hepburn, James Jenkins; overseers: Laughlin McCartney, Bernard Hubley; fence viewers: Daniel Reese, Daniel Kelly.
Turbut .- Supervisors: William Cook, Robert Taggart; overseers: James Biggars, Robert Smith; fence viewers: Martin Keiser, John Dickson.
1787.
Augusta .-- Supervisors: John Clingman, Jacob Martz, Jr .; overseers: Jacob Conrad, Adam Renn; fence viewers: Charles Gobin, William McAdams; auditors: William Gray, David Mead, Martin Withington, Joseph Wallace.
Chillisquaque .- Constable, John Cheney; supervisors: Thomas Straw- bridge, James Stedman; overseers: John Murray, John Gillespie; fence viewers, James Murray, Joseph Wilson; auditors: Thomas Hewitt, James McMahan, John Alexander, William Fisher.
Mahanoy .- Constable, William Forster; supervisors: Peter Roth, Ludwig Schreyer.
Point .- Constable, Matthew Crozier; supervisors: Christian Dering, James Lemon; fence viewers: James Hepburn, Thomas Pollock.
Turbut .- Constable, Philip Davis; supervisors: David Hammond, James Harrison; overseers: John Hood, Andrew Russell; fence viewers: John Mont- gomery, Jacob Follmer; auditors: William Shaw, Frederick Taylor, John Lytle, Matthew Smith.
1789.
Augusta .- Constables: Paul Baldy, Zachariah Robins; supervisors: Casper Snyder, Joseph Lorentz; overseers: Daniel Witmer, Charles Gobin; fence viewers: Jacob Yoner, Martin Epley.
Chillisquaque .- Constable, James Carscaddon, Jr .; supervisors: William Fisher, Paul Geddis; overseers: Thomas Strawbridge, William Murray.
Mahanoy .- Constable, Nicholas Schneider; supervisors: Valentine Re- buck, Michael Emerick; overseers: George Pfeiffer, Christopher Whitmore.
Point .- Constable, John Allen; supervisors: Robert Martin, John Boyd; overseers: William Wilson, Josiah Haines; fence viewers: William Sims, Samuel Drake.
197
ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION.
Ralpho .- Constable, John Miller; supervisors: Abraham Brewer, John Kelley; overseers: John Clark, Obadiah Campbell; fence viewers: Samuel Reeder, John McKenzie.
Turbut .- Constable, Henry Lebo; supervisors: Daniel Vincent, Robert Hood; overseers: Joseph Hutchison, David Ireland; fence viewers: Michael Follmer, Andrew Russell.
1790.
Augusta .- Constables: Daniel Hurley, Benjamin Patterson; supervisors: Martin Kendig, Zachariah Robins; overseers: Alexander Hunter, William McAdams; fence viewers: Peter Smith, John Lyon.
Chillisquaque .- Constable, John Donaldson; supervisors: Thomas Palmer, Joseph Wilson; overseers: John Wilson, Francis Eustis; fence viewers: James Stadden, Thomas Hewitt.
Mahanoy .- Constable, Michael Shaffer; supervisors: William Dobson, George Borell; overseers: John Latsha, Sebastian Stonebraker; fence view- ers: Henry Zartman, Christian Heckendon.
Point .- Supervisors: Daniel Montgomery, John McFarren; overseers: James Davidson, William Adams; fence viewers: John Maclay, Aaron Levy.
Shamokin .- Constable, Casper Reed; supervisors: Samuel Reeder, Richard Robinson; overseers: John Kerr, Jacob Reed; fence viewers: John Williamson, William Becker.
Turbut .- Constable, William McCormick; supervisors: David McGuire, Robert Montgomery; overseers: James McClung, David Ireland; fence viewers: James Harrison, William McKnight.
1791.
Augusta .- Constables: Zachariah Robins, Peter Smith; supervisors: Daniel Witmer, Henry Bucher; overseers: William Gray, Nicholas Miller; fence viewers: Martin Epley; Jacob Haverling.
Chillisquaque .- Constable, James McMahan; supervisors: James Latti- more, Thomas Hewitt; overseers: Paul Geddis, Alexander Miller; fence viewers: William Reed, William Fisher.
Mahanoy .- Constable, Michael Lenhart; supervisors: Casper Gabel, An- drew Reitz; fence viewers: Daniel Brosius, Nicholas Hettrick; overseers: Henry Zartman, Jacob Oxreiter.
Point .- Constable, William Mackey; supervisors: Robert Martin, Daniel Montgomery; overseers: James Davidson, William Bonham; fence viewers: John Bachenstozs, Robert Lyon.
Shamokin. - Constable, William Clark; supervisors: William Schrach, John Carr; overseers: John Moore, George Daugherty; fence viewers: George Dibber, John Irwin.
Turbut .- Constable, Garret Sickles; supervisors: William McCormick,
198
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Robert Miles; overseers: Fleming Wilson, James McClung; fence viewers: William Miles, John Vandyke.
1792.
Augusta .- Constables: Zachariah Robins, Henry Boughner, Wendel Lo- rentz; supervisors: Martin Epley, John Arthur; overseers: Joseph Wallis, William Dewart, Martin Withington; fence viewers: Christian Gettig, Will- iam McAdams; auditors: John Weitzel, John Buyers, John Kidd, Flavel Roan.
Chillisquaque. - Constable, John Gillespie; supervisors: William Reed, John Alexander; overseers: Robert McNeal, Hugh McBride; fence viewers: Robert Finney, John Donaldson.
Mahanoy .- Constable, Michael Lenhart; supervisors; John Heckert, John Fisher; overseers: Philip Lefler, George Haines; fence viewers: Michael Neigh, Nicholas Popp.
Point .- Constable, James Hepburn; supervisors: Josiah Haines, John Pollock; overseers: John Mackey, John Painter; fence viewers: John Cow- den, John McJanan; auditors: Frederick Antes, Stephen Dering, John Mont- gomery, John Frick.
Shamokin. - Constable, John Kan; supervisors: Michael Moore, Jacob Kanhart; overseers: Richard Robinson, Samuel Reeder; fence viewers: Rob- ert Kennedy, Samuel Moore; auditors: George Daugherty, John Kelly, Abram Brewer, Casper Reed.
Turbut .- Constable, Garret Sickles; supervisors: John McCormick, Will- iam Miles; overseers: Fleming Wilson, William Shaw; fence viewers: John Vandyke, William Miles; auditors: James McClung, Robert Hood, Joshua McGuire, John Itsworth.
M. Packen
201
THE BENCH AND BAR.
CHAPTER V.
THE BENCH AND BAR. .
FIRST COURTS AND CASES-THE QUARTER SESSIONS EARLY ADMINISTRATION OF PENAL JUSTICE-THE ORPHANS' COURT-THE COMMON PLEAS RULES OF COURT- THE BENCH-ROSTER OF JUSTICES-BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PRESIDENT JUDGES-ASSOCIATE JUDGES-THE BAR OF THE PAST AND PRESENT-THE SUPREME COURT.
T THE provincial judiciary act of March 22, 1722, the general provisions of which were in force at the time Northumberland county was organized, established in each county a court styled the general quarter sessions of the peace and gaol delivery and a county court of common pleas, for each of which the Governor was authorized to commission a competent number of justices, three of whom should constitute a quorum. The orphans' court, as consti- tuted in 1772, was established in 1713. The constitution of 1776 provided for courts of sessions, common pleas, and orphans' courts, the organization and functions of which remained substantially as under the provincial regime. By the constitution of 1790 the judicial power of the Commonwealth was vested in a Supreme court, in a court of oyer and terminer and general jail delivery, common pleas, quarter sessions, orphans' court, and register's court for each county, and in justices of the peace. The judges of the Supreme court were, ex officio, justices of oyer and terminer and general jail delivery in the several counties. Provision was made for the division of the State into judicial circuits; the Governor was authorized to appoint a president of the courts for each circuit and not less than three nor more than four judges for each county, for whom a life tenure was established subject to the good behavior of the incumbent, who was removable by the Governor upon the address of two thirds of each branch of the legislature. The president and judges, any two of whom should constitute a quorum, were to compose the court of common pleas. They were also justices of oyer and terminer and general jail delivery, any two of their number, the president being one, to constitute a quorum; but no session of this court was to be held in any county when the Supreme court should be sitting therein. The court of quarter sessions and the orphans' court were also to be composed of the judges of the common pleas, who, with the register of wills, were to constitute the regis- ter's court. The latter was abolished by the constitution of 1873.
12
202
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
FIRST COURTS AND CASES.
The act erecting Northumberland county passed the Assembly on the 21st of March, 1772; this action of the legislative body was certified to Council three days later, when it received favorable consideration, and justices for the new county were forthwith appointed. The seat of government for the Prov- ince was at Philadelphia, and communication with the frontier was attended with difficulty and delay; it is not probable, therefore, that much time elapsed after the commissions of the justices reached Fort Augusta before the judicial machinery was placed in motion. The first court, a private ses- sions of the peace, was held on the 9th of April, 1772. The following is a transcript of the minutes :--
At a court of private sessions of the peace held at Fort Augusta for the county of . Northumberland on the 9th day of April in the twelfth year of the reign of our Sover- eign Lord George the Third, by the grace of God of Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, etc., and in the year of our Lord God 1772, before Will- iam Plunket, Esquire, and his associates, justices assigned, etc., etc., within the said county of Northumberland, viz .:---
An act of [the] General Assembly of Pennsylvania entitled " An act for erecting a part of the counties of Lancaster, Cumberland, Berks, Northampton, and Bedford into a separate county," was published in court.
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