AREA HISTORY:  Justices of the Peace, Lewisberry, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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JUSTICES OF THE PEACE, Page 635

Justices of the Peace.- Joseph Hutton was commissioned a justice of the peace 
for Newberry Township, under the king of England, in October, 1764.  He resided 
in what is now Fairview.  He was followed by Col. William Rankin, who was 
appointed by the same authority in March, 1771, and in September, 1776, was 
commissioned by the colonial government under the constitution.  Col. John 
Rankin was commissioned in May, 1780, and Robert Hammersly in 1785.  These 
appointments were held for life, or during a term of good behavior, and the 
justices were liable to be called on to assist in holding the county courts, 
which were then presided over by justices of the peace and not law judges.

James Todd was commissioned in 1799; Isaac Kirk, in 1814; Col. John Rankin, Jr., 
in 1827; Jacob Kirk, in 1830.  Until the constitution of 1838 went into force 
requiring that justices be elected by the people and not appointed by State 
authority, they all held the office for life.  Those who were elected to date 
were John Foster, William Hammond, Herman Kirk, George Smith, and George K. 
Bratton.