The "May 27, 1924: Lancaster Became A Pennsylvania City" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading the account as to how the county of Lancaster was formed in the 1720s.  Seems that the backwoods of nearby Chester County to the was becoming infested with thieves, vagabonds and ill people, so the "normal" folks living in that area petitioned William Penn's son to create a new county where all these undesirable people could call home.  

1756 Map of Pennsylvania

So, on May 10, 1729, Lancaster county was formed beyond the borders of Bucks, Chester and the city of Phila- delphia.  At the time the area was the home of French and English traders who exchanged beads, blankets, knives, axes, guns and liquor with the native Americans, who had inhabited the area for years, for coveted furs.  In the early 1630s trading posts were established near the Susquehanna River and along the navigable waterways.  

Captain John Smith

The Susquehannocks who inhabited the area were fierce fighters who were later known as the Conestogas who were described by Captain John Smith as "giants of men" who were seven feet tall.  The new county, Lancaster, with its population of 15 people, more than likely ill vagabonds and thieves, declared the small town of Lancaster the county seat.  At the time it was called "Hickory Town" and began to draw German immigrants, known as Pennsylvania Dutch.  The town was so named for the huge hickory tree that stood in the center of the town where Lancaster's current Penn Square now stands.  Eventually the land became what is today Lancaster City and which at one time was owned by Andrew Hamilton who deeded 500 acres of this land to his son James Hamilton who designed the layout of the new town of Lancaster in 1734 using a uniform grid plan of straight streets and rectangular property lots.  

Old note from Hickorytown, Penna.  Click to enlarge.

The square, hickory tree and all, was placed in the middle of this plan.  One of the town's prominent citizens, John Wright, suggested the town be named Lancaster after Lancaster, England.  The lots were sold to middle-class artisans, merchants, professionals and perhaps a few of those vagabonds and drunkards.  Those who bought properties were required to built, within a year, a dwelling of at least 16 feet square and have a chimney of brick or stone.  

Early map of Lancaster, Pennsylvania

If you wanted to be an innkeeper you were required to acquire 15-20 acre lots for pasturing animals.  By 1742 the town of Lancaster was one of the largest inland towns in the British Empire having about 270 houses and 750 inhabitants.  Lancaster was incorporated as a borough in 1742 and incorporated as an inland city in 1818.  The town of Lancaster became the county seat on May 10, 1729 and served as the state capital from 1799 until 1812 when it was replaced by Harrisburg.  The city of Lancaster served as our nation's capital for one day on September 27, 1777 when the British forces had captured Philadelphia during the American Revolutionary War.  

More current map of Pennsylvania

Lancaster was an important munitions center during the war.  Because of our link to Lancaster, England, Lancaster was known as the "Red Rose City".  On May 27, 1924 the city surrendered its ancient city charter and became a Third Class City under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  For those who are not familiar with Lancaster, it is pronounced LANK-is-ter.  Now, after reading my synopsis of how the city of Lancaster came to be, who actually owned the land on which Lancaster sits?  The British discovered the area, but who told them they could claim the land.  Didn't the Native Americans own and live on the land?  Who gave the British folks who "discovered" the land the right to lay out the town known as Lancaster?  I guess I should be happy how it all turned out, since my parents and grandparents were all born in today's Lancaster and ultimately gave me life.  But, was it right to just take over the land where the Native American's lived for ages?  Did we actually make trades with the Native Americans for the rights to the land?  Just wondering!!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.