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Pennsylvania

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Pennsylvania

This jurisdictional hub aggregates FRC holdings related to Pennsylvania. It supports research on the state’s firearms history, technology, law, policy, and culture from the colonial and provincial periods through statehood to the present.

  • Legal sources: statutes and session laws, administrative code, attorney general opinions, appellate decisions, and select municipal ordinances.
  • Historical materials: newspapers, photographs, maps, catalogs, frontier and militia records, armory and manufacturing archives (e.g., gunmaking traditions), and oral histories tied to Pennsylvania people and places.
  • Research outputs: technical reports, academic studies, training manuals, and curated datasets relevant to the state.

Cite the Firearms Research Center and the item’s handle/DOI when using materials. Rights and licensing vary by item.

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1791 - 17996

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Start date: 1791End date: 1799

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Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item type:Item,
    14 Stat. at Large of Pennsylvania from 1682 to 1801, at 457-58 (1909)
    (1793)
    And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That in order that the militia may be properly armed, equipped and accoutred, every citizen enrolled and notified of this enrollment in manner aforesaid, except as is hereinbefore excepted, shall, within six months after receiving such notice, provide himself with the arms, ammunition and accoutrement hereinafter mentioned, viz.: Every non-commissioned officer and private of the infantry (including grenadiers and light infantry and of the artillery) shall have a good musket or firelock, a sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare flints and a knapsack, a pouch with a box therein, to contain not less than twenty-four cartridges suited to the bore of his musket or firelock, each cartridge to contain a proper quantity of powder and ball, or with a good rifle, knapsack, shot-pouch and powder horn, twenty balls suited to the bore of his rifle and a quarter of a pound of powder; the commissioned officers of infantry shall be armed with a sword or hanger and an espontoon, and those of artillery with a sword or hanger, a fuzee, bayonet and belt, and a cartridge box to contain twelve cartridges. The commissioned officers of the several troops of horse shall furnish themselves with good horses, of at least fourteen hands and an half high, and shall be armed with a sword and a pair of pistols, the holsters of which shall be covered with bearskin caps; each light-horseman or dragoon shall furnish himself with a serviceable horse, of at least fourteen hands and an half high, a good saddle, bridle, mail pillion and valise holsters, and a breast plate and crupper, a pair of boots and spurs, a pair of pistols, a sabre and a cartouch box, to contain twelve cartridges for pistols; the artillery and horse shall be uniformly clothed in regimentals, to be furnished at their own expense, the color and fashion to be determined by the brigadier commanding the brigade to which they belong; every militiaman shall appear so armed, accoutred and provided when called out to exercise or into service (except that when called out on company days to exercise only he may appear without a knapsack) and every man so enrolled as aforesaid, and providing himself with the arms, ammunition and accoutrements required as aforesaid, shall hold the same exempted from all suits, distresses, executions, or sales for debt or the payment of taxes. Each battalion and regiment shall be provided with the state and regimental colors by the field officers, and each company with a drum and fife or bugle horn by the commissioned officers of the company; the expenses of such colors, drums, fifes or bugle horns to be repaid to the officers out of the fines incurred by this act.
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    Item type:Item,
    16 The Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania from 1682 to 1801, at 297 (1911)
    (1799)
    Explicitly allowed "sons who are not subject to the militia law may be admitted as substitutes for their fathers."
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    Item type:Item,
    14 The Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania from 1682 to 1801, at 456 (1909)
    (1793)
    "[A]ll young men under the age of twenty-one years, and all servants purchased bona fide and for a valuable consideration," had to enroll in the militia. But "during such minority or servitude," they were exempt from training and from fines for not having the requisite equipment. The exception did not apply "in cases of rebellion, or an actual or threatened invasion of this or any of the neighboring states."
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    Item type:Item,
    1791 Pa. Laws 105, ch. 1573, § 1, in 14 Stat. at Large of Pa. from 1682 to 1801 (1791)
    (1791)
    That it shall and may be lawful for the owners of gun-powder not deposited , or to be deposited, in the said magazine, the square to the south of Vine street, to remove and deposit the same in the said new magazine; and all gun-powder brought into the city of Philadelphia, from and after the first day of July next, shall be deposited and kept in the said new magazine subject to the regulation contained in the said first recited act.
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    Item type:Item,
    Laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, at 240-41, ch. 1846, § 1 (vol. 3, 1810)
    (1795)
    §all gun-powder manufactured within this state, with intent to sell the same within the city or county of Philadelphia, shall be put in good and tight kegs or casks of twenty-five, fifty, or one hundred pounds neat weight , each made of well seasoned timber, bound together with at least twelve loops, and having a hole bored in each head with the diameter of one fourth part of an inch, well stopped with corks and having the tare weight (weight of the actual keg or cask) of each cask marked thereon, and that all such gun-powder, and all other gun-powder, wheresoever manufactured imported into the port of Philadelphia, or brought into the city or county of Philadelphia for sale, shall be deposited, forthwith on such importation or bringing by land or by water, in the public magazine in in the said city, and delivered to the care of the keeper the same, who shall give his receipt for the same, deliverable to the order of him or them who shall deposit the same.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item type:Item,
    1794 Pa. Laws 764, An Act Providing For The Inspection of Gunpowder chap. 337
    (1794)
    Required gunpowder intended for sale in Philadelphia to be sold in "good and tight" kegs of varying weights, quality timber,at least twelve hoops, a hole bored, and marked on the barrel. Powder shall be inspected using a pendulum powder proof.