The Pennsylvania Register
Every law Pennsylvania has passed
55,382 acts of the General Assembly, from William Penn’s first assembly in 1682 to 2026. Until 1874 much of the Assembly’s work was “special” legislation for a single person, company or town: a divorce, a road, a tavern license. That year’s constitution barred local and special laws on most subjects, and the yearly count fell; lately it is about 150.
Not yet complete · The state has not yet digitized its session laws act by act for most years between 1851 and 1949. We filled what we could from scans of the printed volumes: every year from 1851 to 1875 and most sessions from 1877 to 1907. A computer read those titles, so they can contain misspellings, and a few acts in each year were missed. Most years from 1909 to 1949 are still thin (marked below). Every other year is complete, from 1682 through 1850 and from 1950 to today.
5,365 laws of the 1870s
Constitution of 1838
To reduce the width of a part of Hamilton street, in the Twenty -fourth ward of the city of Philadelphia.
Act 1188 of 1870 · P.L. 1291 · April 28, 1870 · Scanned page
Relative to changes of venue.
Act 1189 of 1870 · P.L. 1292 · 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the village of Washingtonville, in the county of Montour, into a borough.
Act 1190 of 1870 · P.L. 1293 · April 28, 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Baldwin Mutual Relief Fund Association.
Act 1191 of 1870 · P.L. 1295 · April 29, 1870 · Scanned page
To enlarge the corporate powers of the Cherry Run and Pittsburg Petroleum Company.
Act 1192 of 1870 · P.L. 1296 · May 3, 1870 · Scanned page
To secure the grading and macadamizing of Washington avenue, in the county of Allegheny.
Act 1193 of 1870 · P.L. 1298 · May 3, 1870 · Scanned page
To repeal an act, entitled "An Act to vacate an alley in the city of Reading, Berks county," approved March third, eighteen hundred and
Act 1194 of 1870 · P.L. 1303 · May 6, 1870 · Scanned page
Relative to the qualifications and powers of road jurors in the city of Philadelphia.
Act 1196 of 1870 · P.L. 1304 · May 6, 1870 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act incorporating the city of
Act 1197 of 1870 · P.L. 1304 · May 7, 1870 · Scanned page
To annex a certain farm in Brush Valley township, Indiana county, to the borough of Mechanicsburg. for the purposes of taxation.
Act 1198 of 1870 · P.L. 1306 · 1870 · Scanned page
To authorize the borough of Shamokin, in the county of Northumberland, to borrow money and increase the rate of taxation.
Act 1199 of 1870 · P.L. 1307 · May 9, 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Girard Savings Bank.
Act 1201 of 1870 · P.L. 1309 · May 9, 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Mechanics' and Laborers* Association of Gouldsboro', Luzerne county.
Act 1202 of 1870 · P.L. 1312 · April 9, 1870 · Scanned page
Supplementary to the several acts relating to the borough of Berwick, in the county of Columbia.
Act 1203 of 1870 · P.L. 1313 · May 13, 1870 · Scanned page
To repeal an act relative to the payment of taxes on unseated lands, approved November nineteenth, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
Act 1204 of 1870 · P.L. 1315 · June 2, 1870 · Scanned page
To protect timber lands from fire.
Act of 1870 · P.L. 1316 · 1870 · Scanned page
To provide for opening and extending Mervine street, in the Twentyeighth ward of the city of Philadelphia.
Act 1207 of 1870 · P.L. 1317 · June 2, 1870 · Scanned page
To authorize turnpike, plank road and canal companies to issue bonds and secure the same by mortgage, and to abandon portions of their roads and lines for public use.
Act 1208 of 1870 · P.L. 1318 · 1870 · Scanned page
To establish an independent school district out of parts of Wyoming and Susquehanna counties.
Act 1209 of 1870 · P.L. 1319 · June 2, 1870 · Scanned page
Incorporating the Sharpsvilleand Wheatland and Sharon and Greenfield railway.
Act 1210 of 1870 · P.L. 1320 · June 2, 1870 · Scanned page
Supplementary to an act. entitled •' An Act incorporating the city of New Castle, in the county of Lawrence," approved February twentyfifth, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
Act 1211 of 1870 · P.L. 1322 · June 17, 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Titusville and Centreville Plank Road Company.
Act 1212 of 1870 · P.L. 1323 · April 17, 1870 · Scanned page
Authorizing the burgess and town council of the borough of Mount Washington, Allegheny county, to borrow money for street improvement purposes.
Act 1213 of 1870 · P.L. 1324 · July 6, 1870 · Scanned page
To take e sense of the people of Jefferson county upon the question of a prohibitory liquor law.
Act of 1870 · P.L. 1325 · July 7, 1870 · Scanned page
Requesting Congress to legislate against the obstruction of the navigation of the Ohio river, by the construction of bridges over said river.
Act 2 of 1870 · P.L. 1327 · 1870 · Scanned page
For the protection of the rights of corporations chartered by this commonwealth.
Act 13 of 1870 · P.L. 1334 · April 14, 1870 · Scanned page
OP THE SESSION OF 1870. 1335 No. 14. Congratulatory relative to appointment of A. G. Curtin Minister to Russia.
Act of 1870 · P.L. 1335 · July 7, 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Union Cemetery Association of the borough of ~" Lebanon and its vicinity.
Act 1215 of 1870 · P.L. 1336 · March 30, 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Mutual Live Stock Insurance Company of Philadelphia and Backs counties.
Act 1216 of 1870 · P.L. 1338 · March 23, 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Dime Savings Institution of Harrisburg.
Act 1217 of 1870 · P.L. 1341 · April 3, 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the American Artisans' Aid Association.
Act 1218 of 1870 · P.L. 1344 · April 5, 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Clarion County Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
Act 1219 of 1870 · P.L. 1346 · April 11, 1870 · Scanned page
Relative to selling church property in Berrj'sburg, Dauphin county.
Act 1220 of 1870 · P.L. 1350 · April 17, 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Glenwood Coal Company.
Act 1221 of 1870 · P.L. 1350 · March 16, 1870 · Scanned page
To extend the time for the payment of the enrolment tax on the Dime Saving Institution of Harrisburg.
Act 1223 of 1870 · P.L. 1353 · April 5, 1870 · Scanned page
To authorize and empower William Howe to erect and maintain, on Two Lick creek, in Cherryhill township, Indiana county, at his mill on said creek, a boom for saw-logs.
Act of 1870 · P.L. 1355 · 1870 · Scanned page
Supplement To the aet incorporating the Glemvood Coal Company, extending the privileges of an act regulating railroad companies to said company.
Act 1226 of 1870 · P.L. 1356 · April 12, 1870 · Scanned page
Supplement To aD act incorporating the Keystone Coal and Transportation Company.
Act 1221 of 1870 · P.L. 1357 · May 4, 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Somerset and Mineral Point Railroad Company.
Act of 1870 · P.L. 1358 · March 17, 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Farmers1 Mutual Life Insurance and Trust Company of Schuylkill county.
Act 1229 of 1870 · P.L. 1359 · March 23, 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Bedford and Bridgeport Railroad Company.
Act 1230 of 1870 · P.L. 1360 · March 31, 1870 · Scanned page
To authorize the Union Steamship Company to wind up and settle their affairs, and distribute their assets among the stockholders.
Act 1231 of 1870 · P.L. 1361 · April 1, 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Buffalo Valley Railroad Company.
Act 1232 of 1870 · P.L. 1362 · April 1, 1870 · Scanned page
'to incorporate the Ball's Eddy Bridge Company.
Act 1233 of 1870 · P.L. 1363 · April 4, 1870 · Scanned page
To change the name of the East Pennsylvania Agricultural and Mechanical Society.
Act 1234 of 1870 · P.L. 1365 · April 6, 1870 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled "An Act to incorporate the Bedford and Bridgeport Railroad Company," approved March thirtj'-first, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, supplying certain words omitted in the original act.
Act 1235 of 1870 · P.L. 1366 · April 6, 1870 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act to incorporate the Middle Creek Railroad Company, approved the twenty-t*hird day of March, Auno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-live.
Act 1236 of 1870 · P.L. 1366 · April 13, 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Pittston Passenger Railway Company.
Act 1237 of 1870 · P.L. 1367 · April 13, 1870 · Scanned page
To establish a public ferry across the Youghiogheny river, at or near Boston, in Elizabeth township, Allegheny county.
Act 1238 of 1870 · P.L. 1369 · April 13, 1870 · Scanned page
To annul the marriage contract between J. C. M'Alarney and Almeda Witter.
Act 1239 of 1870 · P.L. 1370 · January 1, 1870 · Scanned page
Relative to the payment of taxes on unseated lands.
Act 1240 of 1870 · P.L. 1371 · November 19, 1870 · Scanned page
Relative to limitations.
Act 1241 of 1870 · P.L. 1372 · December 16, 1870 · Scanned page
In relation to taxation of the shares of banks and savings institutions.
Act 1243 of 1870 · P.L. 1373 · December 29, 1870 · Scanned page
Supplement To the act to incorporate the Cresheim Turnpike and Bridge Company.
Act 1245 of 1870 · P.L. 1375 · February 15, 1870 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act authorizing Lewis R. Geer to erect a ferry over the Allegheny river, approved the twenty -sixth day of March, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Act 1246 of 1870 · P.L. 1376 · February 27, 1870 · Scanned page
To establisn a ferry over the Allegheny river, near the mouth o Glade run, in Warren county.
Act 1247 of 1870 · P.L. 1376 · February 27, 1870 · Scanned page
Extending the time for the commencement and completion of the Pleasant bridge, in Warren county.
Act 1248 of 1870 · P.L. 1377 · February 27, 1870 · Scanned page
Authorizing the trustees of Friends' meeting house at Kimberton. Chester county, to sell the same.
Act 1249 of 1870 · P.L. 1378 · March 12, 1870 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled " An Act to incorporate the Roberts Iron Company of Lehigh county," pa sed the second day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Act 1250 of 1870 · P.L. 1378 · March 18, 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Hickman Run Railroad Company.
Act 1251 of 1870 · P.L. 1379 · March 20, 1870 · Scanned page
Supplement To an act to incorporate the Wilkesbarre and Pittston Railroad Company, approved April fifteenth, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty -nine, authorizing said company (now the Danville, Hazleton and Wilkesbarre Railroad Company) to erect a telegraph along the line of their railroad, et cetera.
Act 1252 of 1870 · P.L. 1380 · March 20, 1870 · Scanned page
Supplement To an act, entitled "An Act to incorporate the Eagle Gold Mining Company," approved the twenty-thid day of March, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, authorizing said company to levy and collect assessments, with power to reduce their capital stock.
Act 1253 of 1870 · P.L. 1381 · March 22, 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Wyoming County Savings Bank.
Act 1254 of 1870 · P.L. 1381 · March 22, 1870 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act to incorporate the Northampton County Mutual Horse and Carriage Insurance Company.
Act 1255 of 1870 · P.L. 1385 · March 24, 1870 · Scanned page
establish a ferry over the Susquehanna river, at Jayne's ferry, in Wyoming county.
Act 1257 of 1870 · P.L. 1386 · 1870 · Scanned page
To authorize the managers of the Uniontown Gas and Water Company to transfer its franchises.
Act 1258 of 1870 · P.L. 1387 · March 26, 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Meadville Co-operative Store of Meadville, Crawford etmnty, Pennsylvania.
Act 1259 of 1870 · P.L. 1388 · March 27, 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Allegheny Silver Mining Company.
Act 1260 of 1870 · P.L. 1389 · March 27, 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the American News Association.
Act 1261 of 1870 · P.L. 1391 · March 31, 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the York County Iron Company.
Act 1262 of 1870 · P.L. 1392 · April 2, 1870 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act, entitled "An Act to incorporate the York Gas Company,*' authorizing an increase of the capital stock.
Act 1263 of 1870 · P.L. 1394 · April 2, 1870 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act to incorporate the Milford and Matamoras Railroad Company, approved the seventh day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.
Act 1264 of 1870 · P.L. 1395 · April 2, 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Pottstown Gas and Water Company.
Act 1265 of 1870 · P.L. 1395 · April 2, 1870 · Scanned page
Increasing the capital stock of the American Button Hole, Overseaming and Sewing Machine Company.
Act 1266 of 1870 · P.L. 1396 · April 2, 1870 · Scanned page
Relative to the estate of George Lohr, deceased, Jackson township, Northumberland county.
Act 1267 of 1870 · P.L. 1397 · April 3, 1870 · Scanned page
For the relief of A. P. Heichhold, late surgeon of the One Hundred and Fifth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers.
Act 1268 of 1870 · P.L. 1398 · April 3, 1870 · Scanned page
To establish a ferry over the Susquehanna river, at or near Union Furnace, in the county of Union.
Act 1269 of 1870 · P.L. 1399 · April 3, 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Chester Wharf and Shipping Company.
Act 1270 of 1870 · P.L. 1401 · April 7, 1870 · Scanned page
To annul the marriage contract between Edmund B. Seymour and Clarinda \Y., his wife.
Act 1271 of 1870 · P.L. 1403 · April 7, 1870 · Scanned page
Supplement to an act to incorporate the Miyuga Iron Company, approved Marc twenty-third, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven.
Act 1272 of 1870 · P.L. 1403 · April 8, 1870 · Scanned page
Supplement To an act incorporating the Union Gold and Silver Mining Company, approved March twenty-third, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-rive.
Act 1273 of 1870 · P.L. 1404 · April 8, 1870 · Scanned page
To authorize the M'Cauley Railroad Company to sell the iron belonging to said company.
Act 1274 of 1870 · P.L. 1405 · April 9, 1870 · Scanned page
To provide for the payment of the damages awarded to John F. Gross, J. Alexander Simpson, Jonathan Bonsall, William Keichline, John Todd and James Cochran, by reason of the occupation of their lands in the city of Philadelphia, by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, under the act of May fifteen, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, entitled " An Act to create a loan and to
Act 1275 of 1870 · P.L. 1405 · April 10, 1870 · Scanned page
To authorize William Douglass, his heirs or assigns, to construct a bridge over the Youghiogheny river for the transportation of coal and other minerals.
Act 1276 of 1870 · P.L. 1406 · April 12, 1870 · Scanned page
Authorizing John Rynd, W. R. Purdue and Joseph Craig to erect a bridge over Oil creek, at or near the house lately occupied by John Rynd. in Cornplanter township, Venango county.
Act 1277 of 1870 · P.L. 1407 · April 12, 1870 · Scanned page
To empower Grafius Miller, late sheriff, and David Caldwell, late prothonotary of Huntingdon county, to sue for fees or costs.
Act 1278 of 1870 · P.L. 1408 · April 14, 1870 · Scanned page
To establish a ferry over the Delaware river, in Manchester township, Wayne county.
Act of 1870 · P.L. 1409 · April 15, 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Hunlock's Creek and Muncy Railroad Company.
Act 1281 of 1870 · P.L. 1411 · April 15, 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Lick Run Improvement Company.
Act 1282 of 1870 · P.L. 1412 · April 15, 1870 · Scanned page
To exempt certain property of Great Island Lodge, nuinbejr three hundred and twenty, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of the state of Pennsylvania, situate in the borough of Lock Haven, from taxation.
Act 1283 of 1870 · P.L. 1414 · April 15, 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Wyoming Valley Ice Company.
Act 1284 of 1870 · P.L. 1415 · April 15, 1870 · Scanned page
To vest certain real estate, situate in the city of Chester, in trustees, and to authorize them to sell the same and use the proceeds for certain purposes.
Act of 1870 · P.L. 1416 · April 15, 1870 · Scanned page
Authorizing the sale of the church edifice known as the Pleasant Valley church, in York county.
Act of 1870 · P.L. 1418 · April 15, 1870 · Scanned page
To incorporate the Shaw Bridge Company, and to authorize other corporations to subscribe to the stock and purchase bonds of the same.
Act 1237 of 1870 · P.L. 1419 · April 15, 1870 · Scanned page
To exempt from taxation certain real estate in the borough of Washington, in the county of Washington, now used and occupied by the Methodist Episcopal church as a parsonage.
Act 1289 of 1870 · P.L. 1422 · April 15, 1870 · Scanned page
Supplement To the actincorporating theTionesta Bridge Company, approved the seventeenth day of February, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, changing the commissioners, increasing the capital stock, to issue bonds, and to increase the tolls upon foot men.
Act 1290 of 1870 · P.L. 1422 · April 15, 1870 · Scanned page
Supplement to the act incorporating the Bedford and Bridgeport Railroad Company.
Act 1291 of 1870 · P.L. 1423 · April 15, 1870 · Scanned page
Authorizing the incorporation of the ©rmsby Bridge Company.
Act 1292 of 1870 · P.L. 1424 · April 17, 1870 · Scanned page
IN SM < riving the a3sent of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania to an act of the legislature of the state of New York, entitled '-An Act to incorporate the Chehocton Bridge Company, in Delaware county.
Act 1293 of 1870 · P.L. 1428 · April 17, 1870 · Scanned page
Repealing the proviso of the first section of an act, entitled ••An Act to incorporate the National Land and Improvement Company.'' approved the seventeenth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Act 1294 of 1870 · P.L. 1428 · April 17, 1870 · Scanned page
By decade
Constitution of 18741874–1967
Constitution of 17761776–1789
- 1780s 567
1682–1801: the Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania. 1802–1974: the Pamphlet Laws (Laws of the General Assembly). Both from the scans published by the Pennsylvania Legislative Reference Bureau, which link to each original page. 1975 onward: the General Assembly’s own record of legislation enacted, which adds approval dates and bill numbers. Years the Bureau hasn’t indexed act by act come from the annual Laws of the General Assembly as scanned by the Internet Archive and Google Books: we split each volume into acts by their approval lines, and each one links to its scanned page. Before 1975 each year’s appropriation acts were scanned as one bundle, so they aren’t listed one by one. Proposed constitutional amendments, vetoed bills and reorganization plans are left out. Subject lines are the Bureau’s and the General Assembly’s, not the laws’ full titles.