Pennsylvania, colonial and federal : a history, 1608-1903 . rsand the judges of the Provincial court, all of wdiom were jus-tices of the ])eace by virtue of their higher official station. In 1683 tlie civil jurisdiction of County courts was first de-fined, but afterward the powers of its justices were enlarged,and they were frecpiently called upon to perform duties whichwere not consistent with the dignity of their office, all of whichgave rise to expressions of dissatisfaction. In 1684 each Quar-ter Sessions of the County court was made a court of equity inaddition to its former duties. The l
Pennsylvania, colonial and federal : a history, 1608-1903 . rsand the judges of the Provincial court, all of wdiom were jus-tices of the ])eace by virtue of their higher official station. In 1683 tlie civil jurisdiction of County courts was first de-fined, but afterward the powers of its justices were enlarged,and they were frecpiently called upon to perform duties whichwere not consistent with the dignity of their office, all of whichgave rise to expressions of dissatisfaction. In 1684 each Quar-ter Sessions of the County court was made a court of equity inaddition to its former duties. The law establishing this courtwas re-enacted in 1694, but the exact nature and scope of thepowers thus conferred never have been fully understood. The County court also had its criminal side and its justiceswere empow-ered to try all offenses except heinous or enormouscrimes. Occasionally the justices were clothed with jail de-livery powers, but generally the jurisdiction of the court in thedisposition of criminal business was limited to offenses of minor 100. Jasper Yeates Member of the convention which ratificil theConstitution of the United States; associatejustice of the State Supreme Court especially for this work fromoriginal miniature The Judicial System character. Appeals from the Count}- court la}- to the ProvincialCouncil previous to the establishment of the Irovincial court, in1684. Under its original name and general powers the County-court was continued until 1722. when its civil and criminalbranches were separated. The act of May 22 of that year, en-titled An Act for the establishment of Courts of Judicature inthis Province, provided for a court styled the General QuarterSessions of the Peace and Gaol Delivery, to be holden and keptfour times in every year in each countw 1)\- a competent numberof justices of the iieace. appointed and commissioned by the gov-ernor or his deputy. Tlie same act also provided for the ap-])ointment of a competent num
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