Philip Pell and the End of the Articles of Confederation
Updated 9/10/21
Philip Pell was the only Continental Congressman to attend the last meeting before the Constitution went into effect.
Fraunces Tavern
Philip Pell sat alone in Fraunces Tavern.
In two days the U.S. Constitution would go into effect.
In two days, a new government would meet in this location.
The Articles of Confederation were being replaced. This was the last meeting of the Confederation Congress.
Pell was the only person in attendance.
Continental Officer
Philip Pell was a young lawyer from Westchester, New York when the American Revolutionary War broke out.
He became a Lieutenant in the Continental Army where he served as a deputy Judge Advocate.
This role included offering soldier’s legal assistance, prosecuting court martial trials, and interpreting rules and regulations.
Pell left the army in 1779 when he was elected to the New York State Assembly.
New York Assembly
As an Assemblyman Pell was a Commissary of Prisoners in New York, tasked with completing prisoner exchanges with the British.
This was extremely difficult because the British held New York City. They also had many more prisoners in captivity than the Americans so they often refused to trade.
Additionally, Westchester was a ‘no man’s land’ into which the British often sent raids. These actions made frightened locals unwilling to help with the war effort.
Judge Advocate General
When his term in the Assembly ended, Philip Pell was named acting Judge Advocate General of the Army.
Now, he was a part of the staff of George Washington. His legal advice was given to the top officials and he was responsible for the most important court martial cases.
Holding such a high position, coupled with his residency of New York, Pell participated in the Army’s triumphant march into New York City after the British evacuated.
Anti-Federal
Over the next five years, the U.S. Constitution was ratified to correct some of the problems in the Articles of Confederation.
Pell was an Anti-Federalist who fought hard against the ratification process. He wanted New York to run New York.
He ran for a seat in the New York Ratification Convention but lost.
The Last Day
Pellham was sent to the Confederation Congress during the transitional period. In the waning days of the Confederation, Delegates stopped attending.
On March 2, Philip Pell sat alone in Fraunces Tavern.
It was the last meeting of the Continental Congress.
The body that signed the Declaration of Independence, that won the Revolutionary War, was no more.
There was one action that day.
Philip Pell adjourned the Confederation Congress, forever.
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