York-Town Court House
York, Pennsylvania
September 30, 1777 to June 27, 1778
No Longer Standing
Replica Built 1976
205 W Market St
York, PA 17401
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York-Town Court House York, Pennsylvania September 30, 1777 to June 27, 1778 |
York-Town Court House was constructed by William Willis in 1756 and stood in the "Centre Square" of two 80' thoroughfares. The 45’ x 45’ Georgian Brick Colonial Court House stood in the Center of West Market Street until 1841. In this Court House the Delegates received notice of Washington’s loss at Brandywine, Burgoyne’s surrender at Saratoga, Franklin’s success in achieving an alliance with France and the struggles of the Continental Army in Valley Forge. Also in this building the delegates hammered out and passed the Constitution of 1777, better known as the Articles of Confederation. A replica of the Court House was built in 1976 by the York County Bicentennial Commission; it stands in a small colonial park at the intersection of West Market Street and the Codorus Creek.
On the other side of the mighty
Susquehanna, a river offering a protective natural barrier like the Delaware
which impeded a surprise British Invasion of Philadelphia, sat the small hamlet
of York-Town (now known as York, Pennsylvania). York had an underutilized
courthouse that could readily be used to reconvene Congress in safety. York
also offered numerous accommodations to house the delegates comfortably. On
September 31st the Continental Congress moved into this 35-year-old town of
about 300 dwellings and 2,000 residents.
Students and Teachers of US History this is a video of Stanley and Christopher Klos presenting America's Four United Republics Curriculum at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. The December 2015 video was an impromptu capture by a member of the audience of Penn students, professors and guests that numbered about 200. - Click Here for more information
John Adams, once settled in York Town to
the time to write Abigail:
“It is now a long Time, since I had an Opportunity of writing to you, and I fear you have suffered unnecessary Anxiety on my Account. -- In the Morning of the 19th. Inst., the Congress were allarmed, in their Beds, by a Letter from Mr. Hamilton one of General Washington’s Family, that the Enemy were in Possession of the Ford over the Schuylkill, and the Boats, so that they had it in their Power to be in Philadelphia, before Morning. The Papers of Congress, belonging to the Secretary's Office, the War Office, the Treasury Office, &c. were before sent to Bristol. The President, and all the other Gentlemen were gone that Road, so I followed, with my Friend Mr. Merchant [Marchant] of Rhode Island, to Trenton in the jersies. We stayed at Trenton, untill the 21. when We set off, to Easton upon the Forks of Delaware. From Easton We went to Bethlehem, from thence to Reading, from thence to Lancaster, and from thence to this Town, which is about a dozen Miles over the Susquehannah River. -- Here Congress is to sit.
In order to convey the Papers, with safety, which are of more Importance than all the Members, We were induced to take this Circuit, which is near 180 Miles, whereas this Town by the directest Road is not more than 88 Miles from Philadelphia. This Tour has given me an Opportunity of seeing many Parts of this Country, which I never saw before.”[79]
The work in York was prodigious as the
delegates were in the final stages of formulating the first U.S. Constitution,
the Articles of Confederation, while anxiously awaited news from Battle of
Saratoga. The letters of the delegates report that Congress typically met from
10am to 1pm and recessed until 4 pm. The after recess sessions often lasted
well into the evening while committee duties filled the remaining free time.
John Hancock wrote to his wife Dorothy during this period:
I sat in the Chair yesterday & Conducted the Business Eight hours, which is too much, and after that had the Business of my office to attend to as usual … I cannot Stand it much longer in this way. [80]
John Adams wrote to Abigail Adams of
his tenure in York,
War has no Charms for me … If I live much longer in Banishment, I shall scarcely know my own Children. Tell my little ones, that if they will be very good, Pappa will come home. [81]
Charles
Carroll of Carrollton, a Maryland Delegate initially wrote of his
York experience that "the Congress still continues the same noisy,
empty & talkative assembly it always was since I have known it," As
the Delegates grew painfully aware that aid would not be forthcoming to their
cause without an unanimously ratified Confederation Constitution the atmosphere
of dread could only be changed with the crafting of such a document that would
surely "give us great strength & new vigor."
Continental Congress Legislation passed at York-Town Court House:
January
2, 1778
Dismisses Esek Hopkins from the -Continental Navy. January 8 Detains Convention Army in America until properly
notified of Britain's "explicit
ratification of the convention of Saratoga." January 11 Appoints committee to repair to headquarters to concert
with General Washington on the reform of the army. January 12 Examines John Folger on the theft of des patches from
the commissioners in France. January 14
Accepts Baron Steuben's tender of services as a volunteer in the Continental
Army. January 15 Orders creation of
additional magazines for supply of the army in Pennsylvania. January 16 Instructs committee at camp
to evaluate an attack on Philadelphia. January
17 Resolves to issue an additional $10 million in loan office certificates. January 20 Appoints Charles Carroll and
Gouverneur Morris to the committee at camp to replace members named from the
Board of War. January 21 Adopts
measures to secure improved British treatment of American prisoners of war. January 23 Names General Lafayette to
command an invasion of Canada. January
27 Appoints committee to confer on the reform of the hospital department. January 30-31 Studies proposals for
reform of the quarter master department and for retaining the neutrality of the
Indians in the northern department. February 2 Appoints officers for
Canadian expedition. February 3
Prescribes oath required of all officers of the United States. February 4 Directs commissioner to the
court of Tuscany to seek $1 million loan; receives Committee at Camp
recommendation that Jeremiah Wadsworth be appointed commissary general of
purchases. February 6 Reforms
medical department; appoints middle department physician general. February 11 Adopts regulations for
commissary general of military stores. February
13 Requests North Carolina beef and pork embargo. February 16 Resolves to emit
additional $2 million in bills of credit. February
17 Suspends Board of War's special purchasing agents. February 19 Relocates Convention Army for security purposes. February 23 Appoints committee to
reexamine feasibility of Canadian expedition. February 26 Adopts resolves for arranging a prisoner exchange;
adopts new Continental Army quotas and recruiting regulations. February 27 Prescribes death penalty
for persons convicted of aiding the enemy. March
2 Appoints Nathanael Greene quartermaster general and adopts new
quartermaster regulations; urges cavalry recruitment; suspends Canadian
expedition. March 3 Authorizes
General Burgoyne's return to England. March
4 Authorizes Washington to employ Indians with the army. March 5 Resolves to emit additional $2
million in bills of credit. March 7
Designates April 22 a day of fasting and prayer. March 12 Urges states to keep three delegates in constant
attendance. March 13 Adopts new
commissary regulations; reassigns Lafayette and de Kalb. March 16 Orders return of Pennsylvania pacifists exiled to
Virginia; orders study of state compliance with recommendations of Congress. March 18 Increases Washington's
authority to negotiate prisoner exchanges. March
21 Adopts measures for defense of the northern department. March 24 Resolves to resume once daily
sessions. March 26 Orders arrest of
Delaware loyalists to thwart invasion threat. March 28 Appoints Casimir Pulaski to command independent cavalry
corps. March 30 Adopts revised
prisoner exchange instructions. April 4 Resolves
to emit additional $1 million in bills of credit; empowers Washington to call
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland militia. April 7 Adopts contract terms for Commerce Committee to execute
with Roderique Hortalez & Co. April
9 Sets pay and allowances for commissary officers and appoints Jeremiah
Wadsworth commissary general of purchases. April
10 Holds acrimonious debate on letter criticizing Washington, sparking
walkout of Thomas Burke and Edward Langworthy. April 11 Orders Thomas Burke to answer charges of disrupting
proceedings of Congress; resolves to emit additional $5 million in bills of
credit. April 14 Adopts regulations
for commissary general of purchases. April
15 Responds to Delaware protest that General Smallwood's seizure of
loyalists infringed the internal police of the state; directs General Gates to
take command of the northern department. April
16 Rejects motion to refer issue of Continental officers' pensions to the
states. April 18 Orders inquiry into
the loss of the Virginia. April 22
Orders publication of statement on North Ministry's peace proposals. April 23 Urges states to pardon and
forgive penitent loyalists; requests Maryland to send troops to suppress
Delaware uprising. April 25 Resolves
that Thomas Burke's withdrawal from Congress was "disorderly and contemptuous." April 26 Holds Sunday debate on half-pay proposal for Continental
officers. April
28 Accepts General Conway's resignation ending his cabal to replace George Washington with Horatio Gates. April 29 Adopts plan to encourage desertion of British mercenaries
seeking land and citizenship in the United States. May 3 Holds Sunday session to consider treaties of commerce and
alliance negotiated with France. May 4 Ratifies the Franco-American Alliance with France.
May 5 Instructs commissioners to
secure revocation of two treaty of commerce articles. May 8 Adopts an address to the inhabitants of the United States. May 9 Issues proclamation denouncing
seizures of neutral shipping by American armed vessels. May 11 Instructs Massachusetts on safeguarding the rights of the
owners of an illegally seized Portuguese vessel. May 13 Rejects motion to refer proposed officer pension plan to the
states. May 15 Adopts plan to provide half pay for officers for seven years
after the conclusion of the war. May 18
Receives "plan for regulating the
army" from the committee at camp. May
19 Orders emission of $6.3 million in bills of credit to pay interest on
loan office certificates. May 21
Authorizes Massachusetts to assist Nova Scotian revolutionaries at Continental
expense; adopts principles for governing prisoner exchanges. May 22 Resolves to emit additional $5
million in bills of credit. May 26
Adopts revised "rules" of
Congress. May 27 Adopts new "Establishment of the American Army." May 28 Revises commissions of the American commissioners to
Vienna, Berlin, and Tuscany. May 30
Resumes twice daily sessions "for
the space of one month." June 1
Debates instructions for the American commissioners in Europe. June 4 Recommends suspension of state
price regulations; directs Washington
to "proceed in arranging"
the army. June
6 Rejects peace proposals submitted by
Lord Howe and Sir Henry Clinton.
June 8 Embargoes provisions
(effective June 10-November 15, 1778). June
11 Receives notice of the arrival of the Carlisle peace commission at
Philadelphia; orders expedition against Fort Detroit; orders quartermaster
department inquiry. June 13 Receives
letter from the Carlisle peace commission. June 17 Adopts reply to the Carlisle
peace commission orders halt to personal "correspondence
with the enemy." June 20 Receives
notice of the British evacuation of Philadelphia; resolves to emit additional
$5 million in Continental currency. June 22-25 Debates proposed state
amendments to the Articles of Confederation. June 25 Orders reinforcements for Rhode
Island. June 26 Orders Articles
of Confederation to be engrossed
for signing. June 27 Adjourns from York,
"to Thursday next, to meet at the State House in Philadelphia."
Continental Congress Legislation passed at York-Town Court House:
September 30, 1777 Convenes at York. October 1 Resolves to meet twice daily.
October 2 Authorizes delegates to draw provisions from Continental
commissaries. October 4 Commends sundry officers for bravery in defense against
General Burgoyne's northern invasion. October
7 Debates "mode of voting" under
draft Articles of Confederation. October 8 Adopts penalties for "communicating" with the
enemy; commends Washington for the "brave
exertions" of his army at Germantown. October 9-14 Debates taxation proposals under draft Articles of Confederation. October 15 Debates powers of Congress
under draft Articles of Confederation. October 17 Reorganizes the Board of War.
October 20 Exonerates General John Sullivan for failure of Staten Island
expedition; learns informally of General Gates' capture of General Burgoyne's
army at Saratoga. October 22 Orders inquiry into the conduct of Indian
Commissioner George Morgan. October
23-30 Debates and revises draft Articles of
Confederation. October 29 President
Hancock takes leave of Congress. October
31 Receives official notification of the Saratoga Convention.
November 1 Elects Henry Laurens President of the Continental Congress. November 4 Commends General Gates
and his army for their defense against Burgoyne's invasion and various other
officers and units for their defense of the Delaware. November 7 Names new
appointees to reorganized Board of War. November
10-14 Conducts final debates on Articles of
Confederation. November 15 Adopts the Articles of Confederation
November 17 Transmits Articles of Confederation to
states for their consideration. November
19 Directs General Washington to inquire into the treatment of American
prisoners. November 20 Adopts report
on pacification of the western frontier. November
21 Recalls Commissioner Silas Deane from the court of France. November 22 Adopts economic program
asking the states to levy taxes, call in paper money, and regulate prices. November 24 Adopts measures for
improving the provisioning of the army. November
27 Recommends confiscation of loyalist property in the states; completes
reconstitution of the Board of War, Horatio Gates named president. November 28 Appoints committee to
confer with General Washington;
orders inquiry into the failures of the Rhode Island expedition and the
Delaware River defenses; appoints John Adams commissioner to France. November
29 Appoints committee to obtain a French translation of the Articles
of Confederation and to invite Canada "to accede to the union of these states." December 1
Rejects alteration of the Saratoga Convention to permit embarkation of
Burgoyne's army from Rhode Island. December
3 Resolves to seek $2 million loan from France and Spain; directs
suppression of Delaware loyalists; adopts instructions for retaining continued
neutrality of the Six Nations; endorses proposal for a surprise attack against
Lake Champlain. December 8 Orders
Silas Deane's immediate return to Congress. December 10 Denounces General William Howe's treatment of American
prisoners; authorizes General Washington
to impress supplies in Pennsylvania. December
13 Appoints General Thomas Conway to newly constituted post of inspector
general of the army. December 16
Receives report of the committee at headquarters. December 19 Questions General
Washington's plans for a winter cantonment. December 26 Debates
implementation of the Saratoga Convention. December
30 Grants navy boards increased authority over naval officers; extends
General Washington's powers to impress supplies, discipline officers, and
punish spies.
Capitals of the United States and Colonies of America
Philadelphia
|
Sept. 5, 1774 to Oct. 24, 1774
| |
Philadelphia
|
May 10, 1775 to Dec. 12, 1776
| |
Baltimore
|
Dec. 20, 1776 to Feb. 27, 1777
| |
Philadelphia
|
March 4, 1777 to Sept. 18, 1777
| |
Lancaster
|
September 27, 1777
| |
York
|
Sept. 30, 1777 to June 27, 1778
| |
Philadelphia
|
July 2, 1778 to June 21, 1783
| |
Princeton
|
June 30, 1783 to Nov. 4, 1783
| |
Annapolis
|
Nov. 26, 1783 to Aug. 19, 1784
| |
Trenton
|
Nov. 1, 1784 to Dec. 24, 1784
| |
New York City
|
Jan. 11, 1785 to Nov. 13, 1788
| |
New York City
|
October 6, 1788 to March 3,1789
| |
New York City
|
March 3,1789 to August 12, 1790
| |
Philadelphia
|
December 6,1790 to May 14, 1800
| |
Washington DC
|
November 17,1800 to Present
|
Middle and High School Curriculum Supplement
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