John Pell's Early Public Service in the Late 1600s

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John Pell inherited the lands that came to be known as the "Manor of Pelham" from his uncle, Thomas Pell, following Thomas Pell's death in late September, 1669. John Pell arrived in America from England to claim his inheritance about a year later.

Within a short time, John Pell was a respected citizen of the area that came to be known as Westchester County. He became involved in public service.

A book published in 2005 summarized John Pell's public service. It noted that an examination of the earliest records of the Court of Sessions held in Westchester suggests that the first Court of Sessions was held on June 3, 1684. That year, according to the account, "it seems" that John Pell was appointed First Judge of Westchester County. Additionally, Pell "seems to have been recommissioned by James II in 1688, after the status of the latter had changed from the duke to the king."

In 1691, "John Pell represented Westchester in the 1691 General Assembly, which is known as the First General Assembly. He was also a member of the Second Assembly, 1692-93, and with Joseph Theal sat in the Third Assembly, 1693, also in the Fourth (1693-94), with Humphrey Underhill."

Source: Chester, Alden, Courts and Lawyers of New York: A History 1609-1925, Vol. I, pp. 1298-1299 (Clark, NJ: The LawBook Exchange, Ltd. 2005).

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