Background
Silvester, Peter was born in 1734 in Shelter Island, Long Island, New York, United States.
lawyer politician representative
Silvester, Peter was born in 1734 in Shelter Island, Long Island, New York, United States.
Born at Shelter Island, New York on Long Island, Silvester completed preparatory studies, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1763, and practiced in Albany, New New York
He is also the grandfather of New York Representative Peter Henry Silvester. The Van Schaacks were Loyalists, and some historians have suggested that Silvster"s in-laws may have influenced him to take a reduced role as the Revolution went on. He later moved to the Van Schaack estate and practiced law as the first attorney in Kinderhook.
He was appointed judge of the court of common pleas of Columbia County, New York in 1786, and served until 1789.
He was a regent of the University of the State of New York from 1787 to 1808. Silvester was elected to the First and Second United States Congresses as a Pro-Administration (Federalist) candidate (March 4, 1789 – March 3, 1793).
Silvester served again in the Assembly from 1803 to 1806. In retirement Silvester continued to reside in Kinderhook, where he died on October 15, 1808, aged 74 years.
His grave is presumed to be within the Kinderhook Reformed Church"s Cemetery, but its exact location is not known.
Silvester backed the patriot cause during the American Revolution and held a variety of positions in New York including: member of the Albany Common Council in 1772, member of the Committee of Safety in 1774, and member of the First and Second Provincial Congresses in 1775 and 1776. After his time in Congress, Silvester served in the New York State Assembly in 1788 and as a member of the New York State Senate from 1796 to 1800.