Peter Silvester (1734–1808)
Peter Silvester (* 1734 in Shelter Iceland, Suffolk County, New York, † October 15, 1808 in Kinderhook, Columbia County, New York) was an American lawyer, judge and politician. He was the grandfather of U.S. Representative Peter Henry Silvester.
Career
Peter Silvester completed his preparatory studies and studied law. His admission to the bar he received in 1763 and then began in Albany (New York ) to practice. New Year's Eve 1772 was a member of the Albany Common Council and in 1774 a member of the Committee of Safety. Then he worked in the years 1775 and 1776 in both the first and the second Provincial Congress. During this time he moved to Kinderhook, where he continued his activities as a lawyer. New Year's Eve 1786 was appointed a judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Columbia County. In addition, he served 1787-1808 as a regent at the University of the State of New York. He was elected as a Pro- Administration candidate to the 1st U.S. Congress and re-elected in the subsequent 2 U.S. Congress. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives on 4 March 1789 to 3 March 1793. New Year's Eve was twice a member of the New York State Assembly, for the first time in 1788 and the second time 1803-1806. It shall also was 1796-1800 Member of the Senate of New York. After the end of his final term in the Assembly, he withdrew from public life. He died 1808 in Kinderhook and was buried in the Old Cemetery Van Schaack, where in 1814 the Reformed Dutch Church was built.