Peter H. Silvester

Peter Henry Silvester (February 17, 1807 – November 29, 1882) was a U.S. Representative from New York in the 30th and 31st United States Congress. Silvester was the grandson of prominent attorney and former U.S. Congressmen, Peter Silvester.

Peter Henry Silvester
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 's New York's 11th district
In office March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1851
Preceded by	John F. Collin
Succeeded by	Josiah Sutherland
Personal details
Born	February 17, 1807 Kinderhook, New York
Died	November 29, 1882 (aged 75) Coxsackie, New York
Political party	Whig
Spouse	Catherine Susan Bronk
Relations	Peter Silvester (grandfather)
Children	Francis Silvester John L.B. Silvester
Parent(s)	Francis Silvester Lydia Van Schaack
Education	Kinderhook Academy
Alma mater	Union College
Profession	Lawyer, Politician

Early life

Silvester was born on February 17, 1807, in Kinderhook, New York. He was the only son of Francis Silvester (1767–1845) and Lydia Van Schaack, a niece of Peter van Schaack and a descendant of the Schuyler family.^[1][2] He was the grandson of Peter Silvester (1734–1808) and his wife, Jane Van Schaack.^[3] Silvester attended Kinderhook Academy, and graduated from Union College, Schenectady, New York, in 1827. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1830 and practiced in Coxsackie, New York.^[4]

Career

He was originally a member of the Democratic-Republican Party, and joined the National Republicans and then the Whigs.^[4]

Silvester was elected as a Whig to the Thirtieth and Thirty-first Congresses (March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1851). He did not run for reelection in 1850 and resumed practicing law. Like most Whigs, Silvester became a Republican when the party was organized in the mid-1850s. In 1860 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. House, losing narrowly to John B. Steele.^[4]

Personal life

Silvester married Catherine Susan Bronk (d. 1858), the daughter of John Leonard Bronk and Alida Conine, and born in Coxsackie. She attended Troy Seminary in Troy New York. Her father was a lawyer and Columbia College graduate.^[5] Together, Silvester and Bronk had four children, of which two survived to adulthood:^[5]

• Francis Silvester (1833–1903), a lawyer^[1] who served as District Attorney of Columbia County.^[6]
• John L.B. Silvester (c. 1836)^[1][7]
• Margaret Silvester, died aged 9^[1]

Silvester later retired to one of his farms in Coxsackie, where he lived until his death on November 29, 1882.^[8] He was interred in Kinderhook Cemetery, along with his family.