After The Revolution
Peter continued to make his home in Albany where he operated the family brewery. He expanded his farms, adding grist mills and a lumber mill, in the area that eventually became Gansevoort, New York. He served for a while as sheriff of Albany County, as a commissioner of Indian affairs, and continued his support of the military in the militia and as a quartermaster. In 1800, he ran for U.S. Senator from New York but was defeated by Federalist Gouverneur Morris.
Peter had married Catherine "Katy" Van Schaik on January 12, 1778 in her family's home on Van Schaick Island, Cohoes, NY. She was the daughter of Wessel and Maria Van Schaik, and her cousin Goose Van Schaick had been Peter's commander and Colonel in 1775. Over the years, they had at least three children: Peter Gansevoort Jr. (1788–1876), Leonard and Maria. Leonard's son Guert Gansevoort had a distinguished naval career that spanned 45 years. Maria married Alan Melvill in 1814, and their son was the author Herman Melville.
In 1809, he was made a Brigadier General in the United States Army and commanded the Northern Department. In 1811, he was called on to preside over the court-martial of General James Wilkinson who was charged as an accomplice in Aaron Burr's western conspiracy. Wilkinson was found not guilty, and the court adjourned on Christmas Day. Hurrying back to his family, Peter's old illness returned, and he never recovered. He died at home in Albany on July 2, 1812.
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Famous quotes containing the word revolution:
“The revolution as we call it is not necessarily an uprising in the streets or the old business of seizing power. Though the Left has always imagined it was. The revolution is change. Not merely rearrangement, but a deep emotional type of transformation that must also take place inside us. It’s a better way to live.”
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