Peter David

Spelled variously, Peter David was born in March 1764. He was the son of John and Elizabeth Wyngaert David. He grew up a middle child in the large family of a Southside shopkeeper.

Although he would have been nineteen at the end of the war in 1783, his name was on the list for a land bounty right in conjunction with the Albany militia regiment.

In July 1784, he was just twenty when he married a young woman named Elizabeth Caldwell (or Colwell) at the Albany Dutch church. By 1800, seven children had been christened in Albany. A number of additional children are said to have been born before Elizabeth died in 1808. She most probably was a relative of the Albany Caldwell brothers as sons were named James and Joseph Caldwell David and Peter's property was associated with that of the Caldwells.

In 1790, his second ward household first appeared on the city census. However, in 1799, his personal property was valued either under the house of his widowed mother or under the store of James Caldwell (perhaps his wife's uncle) whose holdings appeared after the property of Peter Davis. In 1800, his first ward household included seven children.

Elizabeth Caldwell David died in 1808. After that, we are less certain that available community-based information applies to this particular Peter David. Perhaps he worked for James Caldwell and was employed elsewhere.

Sources: The life of Peter David is CAP biography number 7790. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. An intriguing genealogical senario is avalable online.