He followed the law and was licenced to practice in New York in January 1755. The following year, he was made a "free man" of Albany - enabling him to conduct business in the city.

He married Kinderhook native Jannetje Van Schaack in 1764. Their son Francis was born in 1767. By that time, he had opened a legal practice in Albany. His practice flourished and, within a few years, he was one of the wealthiest Albany residents. Among his clients was Sir William Johnson. He served the Albany government as a clerk and represented the city on several occasions. Although not the clerk of record, he was paid for performing clerical services. He also was a member and officer of St. Peter's Anglican church.

In 1771, he was elected alderman for the first ward. The following year he was appointed to revise the city's governing ordinances. Although he had done very well under the British system, in 1775 he was elected to and served on the Albany Committee of Correspondence. He also represented Albany in the New York Provincial Congress.

A notable attorney, mentor, and jurist, Peter Silvester died in November 1808 and was buried in the Kinderhook cemetery. A street and a number of Kinderhook babies were named for him!

Sources: The life of Peter Silvester/Sylvester is CAP biography number 1064. This profile focusing on his Albany career is derived chiefly from community-based resources. The best window on his Albany business comes from the Johnson Papers. See if you must, Peyton F. Miller, A Group of Great Lawyers of Columbia County, New York (privately printed, 1904), 55-57. Substantial Kinderhook history is available online. We seek more defining information on his background.