Representative Peter Swart

Peter Swart (July 5, 1752 – November 3, 1829) was a United States Representative from New York and a prominent early public official in Schoharie County. He was born in Schoharie, in what was then the Province of New York, and spent his youth there. Swart attended the local common schools, receiving the basic education typical of the period, and subsequently pursued the study of law. After completing his legal training, he was admitted to the bar of New York and commenced the practice of law in his native Schoharie, establishing himself as a lawyer in the growing rural community.

As his legal practice developed, Swart became increasingly involved in local judicial affairs. In 1795 he was appointed judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Schoharie County, a position that placed him at the center of county-level civil and criminal adjudication during a formative period in New York’s post-Revolutionary legal system. His judicial service coincided with the continued organization and settlement of upstate New York, and his role on the Court of Common Pleas reflected both his professional standing and the trust placed in him by local authorities.

Swart soon extended his public service into the legislative arena. He was elected a member of the New York State Assembly, serving in the sessions of 1798 and 1799. In the Assembly, he participated in state governance at a time when New York was expanding westward and refining its institutions in the early years of the republic. His legislative experience at the state level helped to establish his credentials as a Democratic-Republican aligned with the political movement that supported Thomas Jefferson and emphasized agrarian interests and states’ rights.

Building on his state legislative record, Swart was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Tenth United States Congress. He served a single term in the U.S. House of Representatives from March 4, 1807, to March 3, 1809, representing New York. During his tenure in Congress, he served in the period immediately preceding the War of 1812, when national debates focused on issues such as trade restrictions, relations with Great Britain and France, and the scope of federal authority. Although specific details of his committee assignments and floor activity are not extensively documented, his service placed him among the early generation of New York representatives in the federal legislature.

After leaving Congress, Swart returned to public office at the county level. He was elected sheriff of Schoharie County in 1810 and again in 1813, holding the position in two separate terms. As sheriff, he was responsible for law enforcement, the execution of court orders, and the administration of county jails, further underscoring his long-standing involvement in the legal and judicial framework of the region. His repeated selection for this office indicated continued confidence in his abilities and integrity among the citizens of Schoharie County.

Swart resumed a broader legislative role when he was elected to the New York State Senate, in which he served from 1817 to 1820. As a state senator, he participated in shaping New York law and policy during a period of rapid economic and infrastructural development, including the early years of planning and support for internal improvements that would later transform the state. His combined experience as a lawyer, judge, assemblyman, congressman, sheriff, and state senator made him a significant figure in the civic life of his county and state over several decades.

Following the conclusion of his Senate service, Swart returned to the private practice of law in Schoharie. He continued to reside there, remaining a respected member of the local bar and community until his death. Peter Swart died in Schoharie on November 3, 1829. He was interred in the Old Stone Fort Cemetery in Schoharie, a historic burial ground associated with the region’s colonial and Revolutionary-era heritage, reflecting his place among the early leaders of the area.