Peter Shaver Explained

Peter Shaver, MLA
Birth Date:September 27, 1776
Birth Place:Montgomery County, New York
Death Place:Iroquois, Ontario
Office1:Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for Dundas
Term Start1:1821
Term End1:1824
Successor1:John Crysler
Office2:Member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada for Dundas
Term Start2:1829
Term End2:1840
Occupation:Farmer, politician, soldier, timber merchant
Allegiance:Upper Canada
Serviceyears:1812 - 1856
Unit:1st Dundas Regiment of Militia
Dundas Cavalry Troop
Commands:3rd (Winchester & Mountain) Battalion, Dundas Militia (1846-56)
Battles:War of 1812

Upper Canada Rebellion

Peter Shaver (September 27, 1776 – June 21, 1866) was a farmer, businessman and political figure in Upper Canada.

He was born in Montgomery County, New York in 1776, the son of a German immigrant (the family name was originally spelled Schaeffer). His father was a loyalist who served with the British forces during the American Revolution and settled in Matilda Township in Dundas County, Upper Canada after the war.

Peter served as a Private with the Dundas County Militia during the War of 1812 and then raised and commanded the Dundas Cavalry Troop from 1822-1840, including during the Upper Canada Rebellion. He later reached the rank of lieutenant-colonel and commanded the 3rd Battalion, Dundas Militia from 1846-1850s.

He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada in 1820 for Dundas and was reelected in 1828 and served until 1841. He was appointed justice of the peace in the Eastern District in 1825. Shaver farmed and was also involved in the timber trade.

He died in Iroquois in 1866.

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