Peter Theobaldus Curtenius was born on April 3, 1734, in New York City.
Anthonius Curtenius, a clergyman of the Dutch Church who had come from Holland to the United States.
On May 31, 1775, the New York Provincial Congress appointed him Commissary General, with the rank of colonel, being in charge of the purchase of provisions for the Continental Army.
[2] In 1782, after the resignation of merchant and banker Comfort Sands, he was appointed New York State Auditor, holding the post until the creation of the succeeding office of comptroller in 1797.
[2] In August 1755, he married Catharine Goelet (died 1806), a sister of his partner Peter Goelet, and their children were: He died from yellow fever in New York City, and was originally buried at the vault of the Middle Dutch Church on Cedar Street, but he and his son Peter's remains were re-interred in 1857 at the Beechwoods Cemetery in New Rochelle, New York.