At the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War he sided with the Patriots, and resigned from the bench in 1775.

On March 4, 1778, he was appointed by the New York State Assembly to the New York State Senate as one of the representatives of the Southern District, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Dr. John Jones.

On October 19, 1789, he administered the oaths of office to Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court John Jay.

[7] In December 1794, he ran on the Federalist ticket for Congress in the Westchester–Richmond district, but was defeated by Democratic-Republican Philip Van Cortlandt.

Together, they had five children:[9] He owned estates in Westchester county at Mount Fordham and in Scarsdale.