Peter DeWitt was a prominent equity lawyer and conveyancer in the City of New York in the early part of the nineteenth century. In 1795, he was sent to school in Sharon, Connecticut, but in March of 1796 he entered the Academy in Kingston, New York, in preparation for College, joining the Junior Class of Yale in the summer of 1797, graduating in 1799.

After graduation, he studied law with his kinsman, Peter Radcliff (Yale, 1793) of Poughkeepsie. The two moved to the city of New York in 1802. Peter was admitted to the New York Bar on May 14, 1803 and immediately opened his own office. Almy Goelet, widow of Peter Goelet, promised to build a building for Peter DeWitt's law office -- she made good on her promise, erecting the building at 88 Nassau Street, New York City, which served as the home for DeWitt's law firm for the next hundred and three years, when DeWitt, Lockman, & DeWitt moved their office to 270 Broadway. (Note: 88 Nassau was rebuilt in the early 1900s, but remained owned by the Goelet family.)

Peter DeWitt's clients included many principal stockholders and depositors of the Chemical Bank in its early days, among them were the Goelets (see the note for Almy Goelet above), Wolfes, Bruces, Roosevelts, Platts, and Lorillards. He was succeeded by his sons, Cornelius John DeWitt and Edward DeWitt under the name C. J. & E. DeWitt. The firm became DeWitt, Lockman, & Kip with partners George Gosman DeWitt, Jacob K. Lockman, John T. Lockman, William G. DeWitt, Theodore DeWitt, and George Goelet Kip.

Peter continued practicing law until a few weeks before his death, which occurred at his residence, 11 St. Mark's Place, City of New York, on May 8, 1851, in his 72nd year.

Sources:
Chemical Bank and Trust Company (1913). History of the Chemical Bank, 1823-1913. The Chemical National Bank.

Dexter, Franklin Bowditch (1911). Biographical sketches of the graduates of Yale College with annals of the College history, Vol 5, June 1792-September 1805. Henry Holt and Company. New York.

New York Times (October 8, 1938). "Old law firm moves, ending 103-year tenancy."