Peter Goulet (1727-1811)

He was born in New York City and became a hardware merchant, entering into business with his brother-in-law, Peter Theobaldus Curtenius. From 1763, he was trading from Hanover Square at the sign of the Golden Key but after dissolving their partnership he moved his business to his home at 113-115 Pearl Street where he sold musical instruments, brushes, hardware, and cutlery. In May, 1775, he was elected to the Committee of One Hundred and the Committee of Correspondence in support of the Patriot cause. He invested the money he made during the war into buying up real estate in Manhattan which along with the Buchanan property (two of his sons married daughters of Thomas Buchanan) formed the nucleus of the Goelet property empire that became second only to that accumulated by the Astor family. In 1785, he married Elizabeth Ratsey whose dowry included much of the property around 14th Street and they were survived by six (listed above) of twelve children.