Peter learned the craft of beermaking well enough to become known as Peter the Brewer in the Hudson Valley. What is old becomes new again in the world of craft brews?Peter later negotiated his way to own a huge land holding along the eastern banks of the Hudson River in Dutchess County. However, because the Lawsons were farmers and fisherman, they lacked family financial wealth to maintain the land as an estate and they are early examples of the phrase of “land rich, cash poor” agriculturalists
As was the custom at the time, Peter had many children (18) and with each succeeding large generation, the Lawsons large land holding was quickly whittled down to virtually nothing. Today’s hamlet of New Hamburg, NY, was founded on the land of Peter the Brewer and this was home to many generations after him, including Ralph Stuart Jr.