With the house complete , in 1800 Van Ness returned to elective office . This time he served a term in the State Senate ; the following year he retired from his position in the militia . After he returned to private life , Maizefield played a bit part in the aftermath of one America 's early 19th-century political scandals . In 1804 , Van Ness 's nephew William , an associate and political ally of Vice President Aaron Burr , carried personal letters between Burr and Alexander Hamilton , a fierce opponent of Burr 's possible bid for the presidency . In the letters , Burr demanded an apology and explanation from Hamilton for remarks about Burr attributed to him at a Claverack dinner the previous year . When Hamilton 's answers proved insufficient to Burr , he instead demanded satisfaction . Van Ness was Burr 's second in the ensuing duel , which took place on a midsummer morning on the banks of the Hudson River in what is now Weehawken , New Jersey , near their homes in Manhattan . Burr 's shot killed Hamilton , and Van Ness hid Burr for a time afterward at Maizefield
the ensuing duel
Burr–Hamilton duel
Maizefield