after the war, he served as a justice of the peace for augusta county in 1769, botetourt county in 1770 and 1771, and fincastle county in 1773 and 1774. he also served on the fincastle committee of safety from 1775 to 1776. in 1776, he commanded fort patrick henry on long island of the holston in tennessee. the following year, in 1777, he was elected to the virginia house of delegates.