Peter Augustus Jay (1776 - 1843)

Born 24 Jan 1776 in Elizabethtown, New Jersey

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 20 Feb 1843 in Rye or NYC

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Biography

Peter Augustus Jay was the eldest son of Federalist, politician and American Founding Father, John Jay. As a child he spent most of his time with his grandparents - who carefully educated him. Like his father, he would graduate from King's College with a degree in law being admitted to the bar in 1797 and later establishing a practice with his cousin, Peter Jay Munro, in New York City. His public service record was extensive. According to the Jay Heritage Center, Peter served as "President, Society for Manumission of Slaves; President, Board of Kings College, New York Hospital; New York State Assemblyman (active in arranging the financing for Erie Canal); he is a Westchester County Judge; a founder of the Bank for Savings (thereby establishing New York State savings bank system); private secretary to his father in London for Jay Treaty. President of the New York Historical Society."

Peter Jay married Mary Rutherford Clarkson in 1808. They had eight children, all of which reached adulthood. In 1816, he declined to run for governor of New York, but was elected, as a Federal Republican, to the New York State Assembly, where he supported legislation for the creation of the Erie Canal and for the abolition of slavery. In 1822, he inherited the Jay Property from his father - later demolishing the farmhouse to build the Greek Revival that stands today.

In 1832, Peter was honored with a Doctor of Laws from Harvard University for his "talents and virtues." His wife died in 1838 and he passed away five years later in 1843.

Burial: John Jay Cemetery Rye Westchester County New York, USA

Find A Grave Memorial# 91562473

Sources

• Jay Family Bible transcription. Robison, Jeannie Floyd Jones and Henrietta C. Bartlett. (editors) The Colonial Dames of New York: Genealogical records; manuscript entries of births, deaths and marriages taken from family Bibles, 1581-1917. New York, 1917. p. 110 At Hathi Trust.

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