From John Jay to Peter Augustus Jay, 25 February 1823
To Peter Augustus Jay
Bedford. 25 Feby—1823.—
Dear Peter
I have recd. your Letters of the 14th. & 21st. Inst—1 That your Aunt was better, and your Family well, were agreable Tidings— Wm. and Maria set out for Rye this morning— he to attend a Meeting of the Bible Society—& she to visit her Aunt.—2
William in a late Letter informed you of Encroachment & Trespasses at Chenango;3 & not having since heard from you on that Subject fears it has miscarried. He has been nominated for a Justice of the Peace by the Supervisors, but the Judges have proposed another Person— The appointment will therefore rest with the Govr., and from him William should not in my opinion accept it, if offered.4
Maria is much gratified by your & Mary’s kind Invitation; but I doubt her availing herself of it before the weather and the Roads become settled— March is not a pleasant Month for Excursions.—
Did Mr. Redon5 before his Departure give up the Stable, and provide for the Payment of the then ensuing Rent?— I hope that neither Maria’s House nor the Stable will remain without Tenants.—
Mr. Jotham Smith6 was stricken with Palsey the Day before Yesterday. My Health and that of the Family continues much the same— My Love to Mary and the Children— I am Dear Peter Your very affte. Father
John Jay
Peter Augustus Jay Esqr
ALS, NNC (EJ: 11509). Endorsed: “Letter from J. Jay / Bedford 25 Feb. / 1823”.
2. Aunt Polly.
3. Probably regarding JJ and Rutherfurd property. See JJ to PAJ, 12 Apr. 1799, note 4, above. Letter not found.
4. PAJ’s letter of 14 Feb. notes that WJ had lost his office, along with James Emott (1771–1850), of the Dutchess County bench, under Joseph C. Yates (1768–1837), Democratic-Republican one-year governor. However, WJ’s position was preserved. He sat in Westchester until removed for his abolitionist views in 1843. See Bayard Tuckerman, William Jay, and the Constitutional Movement for the Abolition of Slavery (New York, 1893), 122–25.
5. Claudius Redon had already left Canal Street for Washington, D.C., and Charleston. PAJ had advertised to rent the Canal Street stable starting 13 Feb. through 1 Apr. 1823.
6. Probably Jotham Smith (1780–1825), of Bedford.