To John Jay from John McVickar, 11 May 1812
From John McVickar
New York May 11th 1812
Sir
My feeble State of body compels me to employ my Son to express to you the Satisfaction with which I regard the addresses of your Son to my daughter, and my wish to promote in every thing, their happiness.
I can scarcely flatter myself that I am yet better in health; the advancing Season may by the blessing of Providence restore me to a moderate Share of ease and strength—& in every circumstance it will give me great pleasure to improve that intercourse between our families which will arise from the proposed connection.—1 With the best wishes for your health & happiness I remain Sir Your most obedt. Servt.
John Mc.Vickar
John Jay Esqr.
LS, in the hand of his son, Rev. John McVickar (1787–1868), NNC (EJ: 09064). John McVickar (1759–1812), father of Augusta McVickar Jay (1790–1857), was an Irish-born merchant and shipowner, involved in trade with China and Europe. McVickar immigrated to New York at the age of 17. He served in leadership positions at the Bank of New York, the Mutual Insurance Company, the Western and Northern Coal Company, and the New York Hospital. In addition, McVickar was a vestryman of Trinity Church; and cofounded the St. Patrick’s Society. His son Augustus married Catherine Livingston, daughter of Brockholst. Walter Barrett, Old Merchants of New York City (New York, 1885), 2: 281–89.
1. James McVickar (1784-c. 1863), Augusta’s eldest brother, wrote to JJ on behalf of his mother, Anna Moore McVickar (1761–1833), to invite him to the wedding: “my Mother waving ceremony has already sent you & given the different Members of your Family verbal invitations, but aware of your disinclination to leave home, she has requested me to repeat the invitation & to assure you that your presence will be to us all peculiarly gratifying.” JJ replied that the “delicate State of my Health, as well as the number of Workmen now here who daily require Direction” prevented his attendance. He nonetheless assured the McVickars that “I shall always be happy to see her and any of the Family here, and shall omit no Occasion of promoting the friendly Intercourse which ought to result from the Event alluded to.” Augusta and WJ were married on 4 Sept. 1812, at her parents’ home in Bloomingdale. James McVickar to JJ, 28 Aug. 1812, ALS, NNC (EJ: 09066); JJ to James McVickar, 31 Aug. 1812, Dft, NNC (EJ: 09166); Weekly Museum (New York), 12 Sept. 1812. See also Peter Kean to WJ, 4 Sept. 1812, ALS, NNC (EJ: 09168); and WJ to JJ, 7 Sept. 1812, below.