To John Jay from Peter Augustus Jay, 16 March 1799
From Peter Augustus Jay
New York 16 March 1799
Dear Papa
I returned yesterday from Rye where & at Bedford I had been detained longer than I intended by foul Weather. The Major1 has made but small progress towards building, for which a severe Fit of Sickness is some Apology—The Boards are not yet brought from Coscob— No Lime has been procured & only about 20,000 Brick drawn— All the Necessary Timber has been drawn to the Saw mill but not sawed— Two Carpenters of whom the Major has a good Opinion have given him an Estimate of the Sum for which they will undertake the House amounting to £93 Upon a careful Calculation we were supposed that it was worth no more than £60 And the Major thought that they would probably accept that Sum. I wished to conclude if possible a bargain with them immediately, but he supposed that could negociate more advantageously alone— Upon another Calculation we found Bourdets Estimate which is £135 very extravagant— The Majr. says that Bouker whom he recommended to you will undertake it for half the Money. If so I should think it advantageous to employ him— There are but few Masons in the County & they but indifferent Workmen— Of Carpenters there are many—I endeavored to hasten the Majr. & he promised to agree with the Carpenters & contract for Lime immediately after my departure And that the Stone for the Cellar shall be drawn as soon as the weather will permit— He is much straightened for Fodder & his Neigbors are in the same Situation. Hay sells currently at Bedford for 6/ pr Cwt.2 By purchasing Rye Straw & feeding out Potatoes & some ground Corn Buckwheat & Oats he hopes to get thro without Loss. Only one of his Mares proves with foal. The Horses & Cows appear in good order notwithanding the Scarcity of Hay—
The military Appointments still continue to give some uneasiness— A Son of Judge Purdy3 said to be one of the most violent Jacobins in the County has just recd the Commission of Cornet in Capt. Wrights new Troop of Horse—4
Uncle Peter5 is as well as usual; he desires to be remembered to you & that when you are at Leisure you will write to him—
Genl. Clarkson6 today paid me £100—
I am anxious to hear from you respecting the Proposal I mentioned of one Waldron for a lease of Popes House— I have had another Conversation with him this Morning & he is now willing to take it & the lot next on the South of it for 14 Years paying £40 pr An[num]. for the first 7 & £46 for the remaining 7 years— I really think that this would be upon the whole a prudent Bargain for there has been but one Applicant for the House & he refused to give even £30, And the lot on the South being next the water is fast washing away—
My Love to Mama & Sisters. Maria I suppose is returned from Schenectady & I hope that when the River opens we shall have the pleasure of seeing her or Nancy in this City & you will shortly be able to follow— I am your very affectionate Son
Peter Augustus Jay
Govr. Jay
P.S. I have just heard (but Know not what Credit is due to report) that the troops on Governors Island are ordered to march to suppress the disturbances in the west of Pennsilvania—7
ALS, NNC (EJ: 06077). Addressed: “His Excellency / Governor Jay— / Albany—”. Endorsed: “… and. 24 March 1799”.
1. Samuel Lyon, JJ’s estate manager in Bedford.
2. Abbreviation for “hundredweight” or 100 pounds, known today as a “short hundredweight”.
3. Probably Ebenezer Purdy who sat on the court of common pleas for Westchester County, and served as a state assemblyman for various terms between 1779 and 1795, and later as a state senator for the Southern District from 1800 to 1806. Purdy resigned his seat after being charged with bribery. The son has not been identified.
4. For more on partisanship in the state militia, See the editorial note “Militia Matters in New York State,” , 6: 554–55, 559–60
5. Peter Jay of Bedford, JJ’s elder brother.
6. Gen. Matthew Clarkson of the New York state militia.
7. Federal troops were stationed on Governors Island for the purpose of defending the city and harbor of New York against a naval attack. Some of these troops were sent to quell an uprising that had begun in early 1799 in southeastern Pennsylvania. During the previous year, local farmers had protested against a new federal tax on private property. When protesters in Bethlehem were arrested for resisting the tax, an armed group of several hundred men under the leadership of John Fries marched on the town to rescue the prisoners. In response, JA called on the military to suppress the insurgency which was soon crushed. Although Fries was found guilty of treason and sentenced to hang, JA issued a pardon for him as well as a general amnesty for his followers.