Sarah Livingston Jay’s Invitation Lists, [20–23 May 1788]
Sarah Livingston Jay’s Invitation Lists
[20–23 May 1788]
invited to dine the 20th. of May—
President & his Lady—, French Minister & his sister—, Mr. Otto & Count Brehan—, Mr. Gardoqui—, Mr. & Miss V. Berckel—, Sir John & Lady Temple—, Genl. Armstrong—, A. Lee—, J. Livingston Miss Griffin—x, Mr. & Lady M. Watts—, x Mr. & Mrs. Watts—, Mr. Bingham—, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Mr. McCormick x, Mrs. Kean1
the 23d. of May invited to dine
Mr King—, Wingate, Gilman, Otis, Clark—, Dane, Dayton, Reid, Erwin—, Kearney, Mitchel, Ross—, Seney, Carrington, Brown—, Bishop, Rodgers, Parker—, Tucker Mayor—, Walton White—, Chief Justice—2
AD, NyKaJJH. Columns of names have been consolidated into paragraph form with added punctuation. Numbers indicating the number of guests in a party and the total number invited have been omitted. The symbol “x” after a guest’s name, apparently indicating nonacceptance of the invitation or nonattendance at the event, has been retained. The abbreviation “Do.” has been replaced with the name intended. Persons not previously identified or whose names are obscure are identified in the end notes whenever possible.
1. Daniel McCormick (1739/ 40–1834), merchant, and one of the first directors of the Bank of New York; and William Stephens Smith and Abigail “Nabby” Adams Smith (1765–1813), daughter of JA and Abigail Adams. The Smiths moved to New York City in May 1788. Abigail Adams Smith reported on this dinner: “Yesterday we dined at Mr. Jay’s in company with the whole corps diplomatique. Mr. Jay is a most pleasant man, plain in his dress and manner, but kind, affectionate, and attentive; benevolence is portrayed in every feature. Mrs. Jay dresses gaily and showily, but is very pleasing upon a slight acquaintance. The dinner was á la mode Française, and exhibited more of European taste than I expected to find. Mr. Gardoqui was as chatty and sociable as his countryman Del Campo. Lady Temple civil, and Sir John more of the gentleman than I ever saw him. The French minister is a handsome and apparently polite man; the marchioness his sister the oddest figure eyes ever beheld.” See 91–92.
2. Joshua Seney (1750–99), congressional delegate from Maryland, 1787–89.