Peter Augustus Jay (born 1821)

Peter Augustus Jay (October 23, 1821 – October 31, 1855) was an American heir. He was a grandson of Founding Father John Jay.

This article is about the American heir. For other uses, see Peter Augustus Jay (disambiguation).

Peter Augustus Jay
Born(1821-10-23)October 23, 1821
New York City, U.S.
DiedOctober 31, 1855(1855-10-31) (aged 34)
New York City, U.S.
Spouse
Josephine Pearson
​
​
(m. 1848; died 1852)​
ChildrenAugustus Jay
Parent(s)Peter Augustus Jay
Mary Rutherfurd Clarkson
RelativesJohn Jay (grandfather)
Matthew Clarkson (grandfather)
John Clarkson Jay (brother)
Peter Augustus Jay (grandson)

Early life

Jay was born in New York City on October 23, 1821. He was the second son among eight children born to Mary Rutherfurd (née Clarkson) Jay (1786–1838) and Peter Augustus Jay (1776–1843), the Recorder of New York City.[1] His siblings included Dr. John Clarkson Jay, Mary Rutherfurd Jay (who married Frederick Prime); Sarah Jay (who married William Dawson); Catherine Helena Jay (who married Dr. Henry Augustus DuBois); Anna Maria Jay (who married Henry Evelyn Pierrepont); among others.[2][3]

His paternal grandparents were Sarah Van Brugh (née Livingston) Jay and John Jay, the Founding Father who was a diplomat, the first Chief Justice of the United States and two-time Governor of New York State. His grandfather died in 1829 although his father legally received the Jay Estate in Rye in 1822 (which was later inherited by his elder brother John). His maternal grandparents were General Matthew Clarkson and Mary (née Rutherfurd) Clarkson, a sister of U.S. Senator John Rutherfurd and daughter of Walter Rutherfurd.[4]

Career

Jay was described by General John Watts de Peyster as "a perfect specimen of the typical French nobility, pure blood; handsome; well made; graceful; easy, agreeable, and as full of elegant wickedness as an egg of meat. Women, lovely women adored him and of every class; he was a charming fellow; not able but attractive."[5]

According to his obituary, "To all Mr. Jay was a courteous gentleman; but only to those who knew him well and rejoiced in his friendship, were shown in their full strength the true and noble traits of his nature. There was no guile, and no taint of baseness in him. His honor was above the impeachment of even suspicion or malice. The truthfulness, sincerity, frankness, which so beautifully adorned his character, were themselves softened and mellowed by a chivalrous generosity."[6]

Personal life

On January 13, 1848, Jay was married to Josephine Pearson (1829–1852) of Washington, D.C.[7] Together, they resided in Washington,[6] and were the parents of one child before their early deaths:[8]

His wife died on January 3, 1852, at twenty-two years old, just under two weeks before their fourth wedding anniversary. After his wife's death, he committed to the sole care of his son.[6] Jay died three years later on October 31, 1855, in New York City.[12] He was buried in the John Jay Cemetery in Rye.[6]

References
  1. Pessen, Edward (2017). Riches, Class, and Power: United States Before the Civil War. Routledge. p. 141. ISBN 978-1-351-49293-5. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  2. Browning, Charles Henry (1891). Americans of Royal Descent: A Collection of Genealogies of American Families Whose Lineage is Traced to the Legitimate Issue of Kings. Porter & Costes. p. 379. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  3. The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. 1880. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  4. Burke, Arthur Meredyth (1908). The Prominent Families of the United States of America. Genealogical Publishing Com. p. 84. ISBN 978-0-8063-1308-5. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  5. "November 2019". jsdubois28.com. Jay history. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  6. "OBITUARY". The Triweekly Washington Sentinel. November 15, 1855. p. 3. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  7. Burke, Arthur Meredyth (1991). The Prominent Families of the United States of America. Genealogical Publishing Com. p. 84. ISBN 978-0-8063-1308-5. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  8. Lamb, Martha Joanna; Harrison, Mrs Burton (1880). History of the City of New York: The century of national independence, closing in 1880. A.S. Barnes. p. 401. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  9. "AUGUSTUS JAY DIES AFTER LONG ILLNESS; Was Great-Grandson of the First Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court". The New York Times. December 27, 1919. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  10. Times, Special to The New York (January 27, 1920). "JAY ESTATE GOES TO FAMILY; Will Filed in Newport Leaves Half to Widow and Half to Sons". The New York Times. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  11. Patten, Bill (2008). My Three Fathers: And the Elegant Deceptions of My Mother, Susan Mary Alsop. PublicAffairs. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-7867-2171-9. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  12. "Deaths". Brooklyn Evening Star. November 1, 1855. p. 2. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
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