Autographs
1778 “John Jay” Revolutionary War Three Page Autograph Letter Signed with Integral Mailing Leaf

“... I was informed that Fady (Frederick Jay, Jay's younger brother) had that morning set out in Quest of his wife, & proposed requesting a flag from General (George) Washington to the Yonkers, where he expected to meet her, & from thence bring her here. I fear he has met with more obstacles than he apprehended, for he is not yet returned, nor have we heard of or from him since.”
JOHN JAY (1745-1829). President of the Continental Congress (Dec. 1778-Sept. 1779), American Jurist and historic Statesman, helped Benjamin Franklin Negotiate the Revolutionary War Peace with Great Britain, Governor of New York, First Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
August 1, 1778-Dated Revolutionary War, Autograph Letter Signed, “John Jay” at the conclusion, measuring 7.5” x 13”, 3 pages, Fish Kill (New York), Very Fine. Within just a few months of writing, Jay was to resume his seat in the Continental Congress and on the 10th of the month, was elected President of the Congress, a position that he continued to hold until elected Minister Plenipotentiary to Spain. In 1782 he would travel to Paris to negotiate the peace treaty with Great Britain together with Benjamin Franklin and John Adams.

This beautifully penned Letter easily readable in rich brown on clean, high quality period laid paper. It is a bit weak at folds with partial separations, some show through from the verso, separated integral transmittal leaf bears some soiling and a small loss from a seal tear, currently housed in a handsome Custom Slipcase, measuring 9” x 14.5” bound in green morocco and marbled boards with a gilt-titled spine and green cloth interior, featuring a fine 19th century steel Engraving of Jay. John Jay writes to his wife, then in Parsippany, New Jersey staying with her father Governor William Livingston (1723-90). This Letter reads, in full:

"My dear Sally, --- You have since my Departure rec[eive]d but one Letter from me, & that a very short one by my Brother. This I believe will be less concise & therefore I flatter myself more satisfactory. I wish I could have begun it by acknowledging the Reciept [sic] even of a very short one from you, but I have not as yet been so happy, owing probably to Delays on the way. My Brother [Sir James Jay] was disappointed in not finding you here. His Inquiries about you were particular & kind. I fancy our little beautiful Boy [Peter Augustus Jay, the Jays’ first child] declined being familiar with him. I have been no stranger to that infirmity, and should much regret his being afflicted with it. Pray-endeavor to free him from it, & encourage a decent Ease in his Behavior. Let not that Excess of modesty be confirmed by Habits, but check it in Bud. On my Return I was informed that Fady [Frederick Jay, Jay's younger brother] had that morning set out in Quest of his wife, & proposed requesting a flag from General [George] Washington to the Yonkers, where he expected to meet her, & from thence bring her here. I fear he has met with more obstacles than he apprehended, for he is not yet returned, nor have we heard of or from him since. I imagine he was indulged with a Flag, and that the Enemy from prudential tho temporary Reasons detain him for the present: on any other supposition his absence & his Silence are difficult to be accounted for. How much Trouble & anxiety are occasioned by Deviations from the Line of Prudence! The two Mr Verplan[c]ks favoured me with a short visit the Day Sir James [John Jay’s brother] left us, and the manners of the young Traveller appeared, to be such, that I think it probable we shall be social. He seems to have none of the Frippery and affection which some People acquire by seeing much & thinking little, at least on that most important subject-man. Mr. D. Lancey has also been of the number of my visitors. He rather attempted to be chearful [sic], that was so; I pity him greatly, probably the more on account of the many Civilities and uniform attention I recd. from his family in their Day of Prosperity. Altho his own Conduct may not expose him to the Calamities which threaten the Rest of his Family, I can easily percieve[sic] his anxiety on their account, & this anxiety must be the greater as no Family I believe ever harmonized more. The Country here has not enjoyed so much Tranquility as at present since the war. Robberies have ceased, neither army is near us, the militia chiefly at Home, and every Body pleased with an Expectation of seeing the Devastation & Miseries of War, speedily succeeded by the Blessings of Peace Liberty & Plenty. Of these Blessings, I hope we also my dear Sally will have a Share. I think we may justly expect some little Retribution for the Troubles we have endured in the Course of this great Contest. Remember however that without Health there can be few Enjoyments, remember too that on yours no inconsiderable share of my Happiness depends, & let this twofold Reason persuade you to pay double attention to this important Subject. Peter and Nancy are sollicitous [sic] for your Return, and my Father often says civil things of You, which gives me the more Pleasure as I know you deserve them, and as I am with great Truth & Sincerity, Your very affectionate… P.S. Be so kind as to present my Compliments to all the Family. Tell Cate [probably Catharine Wilhelmina Livingston, Jay’s sister-in-law] be mindful of her Charge, and that I shall be much obliged to her, if the will bestow upon him a little of her Elocution."
Of great interest is the visit of "Mr. D. Lancey," a member of the prominent British Loyalist family. The Jays and the Delanceys were very close prior to the Revolutionary War, and despite their political differences, strived to remain on friendly terms. When the notorious Westchester County Loyalist leader James Delancey (1746-1804) was confined in the jail in Hartford, Connecticut (following his capture by Israel Putnam in December 1777), John Jay sent him $100 and assured him that, "Notwithstanding the opposition of our sentiments and conduct relative to the present contest, the friendship which subsisted between us is not forgotten; nor will the good offices formerly done by yourself and family cease to excite my gratitude." (Jay to James Delancey, January 2, 1778, Henry P. Johnston, ed., The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, Vol. 1, 1890-93, p. 171-172).

Delancey responded soon afterward, thanking Jay for the gesture, but having secured funds from New York, was not in need of the money and returned the gift (Ibid., p. 172-173). Jay was similarly generous to the spouse of another James Delancey (1732-1800) the following year. That Delancey, a prominent New York politician, had left America to travel to London in May 1775 demanding redress for the colonists' grievances.

Unsuccessful in his efforts, he remained in England while his wife Margaret remained in America during the course of the war. In May 1779 Jay interceded on her behalf to obtain a pass from Washington so she could travel to British-occupied New York City in order to obtain her clothing, which she had left there when she hastily left the city earlier that year. (John Jay to George Washington, May 12, 1779, The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Vol. 20, 2010, p. 451-452; Margaret Delancy to George Washington, May 24, 1779, ibid., p. 597.)

We have been unable to confirm the identity of the "Mr. D. Lancey" who paid a visit to Jay in Fish Kill in July 1779. However, based on other documents found in Jay's papers, it appears to be a John Delancey (1741-1829), a member of a branch of the family that did not side with the British. Jay had business dealings with John Delancey from 1775 through into the 1790s and Delancey appears to have speculated in land following the American Revolution (See Robert Morris to John Jay, January 26, 1775, Butler Library, Columbia University; Robert Morris, bond held with John Jay and John Delancey, July 24, 1783, Rutgers Special Collections; John Jay to Peter Jay Munro, September 18, 1794, Museum of the City of New York; Surveyor General's Fee Book, 1788-1798, Huntington Library).

John Jay was not the only member of the family with close Loyalist connections. Frederick Jay (1747-1799), John's younger brother and a member of the Committee of Safety in Rye, New York, had been recently married to Margaret Barclay (c. 1752-1791), the daughter of Andrew Barclay (1738-1823), a Boston bookbinder and prominent Loyalist. When war erupted, Barclay removed to New York before becoming an exile in Nova Scotia (Charles Washington Baird, Chronicle of a Border Town: History of Rye, Westchester County, New York… 1871, p. 483; Harold B. Barclay, Longing for Arcadia: Memoirs of an Anarcho-cyniclaist Anthropologist 2005, p. 293).

Jay marvels at the momentary tranquility that has descended upon the Hudson Valley, even though the Revolutionary War is far from over. The reasons behind this peaceful interlude were varied, but most likely caused by the presence of a large French fleet blockading the entrance to New York Harbor between the 11th and 22nd of July which would have compelled Loyalist forces operating in the outskirts of the city to join the main army. The French fleet then sailed to Rhode Island in an attempt to recapture British-held Newport, Rhode Island: and effort that was scuttled by a major hurricane that scattered the opposing naval forces in August 1778.

Within a few months of writing, Jay was to resume his seat in the Continental Congress and on the 10th of the month, was elected President of the Congress, a position that he continued to hold until elected Minister Plenipotentiary to Spain. In 1782 he would travel to Paris to negotiate the peace treaty with Great Britain together with Benjamin Franklin and John Adams.