John Jay and John Jay and The FarmThe Farm

What do you know What do you know about about John JayJohn Jay??

John Jay was born in 1745. That was more John Jay was born in 1745. That was more than 250 years ago!than 250 years ago!

Before John Jay moved to this house he helped Before John Jay moved to this house he helped create the government for our country. During create the government for our country. During the time that John Jay was involved in politics the time that John Jay was involved in politics and government he lived in different cities.and government he lived in different cities.

John Jay moved to this house in 1801 when he John Jay moved to this house in 1801 when he retired. He was 56 years old.retired. He was 56 years old.

When John Jay was alive there were no cars, When John Jay was alive there were no cars, trains, electricity, refrigerators or phones.trains, electricity, refrigerators or phones.

What did John Jay do that was What did John Jay do that was important?important?

Served on the first and second Served on the first and second Continental Congress, whose Continental Congress, whose decisions lead to the decisions lead to the Revolutionary WarRevolutionary War

Negotiated and signed the Treaty Negotiated and signed the Treaty of Paris, which ended the of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary WarRevolutionary War

Was appointed the first Chief Was appointed the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court by Justice of the Supreme Court by George WashingtonGeorge Washington

Served two terms as Governor of Served two terms as Governor of New YorkNew York

When John Jay moved to When John Jay moved to Bedford in 1801, his farm Bedford in 1801, his farm

consisted of over 700 acres.consisted of over 700 acres. (1 acre =43,560 square (1 acre =43,560 square

feet)feet)

The Jay family primarily ate food that was The Jay family primarily ate food that was grown on the farmgrown on the farm Wheat, rye and cornWheat, rye and corn Asparagus, beans, cabbage, cucumbers, Asparagus, beans, cabbage, cucumbers,

potatoes, pumpkins, squash, turnipspotatoes, pumpkins, squash, turnips Apples, peaches, strawberries, plums, cherries, Apples, peaches, strawberries, plums, cherries,

grapes, melons, pears, raspberriesgrapes, melons, pears, raspberries The Jays also raised animals to provide foodThe Jays also raised animals to provide food

CowsCows Meat Meat MilkMilk

ChickensChickens MeatMeat eggseggs

Swine (Pig)Swine (Pig)

How do we know this?How do we know this?

Primary Primary sourcessources A first hand A first hand

source from source from the pastthe past

LettersLetters

This is an ad Jay put in the paper in 1802, offering a reward for catching the This is an ad Jay put in the paper in 1802, offering a reward for catching the person who stole apples and peaches from his trees.person who stole apples and peaches from his trees.

When John Jay lived on this farm it took When John Jay lived on this farm it took 2 days2 days

to go from Bedford to New York City.to go from Bedford to New York City.

Goods that were purchased from New York City were shipped up the Hudson River to a port in Ossining and then transported by horse and carriage to Bedford.

John Jay and FarmingJohn Jay and Farming

John Jay was very active in John Jay was very active in supervising his farm. He did not do a supervising his farm. He did not do a lot of actual farming, but was a lot of actual farming, but was a businessman.businessman.

He wrote about fertilizer and farming He wrote about fertilizer and farming techniquestechniques

Was very involved in many Was very involved in many agricultural societies and clubsagricultural societies and clubs

Did John Jay farm 700 acres all by Did John Jay farm 700 acres all by himself?himself?

The property would not have all been The property would not have all been farm, a lot of it was woodsfarm, a lot of it was woods

Jay had all types of people working on the Jay had all types of people working on the farm.farm. Tenants, paid workers, servants and slavesTenants, paid workers, servants and slaves

tenant farmers gave Jay some of their crops each tenant farmers gave Jay some of their crops each year as rent. year as rent.

Paid workers and servants were given compensation Paid workers and servants were given compensation for their workfor their work

Slaves were bought and sold and viewed as propertySlaves were bought and sold and viewed as property

John Jay and SlaveryJohn Jay and Slavery John Jay was very conflicted by slaveryJohn Jay was very conflicted by slavery He had slaves his whole life, and knew no differentHe had slaves his whole life, and knew no different As he got older, he learned that slavery was wrong, As he got older, he learned that slavery was wrong,

and fought for and fought for Manumission.Manumission. Manumission-Manumission- The gradual freedom of slaves The gradual freedom of slaves

Jay was the founder and first president of the New York Jay was the founder and first president of the New York Manumission Society.Manumission Society.

By 1820, Jay had no slaves working for himBy 1820, Jay had no slaves working for him In 1827 slavery became completely illegal in New In 1827 slavery became completely illegal in New

York StateYork State

William JayWilliam Jay John’s son William continued to run the John’s son William continued to run the

farm, and live here in Bedfordfarm, and live here in Bedford William grew rye, corn and oatsWilliam grew rye, corn and oats During the time William ran the farm new During the time William ran the farm new

machines were invented that made farming machines were invented that made farming easier and produced more crops. easier and produced more crops. More crops meant farmers had extra food that More crops meant farmers had extra food that

could be sold to people living in cities for money. could be sold to people living in cities for money.

Farming and TransportationFarming and Transportation

John Jay had to rely on boats and toll John Jay had to rely on boats and toll roads to transport goods to and from roads to transport goods to and from the farmthe farm

Canals and better roads made the Canals and better roads made the transportation faster and further transportation faster and further reachingreaching Canals are artificial channels for water, Canals are artificial channels for water,

which are used for transportation.which are used for transportation.

Do we see lots of farms in NY Do we see lots of farms in NY today?today?

By the 1850’s the Midwest replaced New By the 1850’s the Midwest replaced New England and New YorkEngland and New York Why?Why?

Flat landFlat land Machines worked better Machines worked better

Trains were in popular use in the 1850’s Trains were in popular use in the 1850’s making it even more possible to transport making it even more possible to transport goodsgoods

Refrigerated cars were invented in 1870s Refrigerated cars were invented in 1870s allowing foods that needed to be kept cool allowing foods that needed to be kept cool to be transportedto be transported

Decrease in % of Farm Laborers Decrease in % of Farm Laborers over 200 yearsover 200 years

1790

18401850

18601870

1880

18901900

19101920

19301940

195019601965197019801990

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Year

% of labor force that are famers

Jay’s Farm todayJay’s Farm today

The farm sold eggs and potatoes till The farm sold eggs and potatoes till 1943.1943.

Today the property is 63 acres, none Today the property is 63 acres, none of which are farmed.of which are farmed.

Many barns and buildings used on Many barns and buildings used on the farm still stand todaythe farm still stand today