An earnest laborer in the cause of freedom for the negroes, and the first president of the old New York society for the manumission of slaves, his closing years had been marked by much interest in the rising movement of the times, and two years before his death he had had the great satisfaction of witnessing the permanent abolition of slavery in the State of New York, accomplished on the 4th of July, 1827, agreeably to a legislative enactment which had been passed ten years previously by the recommendation of Governor Tompkins. He was buried in the Jay family cemetery in the Town of Rye. The following is the inscription on his tomb:

MEMORY

JOHN

JAY,

Eminent among those who asserted the liberty and established the Independence of his country, which lie long served in the most important offices. Legislative, Executive, Judicial, and Diplomatic, and distinguished in them all, by his ability, firmness, patriotism and integrity. lie was in his life and in his death an example of the virtues, the faith and the hopes of a Christian. Born Dec. 12th, 1745, Died May 17th. 1829.

Chief -Justice Jay had two sous, Peter Augustus and William. Peter Augustus Jay resided for most of his life in New York City, where lie was a prominent lawyer and citizen, lie tilled various importa.nt public positions, was a leading anti-slavery advocate, and was president of the New York Historical Society. In 1821 he was a delegate from Westchester County to the State constitutional convention. William day (born June 1<>, 1780; died October 11, 1858) inherited 1 The following entry appears in the r rd of the Court of Common Pleas, of Westchester County, under date of May 25, 1829: "The court and members of this bar, entertaining the