John Jay and The Farm

What do you know about John Jay? John Jay was born in That was more than 250 years ago! John Jay was born in That was more than 250 years ago! Before John Jay moved to this house he helped create the government for our country. During the time that John Jay was involved in politics and government he lived in different cities. Before John Jay moved to this house he helped create the government for our country. During the time that John Jay was involved in politics and government he lived in different cities. John Jay moved to this house in 1801 when he retired. He was 56 years old. John Jay moved to this house in 1801 when he retired. He was 56 years old. When John Jay was alive there were no cars, trains, electricity, refrigerators or phones. When John Jay was alive there were no cars, trains, electricity, refrigerators or phones.

What did John Jay do that was important? Served on the first and second Continental Congress, whose decisions lead to the Revolutionary War Served on the first and second Continental Congress, whose decisions lead to the Revolutionary War Negotiated and signed the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War Negotiated and signed the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War Was appointed the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court by George Washington Was appointed the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court by George Washington Served two terms as Governor of New York Served two terms as Governor of New York

When John Jay moved to Bedford in 1801, his farm consisted of over 700 acres. (1 acre =43,560 square feet)

The Jay family primarily ate food that was grown on the farm The Jay family primarily ate food that was grown on the farm Wheat, rye and corn Wheat, rye and corn Asparagus, beans, cabbage, cucumbers, potatoes, pumpkins, squash, turnips Asparagus, beans, cabbage, cucumbers, potatoes, pumpkins, squash, turnips Apples, peaches, strawberries, plums, cherries, grapes, melons, pears, raspberries Apples, peaches, strawberries, plums, cherries, grapes, melons, pears, raspberries The Jays also raised animals to provide food The Jays also raised animals to provide food Cows Cows Meat Meat Milk Milk Chickens Chickens Meat Meat eggs eggs Swine (Pig) Swine (Pig)

How do we know this? Primary sources Primary sources A first hand source from the past A first hand source from the past Letters Letters  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.

When John Jay lived on this farm it took 2 days 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 Farming John Jay was very active in supervising his farm. He did not do a lot of actual farming, but was a businessman. John Jay was very active in supervising his farm. He did not do a lot of actual farming, but was a businessman. He wrote about fertilizer and farming techniques He wrote about fertilizer and farming techniques Was very involved in many agricultural societies and clubs Was very involved in many agricultural societies and clubs

Did John Jay farm 700 acres all by himself? The property would not have all been farm, a lot of it was woods The property would not have all been farm, a lot of it was woods Jay had all types of people working on the farm. Jay had all types of people working on the farm. Tenants, paid workers, servants and slaves Tenants, paid workers, servants and slaves tenant farmers gave Jay some of their crops each year as rent. tenant farmers gave Jay some of their crops each year as rent. Paid workers and servants were given compensation for their work Paid workers and servants were given compensation for their work Slaves were bought and sold and viewed as property Slaves were bought and sold and viewed as property

John Jay and Slavery John Jay was very conflicted by slavery John Jay was very conflicted by slavery He had slaves his whole life, and knew no different He had slaves his whole life, and knew no different As he got older, he learned that slavery was wrong, and fought for Manumission. As he got older, he learned that slavery was wrong, and fought for Manumission. Manumission- The gradual freedom of slaves Manumission- The gradual freedom of slaves Jay was the founder and first president of the New York Manumission Society. Jay was the founder and first president of the New York Manumission Society. By 1820, Jay had no slaves working for him By 1820, Jay had no slaves working for him In 1827 slavery became completely illegal in New York State In 1827 slavery became completely illegal in New York State

William Jay John’s son William continued to run the farm, and live here in Bedford John’s son William continued to run the farm, and live here in Bedford William grew rye, corn and oats William grew rye, corn and oats During the time William ran the farm new machines were invented that made farming easier and produced more crops. During the time William ran the farm new machines were invented that made farming easier and produced more crops. More crops meant farmers had extra food that could be sold to people living in cities for money. More crops meant farmers had extra food that could be sold to people living in cities for money.

Farming and Transportation John Jay had to rely on boats and toll roads to transport goods to and from the farm John Jay had to rely on boats and toll roads to transport goods to and from the farm Canals and better roads made the transportation faster and further reaching Canals and better roads made the transportation faster and further reaching Canals are artificial channels for water, which are used for transportation. Canals are artificial channels for water, which are used for transportation.

Do we see lots of farms in NY today? By the 1850’s the Midwest replaced New England and New York By the 1850’s the Midwest replaced New England and New York Why? Why? Flat land Flat land Machines worked better Machines worked better Trains were in popular use in the 1850’s making it even more possible to transport goods Trains were in popular use in the 1850’s making it even more possible to transport goods Refrigerated cars were invented in 1870s allowing foods that needed to be kept cool to be transported Refrigerated cars were invented in 1870s allowing foods that needed to be kept cool to be transported

Decrease in % of Farm Laborers over 200 years

Jay’s Farm today The farm sold eggs and potatoes till The farm sold eggs and potatoes till Today the property is 63 acres, none of which are farmed. Today the property is 63 acres, none of which are farmed. Many barns and buildings used on the farm still stand today Many barns and buildings used on the farm still stand today