Nestled in the rolling
Westchester countryside is the gracious home and farm of John Jay
(1745-1829), one of America's principal Founding Fathers. Jay
co-authored the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War, and
the Federalist Papers, which supported ratification of the U.S.
Constitution. He served as President of the Second Continental Congress, U.S.
Secretary for Foreign Affairs, first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme
Court, and the second governor of New York State. During many years of
devoted service to the State and the Nation, he looked forward to the
day when he would retire with his wife and children to "the house on my
farm in Westchester County..."
The land where John Jay lived
his later years was purchased in 1703 by his maternal grandfather,
Jacobus Van Cortlandt. By 1800 Jay had acquired, by inheritance and by
purchase, 750 acres of property near Bedford, New York. In 1799 he
began construction of a comfortable 24-room farmhouse. He moved there
in 1801, after his retirement from politics. Tragically, Jay's wife
Sarah died only months after moving to their new home. John Jay never
remarried and lived as a gentleman farmer until his death in 1829. His
son William (1789-1858) inherited the house and farm; he later became a
leading figure in the struggle to end slavery. William's son John Jay
II (1817-1894) inherited the property and upon his death it was given
to his son Colonel William Jay (1841-1915). The Colonels' daughter,
Eleanor Jay Iselin (1882-1953) was the last of the family to use the
property as a full time residence.
In 1958 the house and
thirty of the original acres were purchased from Eleanor Jay Iselin's
heirs by Westchester County and transferred to the State of New York,
which opened it to the public in 1964 as John Jay Homestead State
Historic Site. The historic house is open most of the year, and can be
seen by a guided tour through twelve beautifully furnished period
rooms, restored to an 1820's appearance. Specialized tours and
education programs are available by appointment.
The historic site now
encompasses sixty-two acres, including lovingly-tended formal gardens,
magnificent woodland walks, rolling meadows, and a cluster of 19th
century farm buildings. An 1820's schoolhouse and an 1830s barn are
open for touring. John Jay Homestead hosts special events throughout
the year. The grounds are open for picnics and visits throughout the year. Dogs are welcome on the grounds of
the Homestead, on a
leash, and with a responsible person to clean up after them. Dogs, other
than
service animals,
are not allowed in any of the
buildings. Private events can be held at the site by special
arrangement. Please call the site at 914.232.5651 for additional information.
