246 THE FRENCH BLOOD IN AMERICA 



John's 

 kducation 



Marriage 1774 



character and reputation, John inherited many marked 

 traits. Peter was a very pious man. In letters to his 

 son James in England he writes : ' ' Let us endeavour to 

 adhere to the worship of God, observing His holy ordi- 

 nances as the rule of om- lives, let us disregard the 

 wicked insinuations of libertines, who not only deride 

 our most holy religion and the professors of it, but also 

 endeavour to gain proselytes to their detestable notions, 

 and so rob the Almighty of the honour and adoration 

 that is due to Him from His creatures." And again, 

 "Don't forget to bring me Bishop Patrick's Devout 

 Cliristian, a book you doubtless will remember, as it con- 

 tains the family prayers we always use." 



Peter Jay was a colonist and not a Royalist, and his 

 son came naturally by his Whig notions. '' I have noth- 

 ing to ask or fear from any man, and will not be com- 

 pelled into measures." That was the man, and that was 

 his son John. Firmness of character that in excess would 

 have been obstinacy was a notable trait in them. John 

 was brought up in Rye, in the old Jay house, a long low 

 building only one room deep but eighty feet long, that 

 grew as the family required. He was taught by his 

 mother the rudiments of English and the Latin grammar. 

 "Johnny is of a very grave disposition and takes to 

 learning exceedingly w^ell," wrote his father when the 

 lad was seven. He was sent to grammar school at eight, 

 a school kept by Rev. Peter Stouppe, pastor of the 

 French Huguenot Chiu'cli, then lately joined to the Epis- 

 copal communion at New Rochelle. French was then 

 spoken generally at the school. 



In 1760 he entered King's College (Columbia Univer- 

 sity of to-day), when a little over fourteen. After grad- 

 uation in 1764, he studied law, in 1768 receiving admis- 

 sion to the bar. Family and ability combined to gain 

 him a large pi-actice. In 1774 he was married to Sarah 

 Livingston, whose father later became governor of New 

 Jersey. 



