THE TOWN OF BEDFORD. 77 



Deer must have been very numerous here in 1656, for the same 

 authority just quoted says, "the land abounded with them every where, 

 and their numbers appear to remain undiminished ; we seldom pass 

 through the fields without seeing deer more or less, and we frequently 

 see them in herds; there are also white bucks and does, and others of a 

 black colour. The Indians aver that the haunts of the white deer are 

 much frequented by the common deer, and that those of the black 

 species are not frequented by the common deer." s 



The wolf appears to have abounded in proportion to the other wild 

 game. So destructive had this ferocious animal become in 1694 that 

 the town of Bedford offered " twenty shillings bounty for the killing of 

 wolves." 



In the northern part of the town, called " Cantatoe," the place of 

 Katoona's residence, is situated the "Jay homestead;" for four genera- 

 tions the residence and estate of the Jay family, and descending to them 

 from their ancestor Jacobus Van Cortlandt who purchased it of the 

 Indian Sachem Katoonah, in 1703. Here the Hon. John Jay spent the 

 latter part of his life. The house is delightfully situated on a gentle 

 slope backed with high and luxuriant woods. The surrounding scenery is 

 exceedingly picturesque, particularly on the west overlooking the Pepe- 

 mighting or Kisco, and Ketchawan or Croton valleys, and the hills 

 bordering on the Hudson — among which is the bold Dunderberg, looking, 

 from this spot, like an inverted bread tray; a sunset view from the 

 ground west of the house is uncommonly grand, and once seen can 

 never be forgotten. The interior of the mansion, which is elegantly 

 furnished, displays on its walls a large and valuable collection of cabinet 

 pictures, and family and historical portraits ; among them are the fol- 

 lowing, viz: In the hall, George Washington, by Trumbull;' John 

 Adams, by Trumbull ; Thomas Jefferson, after Stewart by Ames ; James 

 Madison, by the same ; De Witt Clinton, John Jay, as Chief Justice ; 

 Judge William Jay, by Huntington ; John Jay, by the same ; President 

 Dwight, of Yale College ; Stephen Peloquir, Mayor of Bristol, who mar- 

 ried Frances daughter of Pierre Jay. 



In the parlors : Augustus Jay, Esq., born at La Rochelle in France, 

 1665; came to New York, 1697 — in evening and full dress — copy from 

 an old French picture ; the late Mr. William Jay, by West; and the late 

 Judge William Jay as a young man, by Vanderlyn. 



The dining-room contains : Judge Egbert Benson, by Stewart ; 

 Stephen Van Renselaer, Lt. Governor, by Stewart ; Alexander Hamil- 



a Van der Doak's N. N. 



