John Jay

The process in New York may perhaps have been the largest total emancipation in North America before 1861. Personal views


Slavery

A slaveholder as were many wealthy New Yorkers Jay led efforts to abolish slavery after 1777 when he drafted a state law to that purpose. The Cemetery is maintained by the Jay descendants and closed to the public.

His first two attempts to end slavery failed in 1777 and in 1785 but his third attempt succeeded in 1799. Jay was born into a wealthy family of merchants and government officials in New York City. Jay served as the President of the Continental Congress (1778–79) an honorific position with little power.