The Locusts in Rye, NY circa 1745-6 (JHC Collection- Gift of John Clarkson and Emily Jay)

The photo above is of an original pencil sketch dated 1877 by Hans Heffens. It shows the buildings and landscape of the Jay ancestral homestead in Rye. Situated between Boston Post Road and Long Island Sound, the property was called "The Locusts" and the farmhouse pictured stood on the site for 91 years from 1745 - 1836,

John Jay and his family originally moved from Manhattan to the greener haven of Rye when he was 3 months old to escape a smallpox epidemic. He grew up on this verdant 400 acre estate and would return regularly throughout his career to be with his family for gatherings, holidays including Christmas and more. It was also a place of refuge and offered restorative views and climate - Jay and his wife Sally often went to Rye to recuperate from illness. A strong believer in education, Jay also funded a small school in Rye.

Jay chose this sylvan coastal property for his final resting place. He established a private cemetery in 1807 for himself and his descendants and was buried there in 1829.

Because the current 1838 mansion was built atop the footprint of the original 1745 farmhouse, and oriented in the same position towards the Sound, it is hoped this rendering which shows other buildings on the property will give clues to archaeologists today to find the locations of their foundations and surrounding 18th century gardens.

Of literary note is the fact that the "The Locusts" was likely the inspiration for the Wharton House in James Fenimore Cooper's novel 'The Spy." In this tale, inspired by a story John Jay himself told Cooper, "The Wharton family" lived at "The Locusts" and their house was situated so "...the fall of the land to the level of the tide water afforded a view of the Sound* over the tops of the distant woods on its margin." Cooper further explained the Sound to readers unfamiliar with its location: " *An island more than forty leagues in length lies opposite the coasts of New York and Connecticut. The arm of the sea which separates it from the main is technically called a sound, and in that part of the country, par excellence, 'The' Sound. This sheet of water varies in breadth from five to thirty miles."

James Fenimore Cooper was close to the Jay family and presented a signed copy of his book to John Jay's eldest son Peter Augustus Jay and his wife.

Today the Jay Estate in Rye, is a National Historic Landmark designated in 1993.

(JHC Collection- Gift of John Clarkson and Emily Jay)

Jay Heritage Center
210 Boston Post Road
Rye, NY 10580
(914) 698-9275
Email: jayheritagecenter@gmail.com

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Taken in: United States / New York / Harrison / Greenhaven (show map)

Taken on: March 21, 2009

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Sets appears in: • Boston Post Road Historic District (NR#82001275), Rye, NY • African American Heritage Trail more » • From Manumission to Emancipation 2011 • James Fenimore Cooper and the Jay Family • Founding Fathers - Portraits of John Jay's Family, Friends and Their Homes « less

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