John Jay’s father, Peter Jay, made his last will and testament on 28 January 1778 and followed it with three codicils dated 22 June 1780, 11 September 1781, and 18 December 1781.1 Following Peter Jay’s death on 17 April 1782, the will and codicils were proved on 28 May 1782. Therein Peter Jay made the following disposition of his estate.

To Augustus he bequeathed a trust fund for life in the amount of £500 lawful money of New York, and to Eve Munro a similar trust fund in the amount of £1,800 for her maintenance and the maintenance and education of her son, Peter Jay Munro, the full sum going to the latter on Eve’s death. To Anna Maricka he bequeathed £1,800. Peter Jay bequeathed the residue of his estate, real and personal, to his four remaining sons— James, Peter, John, and Frederick—and made provision for a method of appraisal and division into four equal parts. In John Jay’s absence overseas, a codicil designated George Clinton, Melancton Smith, and Egbert Benson as trustees whose consent would be required to the residuary estate’s division. Included in the division, however, were specific provisions granting (provided they agreed to take them at the appraised value as a portion of their share) Peter the farm at Rye, John a choice of his father’s farms or tracts in the township of Bedford in Westchester County, and Frederick the lot and water lot on which he had built a storehouse situated at the Dock Ward Wharf (later 64 Pearl Street) in New York City. As regards Sir James’s share, the will provided that the sum owed by James to his father should be charged against his share of the estate. The will and codicils disposed of Peter’s slaves as follows: Zilpha and the elder Mary were, “in consideration of their long and faithful services,” to be allowed to choose their future masters, but if they preferred any of Peter’s four sons, excluding Augustus, the legatees so named could take them at a charge not exceeding £30 each. John was given Plato, who, in the meantime, should serve such member of the family as the slave might choose. The younger Mary was given her choice of family members with whom to live, with “reasonable compensation” from Peter’s personal estate to be made to the new owner should she become a burden “by reason of her infirmities.” In the event that none of Peter’s children was prepared to accept responsibility for Mary, the executors were authorized to draw upon the estate for such sum as the annual income thereon would suffice for her maintenance. Administration was granted to Frederick Jay and Egbert Benson.2