JAY, WILLIAM, an English Independent or Congregational minister, of much celebrity for his pulpit eloquence, and as a voluminous writer of- devotional, practical, and other religious works. He was born, May 8.1769, at Tisbury, in Wiltshire. His father was oa stone-cutter and mason, and young Jay's first employment was that of a mason's boy; but whilst still young he was sent to Marlborough academy, an institution of the Con gregationalists for the training of young men for the ministry. According to a custom prevalent amongst the Congregationalists, he was sent out to preach in country villages almost in his boyhood—in 'fact, before he was 16 years of age. His education being completed, he officiated for a year in a chapel at Clifton; and in 1791 was settled as pastor of a "church" in Bath, which position he occupied for 62 years. He retired from it in Jan., 1853, and died Dec. 27 of the same year, at the age of 84. Mr. Jay's published works, in general, attained to a rapid and very extensive popularity. Among them are sermons, family prayers, Morning and Evening Exercises; Mornings with Jesus; an essay on mat riage; memoirs of the rev. Cornelius Winter; memoirs of the rev. John Clark; lectures on female Scripture characters; and an autobiography. A collected edition of his works, in 12 vols.. revised by himself, was published in 1841, but is of
course incomplete, some of his works being of more recent date.
JAY, WILLIA.m, b. New York; son of John Jay; distinguished by his philanthropic schemes, and devotion to temperance, antislavery, and anti-war. He was educated for the legal profession, and was successively judge of the court of com mon pleas in New York, and first judge of Westchester co., N. Y., retaining the latter office during 22 years, being finally requested to resign on account of his anti slavery opinions. In 1842 he interested himself in the American antislavery society, when the question arose in congress of restricting freedom of speech upon the subject of abolition, and published a work, Inquiry into the Character of the American Coloniza tion and Antislavery Societies, in which he ably discussed the question. In 1843-44 he visited Europe, and proceeding to Egypt thoroughly investigated the question of Egyp tian slavery. He was president of the Peace society for many years, and published War and Peace—the Evils of the First and a Plan for Supporting the Last. His largest work was Life and Writings of John Jay. He left $1,000 by his will for the "promo tion of the safety and comfort of fugitive slaves." Died in Bedford, N. Y.