| Notes |
- Here is what we know as of 2022 from YDNA evidence. Our William is NOT related to the following Jay families of America.
Line of Thomas JAY b ca 1779 of Bedford Co. PA
[21] Line of William JAY b 1767 m. Anne King (s/o David JAY/GEE)
[19] Line of Moses JAY of Sussex Co. NJ (also John GEE of Westchester Co. NY)
[22] Line of John F. JAY of PA
[14] Line of the Broome Co. NY JAY family
[] Line of Thomas Jay b 1610, Norfolk, England and Joan Gallup whose descendants include John Jay and Ann Orchard.
[] Chief Justice John Jay
We are related to a Joseph Jay b. abt 1712 of NJ and a John Jay b. abt 1718 of NJ but I have not ascertained how at this point in time. By age, they could all be brothers.
Jay(e)'s are thought to be French Huguenots (Protestants). The name is spelled GEE in Welsh and JAY in English. (C-463, 839) It has been found under all of the additional spellings: de Jouy, Jaie, Jaye, Joy, Joye, Jary, Jvoy, Gay, Guy, Gouy, Ivey, Jany, Jouy, Iaia, and Le Jay. (C-845a,888) It originally was derived from the location of Jouy in Normandy, France. As Huguenots, the Jouys were forced to flee France during the Catholic-Huguenot Wars from 1550 - 1700. Most came to England and spent several generations. Some came directly to America. There are Jouys still in France and England as well as America.
The best information available on the Coat of Arms is that it originated in France holding the motto "Deo duce perseverandun" meaning "With God our leader, we must strive." It includes the picture of the Jaybird sitting on a rock or bush. (C-859)
The ancestry for William Jay is still uncertain. Several theories exist. The first one is from the VESTAL JAY NOTES by Percy Pemberton Brown it states: William Jay's "father, Joseph Jay, had been born in New Jersey, and lived for a time at Borderingtown in that state before moving to Maryland. Joseph's father, John Jay, was a planter of Barbados. He purchased land in Monmouth County, East Jersey from Robert Story in 1671 and William Shakerly in 1672. He visited Rhode Island on business in 1672, met George Fox, founder of the Quaker society, who was then visiting the colonies. Jay went with him on the trip to Md., and later came to N. Jersey. He is mentioned several times in Salem Co (NJ)." (C-175)
George Fox, Quaker founder, lists this John Jay as "a Friend, pretty, rich planter of Barbados...and his large family" in his journal of his settlement of the northeast. (C-816, 849) This first theory is supported and further developed by Bill Timmons and has support in deed and will records. It is also the parentage professed in the "Compendium of American Genealogy". Current research by Vince King and others state that William's DNA is matching Revolutionary War pensioner, Joseph Jay (b. 1753) of New Jersey.
A second theory that is now disproven as to his father has to do with a William married to Sarah Wilder on Dec. 6, 1705 in Alls Hollows Parish in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland. This William lived just south of Harford Co., Maryland and was approximately 100 miles from where our William lived in what was Orange Co., VA, then Frederick Co., Virginia and now Jefferson Co., West Virginia. This William and Sarah being the parents of our William is supported by the naming of our William's first daughter, Sarah. (C-949, 2123, E) Sarah was born much earlier than the other known children of William. She was also not listed as a child of William by Eli Jay when interviewing his father about his Aunts and Uncles. There is, however, a land transaction when our William marries that suggests a familial relationship.
The other theory published about his parentage has absolutely been disproved by DNA evidence taken from both this William Jay's descendants and descendants of Thomas Jay/Joy. It is from Cassius Milton Jay in the Los Angeles SAR "Bulletin" and in the "Jay Family Index." Cassius (1886-1953), a leading figure in his SAR group and his father, Eli Jay (1826-1911), a professor of Mathematics at Earlham College, had devoted their lives as family historians. In one source, though not this source, it stated that he only felt this was a theory as to the parentage of William Jay. (C-800)
Cassius Milton Jay's theory was in "The Bulletin", Nov. 1928, with the following lineage. I'm only repeating it here to acknowledge what is absolutely incorrect about our William Jay(5), b. 1720. Cassius theorized that he was the son of John Jay(4) of Salem Co., NJ and Chester Co., Pennsylvania. This John(4) was the son of John Jay(3) born Sept. 30, 1672 in Boston to John(2) and Mercy Bartlett Jay. NOTE: Mercy Bartlett's parents were Robert Bartlett and Mary Warren, (daughter of Richard Warren of the Mayflower). John Jay(2) is the supposed son of Thomas Joy(1) b. cal. 1610, architect of great renown of whom much is known in various published records. (C-172, C-173, C-174, C-608, C-970) This lineage is absolutely incorrect as per DNA evidence. Let's please purge this information out of our genealogies.
What we do know about William Jay and his wife Mary is that they lived in Virginia, North Carolina and Newberry Co., South Carolina. Our William received a patent of 245 acres on Oct. 3, 1734 in Orange Co., VA. (Now Frederick, VA). William would have been at least 21 years of age at the time. William Vestal also received a patent on that same day in the same region. Birth places given for him include Buckingham Twp, Bucks Co., Pa, and Salem Co., NJ as well as Harford Co. (was Baltimore Co. at the time), MD. His birth year of 1719/1720 is estimated from a South Carolina relatives' letter years after his death that said William had died of an accident in his 53rd year but this has not been supported by any other document. It is also much too late for him to purchase land in 1734 that we are certain he bought from his signature on major documents in his lifetime with a characteristic W. It should be noted that in Virginia, men could purchase land at age 16. This means that he was born before 1719.
He signs the same "W" as his mark on his land purchases in Virginia and his will in what is present day Newberry Co., South Carolina. William Jay sold his 245 acres on Sept. 5, 1748. (C-819, 2330) Here is his deed of sale. William was the grantor in a deed selling land to Thomas Rutherford on Eavits Runn in Shenandoah near Charlestown on Sept. 5, 1748 whereby Thomas Rutherford became the Indentured servant for William Jay for a period of one year from that date. He lived in the Parish of Fairfax at the time. There was no wife listed giving up her dower rights, but that is apparently not unusual in this county's records at the time. Other Jay sons do not have their wives give up their dower rights either in their deed records that are known to be married at the time. (C-1231, 2330)
I transcribed a copy of this deed record below. 1748 Sale of land from William Jay of Fairfax Co., VA to Thomas Rutherford of Frederick Co., Virginia. This Indenture made the fifth day of September in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred Forty Eight Between William Jay of Fairfax County in Virginia of the one part and Thomas Rutherford Gent. of Frederick County in the Colony aforesaid of the other part Witnesseth that the said William Jay for and in consideration of the sum of five shillings current Money of Virginia to Wm Jay in hand paid by the said Thomas Rutherford above and for the Sealing and deliver of these presents the Receipt whereof is hereby Acknowledged and Hath Granted Bargained and; Sold and by these Presents, doth grant Bargain and Sell unto the Said Thomas Rutherford his Heirs and assignes One Tract of Land lying and; being in the said County Containting One Hundred Acres lying on a Branch of Shannandore River called Eavets Run Beginning at a white Oak in Daniel Burnets Line below the falls of Wats Run and turning thence across the same southley est. One Hundred and thirty Poles by a Red Oak. thence east by South One Hundred and twenty four Poles between a Red and; white Oak thence North by Est. One Hundred thrity Poles crossing Eavets Run, to a Cornerstone and thence West by North One Hundred twenty four Poles to the Beginning and all Houses Buildings OZ:chards, Ways Waters Water=courses Profits Commodities, Herediments and; appurtenances whatsoever to the said premises hereby granted on anypart thereof belonging or in any wise appurtaining and the Reversion and Reversions Remainder and Remainders Rents (.....s) and Profits thereof, To Have and to hold the said One Hundrd acres of Land and all and Singular other the premises hreby granted with the appurtencances unto the said Thomas Rutherford his Executors administrators and assigns from the Day before the Date hereof for and during the full Term and Time of One whole Year from thence next Entering fully to complead (Indeed) yielding paying therefore the rent of One Pepper Corn on (Lady??) Day (....) if the same shall be lawfully Demanded; to the Intent and purpose that by Virtue of these presents and of the Statue for Transferring (....s) unto Possession the said Thomas Rutherford may be in Actual Possession of the Premises and be thereby Enabled to accept and take (al.....) and Release of the Reversion and Inheritance thereof to him and his Heirs In Witness whereof the said William Jay hath hereunto set his hand and Seal the Day and year first above written Sealed and Delivered in th presence of Sam. Earl, Thomas Chesteer, Jn Hites William Jay, his mark (....) (....) (....) Court held for Frederick County on Wednesday the 7th day of (....), 1748 William Jay in Open Court acknowledged this his Seale for land Indented to Thomas Rutherford grant and it was on his motion Admitted to Record. (Jest) CCC _____ This Indenture made the sixth day of September In the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and forty eight Between William Jay of the County of Fairfax in the Colony of Virginia of the One part and Thomas Rutherford of the County of Frederick and colony aforesaid of the other part Witnesseth That for 7 in Consideration of the sum of fifty Pounds Current Money of Virginia to the said William Jay in hand paid by the said Thomas Rutherford at or before the sealing and delivery of these presents the Receipt whereof he doth hereby acknowledge and thereof doth Release acuies and Discharge the said Thomas Rutherford his Heirs Executors and Administrators by these presents He the said William Jay. Hath granted Bargained Sold aliend? Released and; Confirmed and; by these presents Doth grant Bargain Sell Alien Release and confirm unto the said Thomas Rutherford in his Actual Possession now being by Virtue of a Bargain and Sale to him thereof made by the said William Jay for One whole year by Indenture bearing Date the Day next before the Day of the Date of these presents and by force of the Statue for Transferring (...) into Possession. And his Heirs and assigns forever One Certain Tract of land lying and being in the County of Frederick , and Branch of Shannandore River called Eavets Run Containing One Hundred acres more or less Beginning at a white Oak in Daniel Beernets Line below the falls of Eavts Run and Running thence al and of the same South by West . One Hundred and; Thirty Ples by a Red Oak thence East by South One Hundred and Twenty four Poles Between a Red and White Oak thence North by East One Hundred and thirty Poles Crossing Eavets Run to a Cornerstone and thence Wet by North One Hundred and Twenty four Poles to the Beginning and all Houses Buildings Orchards ways Waters Water courses Profits Comadities Hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever to the said premises hereby granted or any part thereof belonging or in any wise appurtaining and the Reversion and Reversions Remainder and Remainders Rents Issues and profits thereof And also all the Estate Right Title Interest, Property Claim and Demand Whatever of him the said William Jay of in and to the said Premises: And all Deeds (licences?) and; Writing to(.....ing) or in any wise concerning the same, To Have and to hold the said One Hundred Acres of land and all and Singular other the premises hereby Granted and Released and every part and parcel thereof with their and every of their appurtenances unto the said Thomas Rutherford his Heirs and assigns forever to the only proper use and behoof of him the said Thomas Rutherford and of his Heirs and; assigns forever and the said William Jay for himself his Heirs Execturos Administrators doth Covenant Promise Grant () and with the ssaid Thomas Rutherford his Heirs and assigns by these presents that the said William Jay now at the time of Selaing and; Delivering of these presents is siesed of a good pure perfect indefeazible Estate of Inheritance in fee simple of and in the premises hereby granted released : and that he hath good Power and; Lawful and absolute authority to Grant Convey the same to the said Thomas Rutherford in manner and form aforesaid And that the said Premises now are and so forwever hereaafter shall remain and befree and clear of and from all former and other Gifts Grants Bargains Sales Dower rigth and; Title of Dower Judgments Executions Titles Troubles charges and Incumbrances Whatsoever made done Comitted or Suffered by the said William Jay or any other Person or Persons whatsoever the quit rents hereafter to grow due and payable to our Sovereign Lord the King his Heirs and (S....s) for in respect of the said (P.....s) only Excepted and forepaiyed. and So (.....) that the said William Jay and his Heirs all and Singular the Premises Thomas Rutherford his Heirs and assigns against him the said William Jay and his Heirs and all and every other Person and Persons Whatsoever shall and will warrant and forever defend by these Presents In Witness whereof the said William Jay hath hereunto fed his hand and seal the Day and Year first above written. Sealed and Delivered in the presence of Sam. Earle, Tho. Chester, Jn (Hile???) William Jay, his mark At a court contained and; held for Frederick County on Wednesday, the 7th day of September 1748 William Jay in Open Court acknowledged this his Release for Land Indented to Thomas Rutherford grant and it was on his motion Admitted to Record (Jest) Wood CCC ___________
One source says that our William was renting 100 acres of land in an unknown location in 1746. This reference probably came from "Abstracts of Wills, Inventories, and Administration Accounts of Frederick Co. Virginia". It lists William Jay under rentals with 100 acres. By 1751, William and his family lived in North Carolina. On Aug. 2, 1755, Cane Creek Meeting House records indicate that William was accepted into membership "by request" (C-862) and that the family moved to Casewell Co., North Carolina. He had apparently converted to the Quaker faith at this point.
On May 6, 1756, William was granted 395 or 495 acres by an Earl of Granville in Orange Co., NC on the northeast side of North Fork of Flat River. He deeded 50 acres to his son-in-law, John Satterfield, and John's brother James, that same day. He apparently deeded land adjoining this property to his son, Joseph Jay on Oct. 3, 1767. It is suspected that this was a wedding gift as Joseph wasn't in his father's will. In fact, here are deeds and further detail that give us information about he and his children.1756, June 8 - William Jay to John Satterfield, 50 acres for five pounds lying on the N E side of the N. Fork of the Flatt River - part of a tract of land formerly granted to Wm. Jay by Deed from Lord Carteret, Earl of Granville; Orange Co. NC Deed Book 1, p. 229 (Land transfer to his son-in-law, John Satterfield, husband of daughter Sarah Jay.)1761, May 12 - William Jay to William Jay, Jr., 115 acres; "Register of Orange County, North Carolina Deeds, 1752-1768, and 1793", transcribed by Eve B. Weeks1765, May 14 - William Jay to James Jay, 120 acres; "Register of Orange County, North Carolina Deeds, 1752-1768, and 1793", transcribed by Eve B. Weeks (He gave this land to his son James at about the time of his marriage.)1767, October 3 - William Jay to Joseph Jay, 239 acres for ten pounds lying on both sides of N. Fork of Flatt River, joining Fords land on the west and James Jays on the East, beginning at a white oak on Hosea Tapleys -- white Oak on sd William Jay Senr - part of tract of land formerly granted to Edward Moore from Lord Earl of Granville, dated the sixth day of February 1761; Orange Co. NC Deed Book 3, p. 445 (He gave this land to his son Joseph at about the time of his marriage also.)These deed records basically verify that these are William's oldest sons as traditionally held by Eli Jay in his writings on the family given to him by his father when he was a young man.
In 1771, William signed the petition to have Caswell Co. set off from Orange County, North Carolina. On Feb. 1, 1772, William and children were granted a certificate to move to South Carolina. His three oldest sons were married by then, William, Joseph and James. William died within the year. Mary remarried shortly thereafter because on Oct. 5, 1772, Mary Vestal Jay wrote an apology for having married out of unity and requested a letter of acceptance for the Bush River MM, SC records. Mary and William's five youngest children joined the Quaker church shortly after their move to Bush River. (C-1017)
The birth of several of their children from John through David are recorded in the Bush River MM records for Newberry, South Carolina. Several of their children appear to have married in Newberry Co., South Carolina. William and Mary Jay are listed as residents of Berkley Co., Dist. 96, South Carolina. (C-457, p.104)
William died shortly after moving to South Carolina from an accident. It occurred shortly before the marriage of his son John to Elizabeth Pugh. He is listed as deceased when his daughter Mary married Charles Patty on Mar. 11, 1773. His will was written on Nov. 23, 1772 and proven on Aug. 31, 1773. In it, he made bequeaths to his wife Mary and children John, David (underage), Mary, Rachel and Lydia. Son John was named Executor. His oldest children were not mentioned as he had already transferred them land. (C-169, 803, 958)
William's descendants DNA is a match to descendants of the following Joseph Jay. This means they have a common ancestor in somewhat close range to each other. We simply don't know who it is. As a Revolutionary War soldier, we know that Joseph was born July 14, 1753 in Burlington Co. NJ. After the war, he lived in Hunterdon Co. NJ and died November 30, 1835 in Falls Township, Bucks Co. PA. His wife was Eleanor Nelson. In the Jay Family Index #4763, his father is listed as Joseph Jay. We do not know the source of this information but there is an adult Joseph Jay living in Burlington County, New Jersey as early as 1739 when he voted and is listed in election returns.
This Joseph or his possible son Joseph likely account for an adult Joseph living in Nottingham Twp., Burlington Co., New Jersey in the 1758-1774 tax records for that territory. Family notes in this index from Joseph's (b. 1753) grandson, Douglass Hiles Jay, son of Nelson, says that it was passed down to him that Joseph's family came from England where they had had an estate. Here is the account of it available at : http://www.entechdesign.com/jaydna/jaydnastatus5.htm. "There are tantalizing notes found in the Jay Family Index concerning Joseph Jay (born 1753) is as follows: Douglas Hiles Jay, son of Nelson Jay [a son of Joseph born 1753] said Joseph Jay (Note - possibly the father of Joseph Jay [and Nelson's grandfather]) was born in England, and [Douglas] remembered a long conversation between Nelson Jay and his brother Smith Jay about an estate belonging to their father Joseph Jay in England, about papers that were lost, and of other papers in the effects of Joseph Jay, then deceased. This was also the remembrance of Mary W. (Jay) Butler, [wife of John W. Butler and daughter of Smith Jay]. The conclusions were that money was too scarce in the family to risk any chances of going to England to hunt it up. Joseph Jay had lent the little he had for the purpose of carrying on the war, and was so great a patriot that he would accept no return, and fearing that his children might do so, destroyed the papers showing the fact, and died a poor man....We are currently trying to 'run-down' the source and the context of this family tradition which did not appear in the original printing of the JFI."
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Abt 1711 - 1773 (62 years)
[14, 15] 
