16. Sarah Livingston Jay was the daughter of one signer of the Declaration of Independence and the wife of another
Sarah Van Brugh Livingston Jay descended from what would have been American nobility, had such a concept of class gained credence in British America. The Livingstons and Van Brughs were socially and politically prominent families in colonial New York and New Jersey, and Sarah moved in the highest levels in colonial society. In 1774, she married John Jay. He went on to play significant roles in the Revolution and the founding of the subsequent American government. Sarah’s contributions to her husband’s success began in Paris, when John served there – negotiating the Treaty of Paris. Sarah subscribed to Benjamin Franklin’s philosophy that social prominence eased diplomatic negotiations. She moved in the same circles as the Marquis and Marquise de Lafayette and other important members of the French Court. Her ability to speak four languages fluently also placed demands for her attention.
Such was her acclaim in France that theater performances she attended in Paris halted when she entered, receiving the applause of the audience. Upon her return to the United States, she became the leader of society in the temporary capitals of New York and Philadelphia. She entertained the diplomats of foreign nations and the officers of the new government. Her frequent guests included the President and his Cabinet, members of Congress, and the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, of which her husband was Chief Justice. Sarah kept handwritten lists of the guests who attended her dinners, documents which provide insights into the political decisions and debates among the early days of American government. They provide an early “Who’s Who” into the society of the Founders and their wives for posterity.