History of the Jay Family Association

In July 1959, Mrs. J. Edward Rouland (Esther B. Failor) and Dr. Bernice F. Pierson (Miss), working on their respective Jay lines in Washington, D. C., conceived the idea of the JAY FAMILY ASSOCIATION.

The Charter members were:

Miss Bernice F. Pierson

Mrs. J. Edward Rouland (Esther B. Rouland)

Wendell T. Jay (August 22)

Miss Bess B. Bartlett (August 24)

Mrs. R. E. Warren  (Mildred Mobley)  (September 23)

James T. Pierson   (October 6)

J. Edwin Jay  (October 15)

Mrs. Willis Busler  (Mary Alma Jay)  (November 26)

Mrs. William G. Kohner

Bessie Brown  (November 26)

First Officers were (July 1959 to September 1963):

President:                        J. Edwin Jay

Vice President:                John Chancy Jay  appointed 1960

Historian  Secretary:        Esther B. Rouland

Treasurer:                        Bernice F. Pierson

Honorary Member:           Mary Helen Pemberton

During 1960, 1961, and 1962, it appears some twenty mimeographed papers were issued from the office of the Historian-Secretary.  There were general letters, Christmas messages, Treasurer’s reports, Membership Lists and Bulletins.  The Bulletins were reports of research done by members personally, or information members had collected with the assistance of professional researchers. 

 

Four members were lost in death:

Percy Pemberton Brown                     26 January 1960

Esther B. Rouland                               18 March 1962

John Chancy Jay                                 18 October 1962

J. Edwin Jay b. 22 Nov 1868                25 August 1963

After the death of Esther B. Rouland, Bernice F. Pierson served as Secretary and Treasurer until new officers were appointed.  The major project for 1963 was the JAY FAMILY INDEX, an index of some of the Jay Family in America.  It is primarily a copy of the Cassius Milton Jay (1886-1953) Work Book.  The JAY FAMILY INDEX was made possible by Mrs. William G. Kohner, owner of the Cassius M. Jay manuscript, who copied and arranged the material, Bernice F. Pierson, Mary Helen Pemberton and Mrs. Mary Keysor Meyer, a friend.  A gift copy was sent to each of forty-six libraries and societies.  By mid-1963, twelve members had cleared their respective lines with proper documentation. 

In October of 1963 new officers were appointed.

President:                        Wendell T. Jay

Vice President:                George Jay

Historian-Secretary:         Katherine (Jay) Bradley

Treasurer:                        Mary (Smith) Lindig