Andrew Meneely; 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 11

This week's ancestral biography is on Andrew Meneely. Much has been written on him regarding his world renown bell foundry and his apprenticeship to Julius Hanks. I am not going to write about his bell manufactory. I'll stick with basic genealogical facts on his family. He was a younger brother to my ggggg grandmother, Peggy Meneely. Andrew was born in West Troy, now Watervliet, on 19 May 1802 to Andrew James Meneely and Eleanor Cobb.

Andrew and Eleanor were Irish immigrants who came to America in the 1780s. The exact date is presently unknown. They raised their family in West Troy and had the following children:

• John, born circa 1788
• Peggy, born circa 1790
• Mary, born circa 1797
• Andrew, born 19 May 1802
• Elenor, born 13 May 1804
• James S., born 24 November 1806

Andrew Meneely

Father, Andrew James Meneely died in September 1806 and mother Eleanor died in 1827.  Andrew married Philena Hanks (19 October 1803 - 25 June 1887) on 10 November 1826 in Mansfield, Tolland County Connecticut. Andrew and Philena had a large family with numerous children who died under the age of seven. Their children included:

• Eleanor Sophronia, (18 August 1827 - 20 September 1853)
• Edwin Andrew, (12 November 1828 - 15 January 1887)
• Olive Eugenia, (23 December 1829 - 12 August 1830)
• George Rodney, (15 March 1831 - 23 October 1915)
• Olive Eugenia, (03 January 1833 - 13 August 1837)
• Henry Clinton, (06 March 1834 - 12 May 1835)
• Henry Clinton, (07 June 1836 - 06 August 1837)
• Eugenia Philena, (16 January 1838 - 26 June 1859)
• Clinton Hanks, (26 December 1839 - 01 July 1923)
• Juliett Augusta, (22 October 1842 - 25 August 1849)

In the late 1840s, Andrew became ill with consumption and died on 14 October 1851 and was buried in Albany Rural Cemetery. A photo of his large burial lot is below.

Andrew Meneely burial lot at Albany Rural Cemetery