Aunt Abby Hanks Hitchock in Widow's Weeds, Albumen Cabinet Card, Circa 1872
Written on reverse: "Aunt Abby Hanks Hitchcock", "Gubelman, 77 &79 Montgomery St., Jersey City"
Abigail Irena Hanks, was born on 10 November, 1816, in Mansfield, Tolland County, Connecticut. She was the daughter of Rodney Hanks (1782 – 1846), a Mansfield, Connecticut, manufacturer of silk machinery, woolen goods, cannon swabs, and other machinery, and Olive Freeman (1783 – 1816), and was the wife of Alexander Hitchcock (b. 4 Feb., 1812 in West Troy, NY), a merchant and former bellfoundry finisher. Alexander was the son of James Hitchcock (1785 – 1858) and Peggy Meneely (1790 – 1818). James married again to a woman named Eleanor, by whom he had a number of children.
The Hanks and Meneely family were players in the Meneely (Watervliet) foundry, which closed about 1950, and provided bells for various carillons and chimes throughout the Western hemisphere. The bellfoundry began in 1826 in Gibbonsville, New York, on the west bank of the Hudson River, a few miles north of Albany.
Abby and Alexander were married around 1840. Their children were Julia Philena (b. 1841); Madeline Louise (b. 1844); Olive Hanks (1848-1929); Adele (b. 1849); and Oliver (b. 1851). In, 1866, Madeline married James Randolph Mercein (b. 1840), and had one daughter and one granddaughter. In 1877, Olive married George Willis Calvert Phillips (1845-1912); they had two daughters, no grandchildren.
On the 1850 census, the family was enumerated in Albany, New York, with Alexander giving his occupation as finisher--probably of bells and chimes. Living with the family was Jesse Hanks, probably Abby's younger brother--also a finisher. The neighborhood in which they lived was peopled with immigrant laborers and other working people, and the wealth that the family obviously accumulated in later years is not apparent. Ten years later, however, the family had moved south to New Jersey. On the 1860 census of Jersey City, the Hitchcocks had a domestic servant and Alexander Hitchcock claimed a personal estate of $10,000.
Abby lost her husband on 18 January, 1872. He died in Rahway, New Jersey, at the age of 60. He was eventually interred in Menands, New York, on 15 May, 1872, in Albany Rural Cemetery in the lot of J.H. Hitchcock. He was removed to another lot in the same cemetery belonging to Julia P. Morgan, almost certainly his daughter, in 1885. This cabinet card of Abby in widow's clothing dates to approximately that same year. In the image, Abby is wears a white widow's cap and some very nice gutta percha mourning jewelry that was so fashionable, even for regular wear, in the 1870s.
On the 1880 census, Abby was staying in the home of Druggist George Phillips and his wife Olive, Abby's daughter. Abigail died Christmas Day, 25 December, 1884, in Jersey City. She is buried with her husband in Albany Rural Cemetery.
After Abby's daughter, Madeleine, died in 5 December, 1893, her obituary read: "The death of Madeline Louise Mercein, wife of James R. Mercein, occurred suddenly Tuesday at her home on Madison Avenue, New York City. Mrs. Mercein was a daughter of the late Alexander Hitchcock, for many years master mechanic at the Watervliet arsenal, and during her girlhood was a leader in social circles in this vicinity, being a lady of unusual refinement. She is survived by a son and a daughter. The burial will be in the family plat at Albany Rural cemetery."
Aunt Abby Hanks Hitchock in Widow's Weeds, Albumen Cabinet Card, Circa 1872
Written on reverse: "Aunt Abby Hanks Hitchcock", "Gubelman, 77 &79 Montgomery St., Jersey City"
Abigail Irena Hanks, was born on 10 November, 1816, in Mansfield, Tolland County, Connecticut. She was the daughter of Rodney Hanks (1782 – 1846), a Mansfield, Connecticut, manufacturer of silk machinery, woolen goods, cannon swabs, and other machinery, and Olive Freeman (1783 – 1816), and was the wife of Alexander Hitchcock (b. 4 Feb., 1812 in West Troy, NY), a merchant and former bellfoundry finisher. Alexander was the son of James Hitchcock (1785 – 1858) and Peggy Meneely (1790 – 1818). James married again to a woman named Eleanor, by whom he had a number of children.
The Hanks and Meneely family were players in the Meneely (Watervliet) foundry, which closed about 1950, and provided bells for various carillons and chimes throughout the Western hemisphere. The bellfoundry began in 1826 in Gibbonsville, New York, on the west bank of the Hudson River, a few miles north of Albany.
Abby and Alexander were married around 1840. Their children were Julia Philena (b. 1841); Madeline Louise (b. 1844); Olive Hanks (1848-1929); Adele (b. 1849); and Oliver (b. 1851). In, 1866, Madeline married James Randolph Mercein (b. 1840), and had one daughter and one granddaughter. In 1877, Olive married George Willis Calvert Phillips (1845-1912); they had two daughters, no grandchildren.
On the 1850 census, the family was enumerated in Albany, New York, with Alexander giving his occupation as finisher--probably of bells and chimes. Living with the family was Jesse Hanks, probably Abby's younger brother--also a finisher. The neighborhood in which they lived was peopled with immigrant laborers and other working people, and the wealth that the family obviously accumulated in later years is not apparent. Ten years later, however, the family had moved south to New Jersey. On the 1860 census of Jersey City, the Hitchcocks had a domestic servant and Alexander Hitchcock claimed a personal estate of $10,000.
Abby lost her husband on 18 January, 1872. He died in Rahway, New Jersey, at the age of 60. He was eventually interred in Menands, New York, on 15 May, 1872, in Albany Rural Cemetery in the lot of J.H. Hitchcock. He was removed to another lot in the same cemetery belonging to Julia P. Morgan, almost certainly his daughter, in 1885. This cabinet card of Abby in widow's clothing dates to approximately that same year. In the image, Abby is wears a white widow's cap and some very nice gutta percha mourning jewelry that was so fashionable, even for regular wear, in the 1870s.
On the 1880 census, Abby was staying in the home of Druggist George Phillips and his wife Olive, Abby's daughter. Abigail died Christmas Day, 25 December, 1884, in Jersey City. She is buried with her husband in Albany Rural Cemetery.
After Abby's daughter, Madeleine, died in 5 December, 1893, her obituary read: "The death of Madeline Louise Mercein, wife of James R. Mercein, occurred suddenly Tuesday at her home on Madison Avenue, New York City. Mrs. Mercein was a daughter of the late Alexander Hitchcock, for many years master mechanic at the Watervliet arsenal, and during her girlhood was a leader in social circles in this vicinity, being a lady of unusual refinement. She is survived by a son and a daughter. The burial will be in the family plat at Albany Rural cemetery."