Andrew Lightbody

by


This Andrew Lightbody was born about 1789. Subsequent sources noted that he was a native of Egremont, Massachusetts. We seek defining information on his origins and path to Albany. He may have been the son of John Lightbody whose household was configured on the census for Egremont in 1790. Perhaps, Andrew was a kinsman of James Lightbody, the Albany jailer in 1800 and afterwards.

At least by 1813, he was a communicant of the First Presbyterian church.

Beginning in 1814, he was identified in the city directory as a clerk living at 43 Church Street. By 1821, his residence was listed at 38 Lydius Street and his store at 11 Hudson. He was identified as a leather dealer.

In 1820, his household was configured on the Albany census. At that time, six people including a male over 45 and a woman 26-44, were counted under his name.

In July 1820, the newspaper reported that the recently deceased Henry Guest had transferred his share of a leather store and factory located on the corner of Lydius and Church Streets to Andrew Lightbody, his younger partner.

In July 1826, his name apeared on a petition to Congress by a group of interested citizens making the case for the establishment of a branch of the United States Bank in Albany.

In 1830, he began a new partnership in the leather business to be located in his store on the corner of Hudson and Dean Streets.

This Andrew Lightbody died in August 1876 at the age of eighty-seven and was buried in Albany Rural Cemetery? If so, he was a native of Egremont, Massachusetts, lived at 31 Grand Street and died of old age. That individual was living there in 1861.


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Andrew Lightbody has no CAP biography number. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.

John Lightbody: died on November 22, 1834 and was buried in the Albany Rural Cemetery. He was eighty-eight at the time.





first posted: 1/10/13