Mary (Mehan) Andrews (1841 - 1901)

Born Dec 1841 in NY or Ireland

Ancestors

Wife of John Andrews — married 1863 in Moravia, NY, USA

Died 1901 at about age 59 in Moravia, NY, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Loren Fay [send private message]

Biography

She was unofficially adopted by the Morris Keelers, so I have given them as parents so we will not forget that connection... she is with them and her husband in the 1860 - 1880 US Censuses, as I show...

The 1860 Census gives her maiden name: I see Neehan, as did the LDS indexer, another says Mehan, but I don't see the M, unless the Ne are the M... yes, I looked again at the original written version of the 1860 before giving my conclusion... - L Fay.

PS. I happened upon a way to check the whereabouts of family names in the census via Ancestry, which shows which states surnames live in from 1850 - the 1900s. There were less than ten Neehans and many, many Mehans, so it is very possible her name was Meehan or Mehan...

An obituary for her daughter in 1950 gave her mother's name as Mehan...

More info on maiden name from daughter's obituary:

Dec 21, 1950 Auburn Citizen newspaper:

MRS. MINNIE ADAMS, Moravia—Mrs. Minnie Adams, 86, widow of Frank L. Adams and life resident of this village, died Wednesday night at the home of her son, Claude Adams, North Main Street. Mrs. Adams was a daughter of John and Mary Mehan Andrews, and is survived by another son, Carl Adams, also of Moravia. Services will be at the home of her son, Carl, at 2 p. m. Saturday. Burial will be In Indian Mound Cemetery, Moravia.

Rome NY Daily Sentinel, May 19, 1874:

From Auburn southward to Owego, over the Southern Central Railroad, the traveler passes through a very pleasant section of the Empire State. On this route a fair view is had of the Mecca of Spiritualism, Moravia.

Sources

• This census gives her maiden name...

she was said to be Irish... and 2 years her husband's senior...

1860 US Census in Moravia, NY...

Name: Morris Keeler Event Type: Census Event Year: 1860 Event Place: Moravia, Cayuga, New York, United States Gender: Male Age: 56 Race: White Race (Original): Birth Year (Estimated): 1804 Birthplace: New York Page: 73 Household ID: 619 Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Affiliate Publication Number: M653 GS Film Number: 803729 Digital Folder Number: 004235213 Image Number: 00516

Household Role Gender Age Birthplace

Morris Keeler M 56 New York

Mary Keeler F 49 Connecticut

Mary Neehan F 19 New York

John Andrews M 17 New York

David Crawford M 20 Ireland

Ebenezer Platt M 23 New York

Citing this Record: "United States Census, 1860," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCWS-J93 : accessed 13 July 2015), Morris Keeler, Moravia, Cayuga, New York, United States; from "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing p. 73, household ID 619, NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 803,729.

1900 US Census with more details...

Name: Mary Andrews Titles and Terms: Event Type: Census Event Year: 1900 Event Place: Moravia Township Moravia village, Cayuga, New York, United States District: 36 Gender: Female Age: 59 Marital Status: Married Race: White Race (Original): W Relationship to Head of Household: Wife Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Wife Number of Living Children: 3 Years Married: 37 Birth Date: Dec 1841 Birthplace: Ireland Marriage Year (Estimated): 1863 Immigration Year: 1845 Father's Birthplace: Ireland Mother's Birthplace: Ireland Mother of how many children: 3 Sheet Number and Letter: 13B Household ID: 417 Line Number: 84 Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Affiliate Publication Number: T623 GS Film Number: 1241013 Digital Folder Number: 004114487 Image Number: 00110

Household Role Gender Age Birthplace

John Andrews Head M 57 New York

Mary Andrews Wife F 59 Ireland

Louisa Turney Servant F 18 New York

Citing this Record: "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MS6X-RZC : accessed 15 July 2015), Mary Andrews in household of John Andrews, Moravia Township Moravia village, Cayuga, New York, United States; citing sheet 13B, family 417, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,241,013.

This story is about Mary Neehan Andrews:

she was unofficially adopted by the Keelers, they took her into their home when she was a homeless teenager, perhaps an Irish lassie looking for a place in the world...

"The Keelers of Moravia and Their Spiritualist Daughter" SPIRITUALISM Source: The Genesee Courier, Le Roy, N.Y., Friday, October 20, 1871. Page 1.

SPIRITUALISM They have spirits in Moravia, N.Y., according to a correspondent of the New York Star, and their performances are novel and startling. Near Moravia is a family named Keeler, an old grey-haired farmer and his wife and daughter. The daughter, who is a spiritual medium, about two years ago received a communication from the invisible world, directing her to build a house for the reception and manifestation of spirits. She was directed to construct in a certain manner and locality, with a cupola on the top of it for the entrance and exit of her ghostly visitors. The favored family set to work to do as they were bidden with more than earthly energy. In a short time the house was completed, surmounted by a curiously-constructed cupola. The house stands a half a mile from Moravia, on a hill. Its exterior is unpretending and plain, but one has only to enter its awful portals to doubt his existence. On the second flor is a room about twelve by fourteen, with a bay window facing the street. There is only one entrance to the room, and across the space occupied by the bay window is a thin board partition. In nearly the center of this partition is a small rectangular-shaped window, across which is drawn a dull black cloth curtain. It is at this window that the spirits appear and talk to their friends. There is a piano in the room, and some of the spirits are good musicians. The medium charges two dollars a sitting, which generally covers about two hours. From one to twenty persons may be present at one sitting, and the expense can be apportioned among them. After a sufficient number have collected to witness the manifestations, the medium leads them into the above room. -Rochester Democrat.

The writer says: "They take seats in chairs placed in rows before the black curtain covering the wonderful window. The door is shut and fastened with an air of the gravest solemnity. The medium takes a seat directly in front of the partition, and beneath the window. She folds her arms and sits motionless, with a funereal aspect. Up to this time the incredulous spectators have joked very freely, and seem to regard the affair in the light of fun. Suddenly impressed 'Phs' are heard coming from the females present, and the room becomes totally dark. The darkness is so dense that it is painful to the eyes. A few moments elapse, and the audience experience disagreeable sensations. A scintillating speck of light resembling a star flies through the darkness. Several stars quickly follow it, and darting hither and thither make a fine pyrotechnic display. Large and small lights dance about the room which resemble the St. Elmo's phosphorescent gleams that are often seen by sailors at night. This continues for aboaut a quarter of an hour, when a spirit voice calls for a light. A lamp standing on a table is lighted, the light of day being totally excluded. The medium rises, and drawing back the black curtain, retires behind the cabinet and occupies a chair concealed from view. She goes behind the cabinet, she says, to lend her magnetism to the spirits. She sits perfectly still; the slightest movement could be head by those outside. The shades of departed friends and relatives now discover themselves in the awe-stricken audience. The faces of near and dear friends, and als of persons never before heard of, come to the window.-

Some things occurred at a sitting the other day that would unsettle many minds. A gentleman and wife, residing in Madison square, New York, visited the medium with a party of friends. The spirit of the ladie's old family physician, who had been dead a great many years, came to the window. She had been suffering from some bodily ailment or other for some time. She asked the doctor to prescribe for her, and he did so. She returned to New York, and following the spirit's directions, has been entirely cured. The same lady saw the spirit of her deceased grandmother. She came in a shadow, looking as she did on earth, with her ruffled cap and spectacles.-

'Clara,' it said, 'I attended my funeral. I saw you lift my hand as my corpse lay in the coffin. I followed it to the grave and saw everything. It will not be a great while before we can come to you in your own homes. Our bodies die, but our spirits are as free as the birds of the air.' A young lady from Bufalo was visited by one calling himself James Booth. She sat down at the piano and played a lively tune, the sounds of an unseen violin accompanying her, keeping correct time. The party struck up 'John Brown,' and many voices from the spirit world joined heartily in the chorus. The spirit of a very dear friend of a lady present appeared, and stretching out a very beautifully moulded arm, presented her with a blush rose. People are patted on the head and knees by invisible hands.-

Individuals with weak nerves become frightened by this operation, and until re-assured by a few remarks from Mr. Keeler, show evident signs of leaving their seats in precipitate haste. Some sights that daily occur make one's marrow creep, and the unbelieving scoffer goes away with conviction written on his dismayed countenance. The Keelers regard it all as a mere exposition of their religious belief. The room and cabinet have been minutely examined by many visitors, and nothing unusual or suspicious has been discovered.- People from Syracuse, Auburn and Ithaca make up large parties and visit Moravia to see the manifestations.- There has been a greater number visiting the Keelers this summer than ever before. They bid fair to the row in the shade the once celebrated Fox sisters of Rochester.

Source: The Genesee Courier, Le Roy, N.Y., Friday, October 20, 1871. Page 1.

another giving of her story:

http://ehbritten.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-white-leaves-of-history-3-dog-in.html

I found interesting details about the Spiritualist mediumship in Moravia given in the NY Sun newspaper in 1871 and 1876 via the Fulton Old Post Card index website. Then I went to the NYS Library and got the rolls of microfilm and made copies of both articles so I could read everything more easily. They give some details about her origin and life with the Keelers as well as the controversies about the séances and the reports given in the news... there are also reports given later on in other papers seen via the website. One comes away wondering if there was real religious belief or if it was just a good business venture, or a mix of the two. Mary and John Andrews' graves are on Find a Grave with their portraits, gravestone and obituaries. Finding all of this has been fascinating. - L Fay.

SPIRITS OR IMPOSTORS ? (The Sun, NYC, Friday, Sept. 29, 1871) What the Spirits did for a Greedy old Farmer -- What the Farmer did for the Spirits -- People Recognizing the faces of Friends Dead for years -- A Corpse of a Beautiful Lady Floating in the Air -- Fleecy Clouds and Mysterious Lights. (((sounds like a great show... lights, camera and action... - L. Fay.)

A SPRITUALISTIC REVIVAL (The Sun, NYC, Sunday, Jan. 2, 1876) William Eddy and his band of Seceders in Moravia. (Manifestations at the House of Morris Keeler -- Ghostly Noises and Ghostly Forms -- The Shade of Ex-Gov. Silas Wright Stepping from a Cabinet -- The rival mediums)