Friend Humphrey

Friend Humphrey was an American merchant, Whig state Senator from New York, and Mayor of Albany from 1849 to 1850.

Early life

He was born in Simsbury, Connecticut on March 8, 1787. He was one of the sons of Noah Humphrey Jr. and Margaret Humphrey. His brother was General Chauncey Humphrey.

Career

In 1811, he moved to Albany, New York, where he engaged in the leather trade, under the name Friend Humphrey's Son of Albany.
He was a Whig member of the New York State Senate in 63rd [New York State Legislature|1840] and New York State Legislature|1841].
He was elected as Mayor of Albany from 1843 to 1845, and from 1849 to 1850. As mayor, he was known for the advancement of learning and "sound morals" by closing the markets on Sunday.

Personal life

Humphrey married Hannah Hinman, a daughter of Dr. Aaron B. Hinman and Gertrude Hinman. Her sister Gertrude married Andrew Douw Lansing. Before her death, they were the parents of:

Gideon Humphrey, who died in infancy.
Harriet Louisa Humphrey, who married Clark B. Gregory of Danbury.
Aaron Hinman Humphrey, who died in infancy.

In 1824, he married Julia Ann Hoyt, a daughter of Mary Hoyt and David Picket Hoyt, a descendant of Simon Hoyt. The Hoyt family arrived at Massachusetts in 1628 and settled in Windsor, Connecticut, and Walker Hoyt was one of the first settlers of Norwalk. Through her brother James, she was an aunt to Colgate Hoyt and Wayland Hoyt. Together, they were the parents of:

Theodore Friend Humphrey, a merchant and member of Friend Humphrey's Sons who married Margaret McPherson in 1854.
James Holt Humphrey, who married Annie Marie Olmsted, a daughter of George Gaylord Olmsted, in 1857.
Correl Humphrey, who married Helen Clarissa Millard, daughter of David Johnson Millard.
Alexander Beebe Humphrey, who married Mary Morrison Charles in 1878.

He died on March 15, 1854, in Albany, leaving a good estate, and was buried at the Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands, New York.

Residence

Around 1841, Humphrey built a two-story frame farmhouse with a gable roof and two symmetrically placed chimneys, today known as the Friend Humphrey House, in Colonie in Albany County, New York.
The transitional vernacular Greek Revival / Federal style dwelling, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.