Kevin Franklin

Jefferson Mayell was the President of the Albany, N.Y. chapter of the Young Mens Christian Anti-Slavery Society and active in the Albany, N.Y. Anti-Slavery movement and likely the Underground Railroad. Jefferson Mayell owned land that became part of the original Albany Rural Cemetery although he lived with his family at Greenbush, N.Y., in an area along the Hudson River eventually annexed into the southern end of what is now the City of Rensselaer, N.Y. His name also appears in the land records affiliated with the Sand Lake area of Rensselaer County, known for its support of the Antil Slavery movement. He is also listed as owning land in the Ballston Spa area of Saratoga County. Jefferson Mayell lived during the period of photography but no image of him exists that I have been able to find. He is buried along with many members of his family in the Mayell family plot of the Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands, N.Y. Some family in the Mayell line are known to have changed their last name to Male as evidenced by names in the Male family plot of the Niskayuna Reformed Church Cemetery, in Niskayuna, N.Y. Any information concerning the Jefferson Mayell family would be deeply appreciated. I may be contacted at: [contact link] thank you! Kevin Franklin, Historian, Town of Colonie, N.Y.