Things to be remembered in daily life : with personal experiences and recollections / by John Timbs.

  • Timbs, John, 1801-1875.
Date:
1863
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Things to be remembered in daily life : with personal experiences and recollections / by John Timbs. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    add: lie was born in the year 1381, in the reign of King Kichard II., and lived in the reigns of twelve kings and queens. These words are not, however, in the register; and it is evident that some mischievous person has altered the figure 1 into 2. Sir Henry Ellis, in his History of Shore- ditch, gives the entry correctly as follows: Thomas Cam, aged 107, 28 January 1588. Another instance, less known, but better authenticated, is that of Sir Ralph Vernon, of Shipbrooke, who was born some time in the thu-teenth century, died at the great age of 150 ; and is said to have been succeeded by his descend- ant in the sixth generation; he was called Old Sir Ealphj or Sir R. the long-liver. A deed of settlement by him was the cause of long htigation; and it is said that the papers respecting this law-suit still exist, to prove the fact of the old knight's patriarchal age.* In Conway churchyard is the tombstone of Lowry Owens, stated to have died May the 1st, 1766, aged 192; but the inscription has evidently been recut, and, it is presumed, with a difference, especially as the round of the 9 is above the date-line. In the church of Abbey Dore, Herefordshire, is a slab to the memoiy of Elizabeth Lewis, who died aged 141 years, which is stated to be confirmed by the parish register. In the churchyard of Cheve Prior, Worcestershire, is a record of a man who died at the age of 309; doubtless meant for 39, the blundering stonecutter having put the 30 first and 9 afterwards. In these and similar cases our belief should be in pro- portion to the trustworthiness of the record, allowance being made for the imperfect state of documents of times when writing was a comparatively rare accomplishment. It is curious to contrast this state of things with the chronicle of our times, when, occasionally, one day's newspaper records several instances of longevity: In the Morning Post, January 30tli, 1858, out of thirty-five deaths recorded, with the ages, there were five upwards of 60 and under 70 ; 70 and under 80, seven ; in 80th year and upwards, nine ; one female, 95 ; and Mrs. E. Miles, of Bishop Lidyard, near Taunton, 112. In the obituary of the Times, February 20th, 1862, were recorded the deaths of persons who had attained the following ages : one of 103, * See Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, ed. 1848.