Statistics of grave-yards in Scotland / by John Webster.

  • Webster, John
Date:
[1855?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Statistics of grave-yards in Scotland / by John Webster. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    of which however three examples were noticed; although a lady about 90, and another female beyond 100, are now alive. Of the former sex one memorial merits an especial notice ; namely, that of Professor Ferguson, the celebrated philosopher, and previously travelling companion to Lord Chesterfield of courtly fame. This Nestor of intellectual men lived many years in St. Andrew’s, and died aged 93, according to the inscription on his monument in this cemetery. Besides the data now reported, I may add, on the authority of Dr. Adamson, a physician of repute in St. Andrew’s, who has paid much attention to sanitary questions, that out of 311 deaths reported by him on a recent occasion, when illustrating a point he was then investigating, 83 were persons above 70 years old; 41 beyond 80 ; 11 more than 85 ; and 2 over 90 when they died; all of these being inhabitants of the neighbourhood specified. Restricting any conclusions regarding the longevity of persons in this part of Scotland to the ascertained facts now detailed, it may be correctly asserted that, the city of St. Andrew’s is a salu¬ brious residence, whilst its residents are distinguished for the ad¬ vanced age which they often attain. Nay, if all gravestone stories be authentic, this part of Fifeshire may boast of possessing the bones of one of the most venerable patriarchs amongst the human race, recently seen on earth; he being even older than Abraham, who died at the great age of “one hundred, three score and fifteen years,” or Jonas, who was 180 years old. The modern Methuselah now alluded to was named Watt, and by occupation a gardener; he died in 1800, according to a statement on the large horizontal stone slab placed over his grave, near the cathedral ruins; which record states that Watt was “ one hundred and eighty-five years at death” ! The figures announcing this extrordinary circumstance are cut deeply into the stone, apparently all at the same time, and coeval with the inscription, detailing the name, occupation and so forth, of the party in question. However, after minute examination, it struck me that the figure 1 had possibly been interpolated. At all events, I now give this explanation, with my scepticism respecting the age inscribed. Subsequently I stated the above gravestone legend, and this opinion, to several university dignitaries, learned professors, and others; but none had heard of the monument mentioned. Doubtless, future investigation will be instituted, to ascertain the exact history of Watt; and if he really did attain 185 years, so rare a phenomenon ought to be authenticated by unquestionable evidence. II.-TOWNS NORTH OF THE RIVER TAY. 1. Dundee. The first town comprised in this division is an important commercial maritime port, upon the north bank of the river above named. It is about ten miles distant from the German ocean, and occupies a declivity, gradually rising towards the hill or “ Law” as it is often called, which reaches to upwards of 550 feet in height. This elevation, designated in Celtic “dun”, and giving origin to the name, Dun-tay, but now corrupted into
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