Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology The Lincolnshire Family Historian, October 1984 by Mr. Terence Leach ------------------------------------------------ Some Lincolnshire Centenarians 1632 Mrs. Eleanor Ayscough aged 114 buried at Great Ponton on March 10th. (Turnor History of Grantham 1806 p. 129) 1800 Mrs. Hicks of Fulletby died aged 101 September 9th. Widow of a farmer and grazier (J.S.) 1800 Mrs. Shaw died at Keal aged 117, October. "She retained her faculties to the last and well remembered the memorable revolution of 1688. It was doubted at the time whether she was so old as stated but on reference to the parish register the year of her birth being there entered as 1683, the truth of the assertion was at once apparent" (J.S.) In 1933 the Rev. W.B. Church of Aswardby reported that a picture in the vestry at West Keal showed Elizabeth Shaw. Her real age was 117 years 22 weeks and 6 days. She was baptised at Waltham April 22.1683, the daughter of Herbert Allinson and his wife Mary. She died in her chair. (L.M. Vol. 1 No.6 p. 238). 1802 May 6 died aged 100 Widow Palmer of St. Martins Stamford. Her brother and sister died this year, the former aged 75 the latter 87. Two other brothers also died within the last three years the one 95 the other 77. Their father attained the age of 103 and the surviving brother is 88 (J.S.) 1803 August Rippin, aged 85, married at Branston to Elizabeth Rawlins 74. She was his fifth wife and also fifth wife to her late husband. (J.S.) Not a centenarian, but I could not resist including it! 1804 Elizabeth Bullard died at Gainsborough in November - aged 107. Could read without spectacles and remembered George I coming to England 1804 Nov. 26 Daniel Law of Gainsborough died aged 105; "enjoyed uninterrupted good health until within a few minutes of his death" (J.S.) 1807 August 9. Mrs. Mary Alcock died at Ashby near Louth aged 100. (J.S.) (It is not clear which Ashby is meant) 1808 September Mrs. Southwell of Maidenwell died aged 100. 1809 June Mrs. Mary Morris of Brigg died aged 100. 1810 June 30 William Feanby died at Winterton aged 93 "who retained all his faculties to the last, taught a school, could write the Lord's Prayer on paper the size of a sixpence and a hand that could be taken for a boy of 17." Engraved his own tombstone and had his coffin in the house. Refused to live with his son. (Not a centenarian, but deserved to be 1) (J . S. ) 1812 Thomas Salmon died at Hagnaby aged 102 (J.S.) (There are two Hagnabys - which is not stated). 1818 Mrs. Moody died at Leasingham aged 100 (J.S.) 1819 Mr. Goodacre died at Saltfleet April 22 aged 104. Retained all his faculties until the last, and about ten days before his death walked 12 miles to Louth and returned the next day (J.S.) October 12 Mrs. Bratten died aged 100 at Barton upon Humber. (J.S.) Jesse Foster aged 100 died at N. Cockerington (J.S.) Mrs. Elizabeth Cook aged 100 died at Deeping St. James (J.S.) Nov. 26 Edward Dowse aged 100 died at Louth. (J.S.) Mar. 30 Mrs. Gunnis aged 107 died at Kirkby Laythorpe (J.S.) Jan. 5 Ralph Wilson aged 100 died at Stamford Eleanor Carr and Elizabeth Spavins, both of Scamblesby, died aged 100 and 99 respectively (L.M. Vol. 1 No.4) 1829 Susannah Langley aged 104 died at Old Bolingbroke (L.M. Vol. 1 No.4) 1834 July Merrily Buckley aged 102 died at Gainsborough. She was a well known gypsy. 1836 John Gooderson, labourer, died aged 104 at Leake (L.M. Vol. 1 No.4) 1842 Elizabeth Butters of Market Stainton was living in good health at the age of 102 in 1842 (L.M. Vol. 1 No.4) 1896 Mary Burton died at Grimsby 12th February. She was a spinster, aged 103, and had been a bridesmaid at a wedding at Grimsby parish church at the age of 101 (L.M. Vol. 1 No.5) 1927 Mrs. Lucy Hackforth died September aged 104 and 10 months at Donington. (L.M. Vol. 1 No.5) I am sure that this list could be extended to an interminable length. Centenarians are now quite numerous. In the past they were far more remarkable. Apparently there is a tombstone in Roxby churchyard to Mrs. Markham, who died aged 107 - I do not know the date, but the information is in L.M. Vol. 1 No.5. Hannah Ross or Boswell, 'Queen of the Gypsies' died in Lincoln Union Workhouse in December 1849 aged 99 - she had entered the Union in 1844 when she was unable to wander with her people. According to L.M. Vol. 1 No.8 p. 272 Mrs. Guy, widow of John Guy, was buried at the age of 103 in the burying ground of Cowbit and Pyke Hall. The information came from a book published in 1848 - "Remarkable Events (etc) of Spalding (etc.)" No date of burial is given. The burial in 1722 of Adam Earratt aged 104 is recorded in the registers of Welton by Lincoln. No doubt family historians will find other examples in the course of their researches. It would be particularly interesting to learn of families which have unusual occurrence of longevity, as some seem to have. There are two sisters at Gainsborough at the present time who are over a hundred years old. TERENCE LEACH.