LONGEVITY RECORDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19792, 12 November 1927, Page 2 (Supplement)

LONGEVITY RECORDS.

TWO GENERATION RECORDS.

SOME REMARKABLE SPANS.

PERIOD OF 187 YEARS.

LIFE UNDER TEN SOVEREIGNS,

Some wonderful records in connection with longevity of two generations have been revealed as a result of the publication in London of the fact that the lives of tho first and second Earls of Leicester, father and son, covered a period of nearly 157 years, from May, 1752,- to January. 1909. The of the World, in which this was published, asked, this a record V A reader has forwarded an authentic statement taken from "Historical Gleanings, Bolton and District," published in 1881. This eclipses the 'record of the Earls of Leicester, and reads as follows:

"James-Horrocks, of Bfadshaw Chapel, near Bolton, Lancashire, died on Sept. 1. 1844, aged 100 years live months and six days. His father was born in 1657, he being 86 years old when his son James Wa3 born. Father and son,between them, therefore, covered a period of 187 years. They lived, during a period commencing in the Commonwealth, and embracing ten sovereigns, viz., Charles 11., James 11., William 111., Anne, the four Georges. William IV., and Queen Victoria." It is also pointed out that the Dowager Lady Carew,, born in 1798, danced at -the Waterloo Ball, and did not die until November, Her father, Major Anthony Cliffe, was born in 1734, 167 years before his daughter's death. The two lives extended from the days of George 11. to those of Edward VII. The paper has received a largo number of letters from readers in connection with the question which family can claim to hold the record.

Other Striking Instances. ■ Writing from YVinton, Bournemouth, Mr. W. L. JTayward points out that there resides in the same village the 86-year-old daughter of Mrs. Durham, who lived to Ijo 103 years. "My husband is 87, and his father died aged 84," says Mrs. Mary Garrison, of Sheffield. "My greatuncle, William Ozanne, of Castel, Guernsey, 'the grand old man' of the Channel Islands," says D. N. Bongourd, "was born on July 12, 1832, and his son, William Ozanne, was born On October 27, 1856, making a total of 165 years and ten months." The father celebrated his 95th- birthday on July 12. "Notwithstanding his great age," the writer adds, "he is in excellent health and possesses all his faculties. Up to 80 years of ago he used to bake his bread in the good old-fashioned way, \»th furze fire." "My mother, who is Mrs, B. Sweet, of writes B, Sweet, of Tewkesbury, "is now 97. . Her eldest daughter, Mrs. Teal, of Dumbleton, is 73."—"Living at Dymock, Gloucestershire," says another correspondent, "is a grand old gentleman, aged 95 years, and his oldest son is 73. Up to a few years ago the old squire rode regularly with the Ledbury hounds, and was as upright as a dart." * •

: ' Fivo Generations. Mr. Fairey, of Leicester, who was 72 in September, rejoices in the fact that his father, who is living in 'Manchester, has celebrated his, 95th birthday.

"My grandfather, Mr. A. (sheney, of Cublington, Buckinghamshire," says Mr. E S. Broomfield, of Highgate, "will celebrate his 95th birthday at .Christmas. His eldest son is 72, and he has also got a great-great grapdson, aged seven. This is five generations." Mr. May, of Folkestone, wrote: "My father died, aged 83 years and nine months, in February, 1907. lam now 82 years and three months old."

"My father's age and mine total 163 years," says Mr. A. C. Bonner, of Exeter, and Mr. Alfred Davies, of Begelly, states that the united ages of his father and himself amount to 162 years.—A similar claim is also made by Mrs. J. Pugh, of Bishopstone, Swanshill, Hereford, in regard to her mother, who is 91, and her eldest sister.