Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-05-24
A MAN OF 4 HUNDRED YEARS.

AMAN OF 4 HUNDRED YEARS.
A correspondent of the Worcester Mass. }
H,pis. has recently attended the celebration of
the hundredth birthday of Melatiah Mason, at
Thompson, Com He gives the following inter-
esting account Otlt:-
never before had seen person hundred
wears old. This singular novelty created an IN
terest not less singular. much heightened, no doubt
by the circumstance that this old man, and my
little boy, who was with me, constituted the ex-
tremes of five generations. The occasion call
ed together quite concourse of the old gentle
mans posterity, friends and neighbors and towns
men. and appropriate religious services were had
at the Baptist Church in Thompson, Elder Grow
preached from Cd Timothy, s. 6, 7, and g.
!. For am now ready to be offered, and the time
of nv departure is at hand,' &c. The preacher
stated that the old gentleman had, for three score
years and ten. been professor of religion-that
the number of his surviving children was six
grand children, -three-great grand children,
about an hundred and fifty, besides number of
great.great-grand children. Several branches Of
the old gentIeman's family are settled in this
commonwealth. Among others is the large fami
lv of Whites in NOrthbridge, and the family OF
DR.. Billiard, of Sutton.
After the religious exercises Of the occasion
were over, endeavored to ascertain by what
means, under God, in whom he had early put his
trust, this man of an hundred years had managed
to live so long in the world. He informed that
he was born at Rehoboth; that he was brOughtup
to the tssde of a mason, and continued to work
at il more or less, until he was eighty years old
That when young, he married a worthy woman,
by the name of Rebecca Miller, by whom he had
twelve Children, and whom he buried but few
wears ago. lie said he always worked hard
had frequently walked ten miles in the morning,
and then done his days work.
Upon being questioned as to his mode ofliving.
he modesty said he had always aimed to be tenn
perate--that when he used to work hare, he drank
little spirit-but never used tobacco in any ncdy
once in while he smoked a lille for amuse-
ment-bm neuer q pipe FIJI at a time. He is
person small IN stature-thick set-and has to
this day good head of HAIR, and fine bright
eye. The most striking characteristic Of his
mind, was that of equdnanity and cheerfulness.
find herein. undoubtedly, consists tie main Sc
cret by Dhich The subtle machinery ofife has
been so long kept IN motion.
-sseoe9sS-
Rons the Rochester Daily .fdrertiser.
VIcIssrrUDEs OF LIFE.-An incident of sin
eular character occurred in this vicinity lately.
The Rev. Mr.. Whitehouse, Pastor of ST.
Luke's jEpiscopaD Church, in Rochester. was
Informed, while in discharge of his duties in the
town of Brighton, that two young girls, the off:
spring of Minister of the English Church, were
in very destitute condition in that neghbor-
hood. Further inquiry resulted in finding them
in the wretched shanty of some colored people.
This was briefly their story
Their father, tie Rev. Mr.. Barlow. was
Clergyman of the English Church-was native
of Observation-Disclosures curate in the Island
of Jamaica, whence he emigrated to New-York,
and afterwards to Rochester. The family resid-
ed in Buffalo-street where the wife died, leaving
the two girls in the charge of her husband. He
purchased some land in Brighton, about four
miles from Rochester, where he erected miser-
cradle log hut. At his death. the girls Zone
IA the other 8 years. were left to the mercy of
the negro family, who did all in their power to
alleviate their misery. They were brought to
this place by the Rev. Mr.. Whitehouse: and
were taken in charge by Mr.. Harry Edy, who is
taking measures for restoring them to their rela-
tives in England, where, it is stated. property
estimated at between $4,000 and $4,000 will
be theirs. The elder girl is unusually inteIIi-
gent The calamities which have befallen their
family is understood to be attributable to intern
perance in the unhappy father.
Nv, n-Ioooo Ncl~