The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-06

adventure, aad mest Of thsss assseia&isA which
render biography geawally attractive, OF inlor-
tant ~ portion Of history.
| JOHN BATrM
Wa born In Bristol England, On the second Of
| February, l762, Of respectable parentsss. Being
Of an adveAturous disposition, he left homo ct
an early sge, and entered the British army; 70
ceiving, after time, the appointment Of oernet, in
which capacity he was attached to the troops or
dered to North America under General Howe. in
l776 To this service was allotted very powerful
force, consisting of about 30 900 men, and far
perior to anything heretofore 10 America. The
troops were amply provided with artillery, military
stores, and warke materials Of every kind and wore
supported by numerous feet, under tho command
| Of Lord Howe, brother Of the General. Tho
| British feet, with the army, arrived in New York
Bay in June, l776, and landed on Long Island
| in August following Mr. Battin was, Of course,
present at the battle of Long Island, and at the
subsequent entry of the British army into the city
| of New York. Hero he remained with the corps to
| which he was attached, and We believe was not
subsequently, employed in any action against the
| Americans during the war of the revolution. At
the clese of the he awaited himself OF tho privi
ege granted him, to retire from the army and re-
main In Americs He then took up his residence
in this city, ar shortly afterwards opened public
house on the English plan, at the corner Of John
and Nassau streets. This inn or tavern, and sub
| sequeptly boarding house in Nassau street, he
continued to keep until after the close of the of
1912 In 1917 we end Mr.. Batrin in the retail dry
goods and hosiery business in Greenwich street,
which trade is still continued in the same location
or neighborhood by his son. and the subject of this
sketch there resides with his family. When Mr.
Battin kept The small public house i'll Nassau street,
Thomas Hodgklnson kept the Shakespeare, at the
corner of Nassau and Fulton; Bardin was the land
Lore Of the Tontine Coffee House, Gibson Of the
~ ~nfW noht n1tn Hall
The last was afterwards kept by McIntre Thee,
and others in various occupations, Mr. Battin has
outlived during his long career and resid ence or
acquaintance, ofseventy five yearsin this city. Ho
has seen this metropolis pass through the various
vicissiiudes of It's history, from q population of
twenty thousand, at the time OF the revolutionary
war, to its present magnitude, and is now, doubt
less, the only survivor OF those who were his ootem
| poraries, when be lar ded on our shores in I776
The personal habits Of Mr.. Battin have been Of
the character which, it is well known, are calcu-
| lated TO prolong life. medical author, on the
subject OF the duration o.! human life, remarks
| aud well proportional aure, without being too
tall. He is rather Of the middle size, aud his com
plexion is not too aorid. His appetite is good and
digestion easy He eats slowly, and has not too
much thirst. In general he is serene, active, sus-
ceptibe OF JOY, love, and hope his passions
become too violent or destructive. lie is fond,
also, OF employment, requiring calm meditation
ard agreeable speculatioDs; q friend to natural
affections and domestic el,cIty has no thirst after
honcrs or riches, but is satisfied with his lot"
These charaote ristics We believe, in general will
| apply to Mr.. Battin, who, 1t may be further
marked, is in person Of the middle sixe, which Sir
John Sinclair says is favorable to longevity In his
old age no has paid the greatest attention to exsr
Disc. Our citizens who have frequented the Dat
| lect meeting Mr.. Rattin in his regular morning
walks dressed in the costume Of the old school Of
| EDgilfh gentlemen, and giving evidence Of his
fondneEs for exercise and habits Of early rising by
/ hin do hu orlso ak
Ts4Ieners OF that place; and always attracting at
| teDtion as the relic of former gen GRAFTON. We
learn nothing remarkable respecting his habits With
regard to diet, except that he has been always
| temperate without being abstemious, and regular
il hIs meals and hours OF retire Dent. He has been
| twice married, and has had large family Of
| children.
KRAsrUs PERKINS
Issa native of Norwich, Connecticut, where he
now resides, and was born on the 18th of February
1852. On reaching his centennial birth day on
TueEdsy last, large assembsge Of his connec-
tions and friends met at Norwich, and cengratu-
lsted him on the event. He received no less than
ole hundred and sixty five calls from his friends
during the day, AID was in excellent health and
spirits. His memory is remarkably correct, and
hs was enabled to relate many anecdotes of tn >
times Of and subsequent to the American Revolu-
ton, connected with his own experience and other
wise. Indeed, his memory reaches back to the
period anterior to the revolution, and many events
connected with the times of the Stamp Act excite
ents fam iisr to his recollection, He has had
largo family, and is now the oldest of I've gene
rstions, all Of whom are liying-all the first born
Of theif parents all born on Sunday, and all bear.
| irg the same name.
Mr. Perkins is Of an old New England family, in
| which there have been many cases of longevity.
They enigrated from Gloucestershire, in England,
to America, with of the frat settlers of Massa
chusets. An extensive branch Of the family settled
In Norwich and vicinity, and became distinguish
cd for their enter prise, and generally for their suc
in life rs agricultariss, also IS mercautis, and
] profes siopal men. Some Of the most eminent OF
the medical profession have borne the name of
Perkins; ard the nnnfcent, public beneia'tcrs OF
| Boston, James and Thomas II Perkins, whose for.
tunes were accumpla led by commerce, are well
Known to stand conspicuous for their enterprise and
noble charities. Jacob Perkins, of Newburyport,
Massachusetts, is pre-. eminent the list Of Amer
can inventors, and his reputation was equally high
| In England and in the United States, during his
long career OF ingenuity and practical usefulness
| Mr.. Ersstus Perkins was bred to mercantile pur-
suits, and during the war OF the Revolution be-
came connected with the Connecticut troops raised
fol the cefence OF New Nork, by being attached to
! the conmitsaIy department; lie furnished supplies
| for the Norwich regiment commanded by Colonel
anp gton, but did not himself bear arms In the
service After the war, no resumed commercial
business, End for many years was master OF one Of
the packet sloops between Norwich and New York
FOR tnree years nc acted Is inspector OF the
Customs the port Of Norwich, for the district OF
New London. He was always engaged IN active
business until his advanced aged compelled him to
refine. Possessed Of an even and quiet temper,
when has enabled him to keep at peace with the
world around him, of active business habits, and
blessed with uninterrupted good health, which has
been promoted by his regular uniformity of life,
without airy marked popularity of diet or abssemi-
ousness, he has passed through long career with
fever caaInites sorrows tnan fall TO the lot OF
most men. lie has at the same time been
| close observer of men and things, always
taking an active pnrt in politics and other ques-
tiors Of the day, as they have arisen. In person,
| Mr. Perkins is of middle stature, ard some what
| coIpnlent. Until bis advanced age impaired his
activity, Le was accustomed TO mach exercise, and
his walk nd movements rapid, evinciDs energy
| and coed health. He is the drst man WHO has
reached the ego OF 100 years in the town Of Nor.
! rich In 1872 however, lady Mrs LsthroD)
! died in ihar town, AZ the remarkable age OF l03.
| noctor joseph Perkins also Of Norwich, died IN