Litchfield enquirer., 1858-10-28
A CENTEN ARIAN

A CEN 1 FIN 4 KHAN.
 We published, says the Republican Standard an item few days since in regard to the age of Mrs. Denton, of Wilton, though we believe the name given was Nash'') We find the following partic ulars of the early history of this lady in the Nor walk Gazette which is probably furnished by the occasion spoken of:
 A CENrENARlAN.-On Sunday, Oct. 10th, 1S5S Mrs. Sarah Denton, reiict of the late Benjamin Denton, Of Wilton, reached the ex- treme age of one hundred years. For num- Der of years Mrs. D. has lived ia the family Of Mr. Samuel Abbott of Ridgetield Mrs Ab- bolt being her daughter. At the anniversary of her hundredth year, according to previous arrangement, large company of relatives, ac- quaintances, and others interested in seeing Q person wlo has lived so long, assembled at the residence of Mir. Abbott to improve tie occa- sion by appropriate religious exercises. An ap- 1 prorlate hymn was sung, and prayer was of 1 fercd by Air Woolley, of Ridyelicld After ! the singing of another hymn, discourse was delivered by Rev. Albert Nash, presiding eI- der of the New Haven district, from John xvii, l5. "I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world"
 The sermon was made up of suggestions up- on tue reasous and advantages of prolonged life.
 Mir. Nash has been connected with the fam l fly by the marriage of a granddaughter who dled about twenty years since. The following facts and statistics were given to the audience /: Mrs, Denton's maiden name was Sarah Mid dlebrook she was the youngest of family of nine children her fathers name was Michael Mlddlebrook /; her mothers maiden name was A ba Somers she was born at house which stood OH tEe south side of the road near ol,- posite a Louse recently built by Mir. Jonathan 1 MIddlebrook, of Wilton. The site of the house was near an old pear-trce which still stands like our venerable friend, living mon- ument of another generation. She was mar ri,d to Mir Benjamin Denton sevcnty-Gve years ago last June lie died about twenty-four ears silce and therefore he lived with her about ffty-one years. She had seven children, of whom three have deceased tie eldest HOW living is nearly seventy-tWo years of age, and really looks as though she might be only fty five the youngest child is tty-nine years of age she has also had forty-one grand-chll dren, fty-eight great grandchildren, and ten great, great grandchildren, making an aggre- gate of one hundred and sixteen of these tweuty-four have d!ed leaving of surviving de- scendants, nincty-two.
 Mrs. D. became partaker of saving grace and united with the Wilton Congregational Church under the pasorate of Rev. Mr Wood- Ward, about seventy years since. For many years and until quite recently, when change of sight has prevented she was d faithful and | nF aud top iniIarlty with their contents is truly remark able. Her piety has been intelligent, deep and remarkably even. Her character is mark cd by great selcommand, wisdom and benev- olence She has borne the iulirmites of age with great mcckness aud patience ; and has hitherto been so far from all the peculiartics of second childhood, as to make all necessary attentions paid to her, a sincere pleasure. Her memory remains so vigorous that she Will re- peat correctly aud without hesitation several consecutive verses of Watts psalms or hymns, and long passages of scrl ture, inteIspers ed with reflections of her own. After the dis course was delivered, and the foregoing and other facts stated, the sacrament was admins tered to Mrs D. and to individual members of the famiy. The doxoogy and benediction closed the sery ces, after which the concourse of people assembled. amounting to about two thousand persons, passed through the house, and looked upon the face of the venerable wo- man. Many of these took her by the haud i; while she couverscd on various subjects. A pleasant recognition was given to many ac- quantances, whom she had not met before in many years, and of her friends not one seemed to be forgotten. May her end be as peaceful and triumphant as her life has been pure and beautiful.