The Portland daily press., 1870-11-18

nihr' Veneer ,h'h peftnni OH q hi len IL
tn 'e our miii that cJunect The present
oe..prativn directly with the early settlers Of
the town, has been gathered in by the Great
Reaper, and another family name that was
familiar to the people of the last century, has
entirely passed away.
Hannah Thorlo, the last survivor of family
of seven children, died in this city on Tuesday
last at the age of 95 years She was the
fourth daughter OF Capt. John Chorlo, ship
master, who came here from Newbury. Mass,
previous to 1850. He was a descendent of
Richard Thorlo, one of the early settlers of
Rowley, Mass, who moved to Newbury in 1861.
her mother was Rebecce, the eighth child Of
oohn waite, who had family of ten children,
through whom the names of Rogers, Gooding,
Shattuck, Minot and Motley have been pre-
served here. Ann, one of Capt. Therlo's daught-
ers and sister Of the deceased, married Capt.
John Wildrage, whose descendeots are still
living here. Fanny, the youngest, married
Capt Thomas Lewis, whose two unmarried
daughters have occupied with the deceased the
house now standing on the site of the original
family mansion. Capt. Thorlo died in April,
1905, aged 67. His wife died June, 13, 1798-
Col. John, the oldest brother of Mrs. Thorlo,
was an officer in the Revolutionary army and
for thirty four years Sheriff of Cumberland
County.
Hannah, the subject of the sketch, was born
Oct. IL, 1775 in house built by her father on
the northerly side of Fore street. two lots east
of India. On the 14th day of the same month
she was baptised in old st. Paurs church. The
town was then threatened by the British fleet.
Two days after the family left Portland and re-
tired to Pride's bridge. On the 18th the town
was burned by Mowatt, ,and among the buildings
destroyed were the Thorlo homestead and the
church referred to. In 1884 Capt. Thorlo re-
turned to Portland and rebuilt his house on the
old spot. This house stood until 184S when it
wastorn down and replaced by the present
one, and for more than hundred years this
property has remained in this family; fact
which has few parallels in this city.
In the great fire of 1866 Miss Thorlo, then in
extreme age, and not expected to bear the fa-
tigue of the removal, was carried TO the resi-
dence OF a friend on Bracket street to escape
from the terrible disaster which threatened her
home. The danger past, she returned the next
day; and this and he interval previously
mentioned, are the only interruptions to con-
tinued residence of more than ninety-five years
upon the same spot Miss Thorlo was wo-
man of unusual mental ability, and many of
our older citizens may remember her as prom
inent and accomplished singer in her youth
especially of sacred music, in which she par
ticularly delighted. She was also 'well-read
Church-woman, and long after her sight failed.
her memory supplied her with almost all the
contents of the Prayer Book verbatim. She
was, of course, unable to attend church for a
long time previous to her death, but the Prayer
Book and Bible were her constant study, and
on one occasion last year, when she was visited
by Bishop. Nicely and Rev. Mr.. Root,
and received the Holy Communion at
their hands, she expressed her great
qualification at the privilege she enjoy
ed. Before leaving her, they sang at her
request, one of the favorite tunes of her youth,
"Hotham, Jesus, Saviour of my SOUL" which
gave her much happiness. She retained her
faculties to an unusual degree, up to within
six months, Her hearing never failed her, and
it was only for the last three months pre-
ceding her death that she was at all helpless.
Her life went out calmly and sweetly at last,
without pain or regret as gently as the ripple
of summer sea upon the shore.
The funeral will take place at II O clock this
forenoon from st. Paurs Church. Her former
pastor, Rev. Mr.. Dalton, will take part in the
services. Friends are invited to attend.