Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-08-25
resided in London. nearly twenty having
been spent In the same house.

resided in London, nearly twenty having
been spent In the same house.
But the principal point Of interest about
this case Is that David jenkins Is the
great grandson OF Henry jenkins, who
would have considerably puzzled disbe.
livers in centenarianism. if any existed
in his time, for he lived 10 the patriarchal
age of 166 years. The best account oi
this venerable old man is that given by
Mrs. Saville, lady Of position, who
resided in Boltson. Yorkshire. whore
Henry Jenkins also lived. when /
came to Bolston." says she, 81 was told
several particulars Of the great ago oil
Henry jenkins; but l believed littlo
of the story for many years" Ose day,
however, he happened to call Tor some
assistance, when she-'desired him 10 tell
her truly how old he was. He paused q
little, and then said that TO the best oil
his knowledge. he was 162 or 1863; and L
asked, what king he rememberedP He
said Henry VIII. inquired what pub
lie event he could longest remember He
said Flodden Field. | asked whether the
king was there He said, No; he was
10 France, and the Earl OF Surrey was
general. asked him, how old he might
have been then ? He said, | believe |
might have been between 10 and l2; for.
added he, i was sent to Northallerton with
horse load OF arrows, but they sent n
bigger boy from thence 10 the army with,
them. All this agreed with the history
of that time; Tor bows and arrows were
then used, the Earl was named General
and King Henry VIII was then at Taur'
nay. II is observable that jenkins could
neither read nor write. There were
several old men in The same parish. some
reputed TO be nearly 100 years old, but
they all said that jenkins was an eledrly
man ever since they knew him. lie told
me. too, that he was butler 10 the Lord
Cony ers. aud remembered the Abbot OF
Fountains Abbey very well. before the
dissolution of the monasteries."
Henry jenkins died Oh December sth,
| 1870, ut Ellerton-on-Swale in Yorkshire.
The battle at Flodden Field was fought
September 9th, 1913. so that. assuming
that he was ~ years old at the time, he
lived to the "amazing age OF l69.' Gas
was stated on q monument subsequently,
erected to his memory by a subscription
amongst the inhabitants OF Bolston), and
thus attained to l6 years longer existence
than old Parr.
need not discuss the question, whether
he really reached the age OF l69 or
whether he died few years under that
period. 1t is sufficient for the purpose ol
this note that he lived longer than any
other person whose case has been
automatically put on record since the
commencement OF the Christian Era.
OF Henry jenkins descendants the par.
ticulars are, rs might be expected from
their humble position. only slight; but
there is no room for doubt upon one point,
viz that they were all long livers. David
Jenkins tells me that his grandfather was
very old man at the time of his death
and that his father died at The age OF 93,
from the effects oi rupture through
oyerslraining himself in his work rs q
chair maker. Had il not been for this
accident he would probably have become
centenaiian; and we sec that. de,plte
of poor David Jenkins having to confer nd
with the drawbacks OF bitter poverty
rendered none the less poignant by The
fact that, years ago, he succeeded in ele'
vating himself into position OF comfort
and independence as 4 master tradesman'
which he subsequently lost Though q
series of unavoidable nlisiortunes-he has
attained The great age Of 9S, in the full
possession of his faculties, and Tree use
oil his limbs. with every prospect OF living
many years longer, ii he should not be
crushed under the heavy weight OF adver'
sity.
Surely in The history OF this family
there is enough TO show that DR.. Allen
was not mistaken in his views upon the
importance of hereditariness in connection
with the subject of longevity.