The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-10-09
One Hundred Years Old.

Wednesday last the PRESS published the
birthday celebration of William Thompson of
Limington, a centenarian born in Portland A
correspondent furnishes the following fuller
account of the interesting exercises on the oc-
cason:
Centenarians are in these days far more rare
than centennials and therefore call for more
than a passing mehtion.
The occasion that brought together the rela-
tives and friends of VIM. Thompson, Esq, on
Thompson's Hill in Limington, on Monday,
Oct. 4th, furnished a scene the like of which
will rarely have parallel, even in these cen.
tennial days.
Mr.. Thompson was born in the old town of
Falmouth on what is now Exchange street,
Portland, new No. 49, The first remarkable
event of his life was a cradle ride of sixteen
miles to Windham. Fourteen days after he
saw light the word come from Mowatt that the
town would be destroyed, land twenty-four hours
only being given to provide for the safety of
the women and children, this caused his hasty
retreat to Windham, where he remained until
eleven years of age. During this time his
mother died, and he never saw his father who
was lost at sea- At eleven he bound himself
out to Capt. Joseph Tyler, who kept him until
he was twenty-three, as he did not know his
age, but found out by sister afterward that
came from Boston having the old Family Rec
ord. During the time he was learning his
trade he lived in Standish, then Limlngton.
The old gentleman says that the indenture
binding him was two and half feet long, run
ming measure, and among the provisions was
one that he should not kiss girl except
through glass, the only one which he declares
he did not faithfully keep. This interesting
document was burned with his house in May,
1885, when he lost all his home contained. Mr..
Thorn pson was married to Mary Small of Linn
ington, who died in 1876 at the age of sixty-six
years, and moved where he now lives seventy
years ago. BY her he had six children. Four
are now living in Maine, descendants from
whom we find men of note in Boston, New
York, Baltimore, New Orleans and Chicago.
Five distinct generations sat in one body at the
table. Observation-Disclosures of the fifth
generation there are three. One hundred and
thirty six gathered around one table, with the
aged man occupying the most prominent chair,
Immediately after which Rev. X. d. Osg0od
approached him bearing beautiful cake. In
few words he drew attention to the ornaments
worked upon it, W. T., 1775, 1875 and 100, and
then presented it in behalf of grand. child,
Mrs. Abel Sanborn of Fryeburg.
Rev. Mr. Lord of Limerick being called upon
took Mr.. Thompson by the hand and said,
BRO. Thompson, the loaf of cake you hold has
made and presented by one of your grand
daughters who feels, as we all feel, that moth
ing is too good for a relative and friend whose
age embraces century. My eyes for the frs t
time look upon man of hundred years. We
have come here to-day to congratulate you in
view of the Heavenly Fathers goodness, which
has spared your life so long and made it
blessing to yourself and others. We re oice
with you that you are surrounded with SO
many who regard you with the deepest interest
and will think of you affectionately in the fu-
ture, as they have done in the past. We VEN
crate you as an aged man. We most cheerfully
yield our hearty consent to the Divine COM
mand, Thou shalt rise up before the hoary
head and honor the face of an old man. But
especially do we venerate and love you as a
christian man and feel the force of the inspired
declaration, The hoary head is crown of
glory if it be found in the way OF righteous
ness Pleasant to US is the thought that yours
is religious old age and that you now have
the support and comfort which are the result
of your early making God your trust and con-
secrating yourself to his service. We are
thankful that you can review the past with so
much satisfaction, that your present sources of
enjoyment are SO deep and permanent, and
that your future prospects are SO cheering.
w ait patiently on the Lord, be of good courage
and he will make your strength equal to your
day and help you to bear the intimites of the
body, and at length take you to world where
our love and Joy shall be perfect and eternal"
The venerable and venerated Mr.. Thompson
then arose and addressed the relatives, saying
religion is love and exhorting them to love
each other, closing by repeating the declaration
of Christ, God SO loved the world, &c ,"
Mr.. Lord then added, "The spirit of languae Q
of our brother reminds me of what history has
recorded of the beloved disciple and aged apos-
tie John. When unable to preach on account of
bodily infrmities, it is said he would repeat the
words, Little children, love one another