The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-14
OLDER THAN THE REPUBLIo.
A Connecticut Woman who has Lived NoarIl
One Hundred ana six Years.

from me NelO Udrcn he0tSter
Three miles northwest of Greenwich
within the borders OF the town, dwelis the old
est woman in New England, aud wi hOut doubt
the most advanced IN Years OF any III the United
States. the name OF this most remarkable
woman ia Mrs. Ira Mead, born IN Greenwich,
according to reliable records. the stitcmenfs ~
friends. and her own statement, on Aug. rs, l''O,
IN an old house long since replaced NV a more
modern structure at point wllhln stone 5
throw of the New York and New II wen Railroad
track, north OF the y ssenger station. sue has
passed her long life, win tho exception Of one
year, the wear lolU, i've years after ner marriage
with Mr. Mead, IN Greenwich, Before that pc
Rod sue had never gone outside the town limits,
and since. during nearly seventy six wears, she
hos Kept the even tenor of her way" satisfied
to remain among her children and Their descend
ants Mrs. Meals maiden name was Nancy
Mnrshall-her fathers name Thomas Masrhall,
the latter attained great age, were natives OF,
lived, died, and were Duried IN Groenwich. Mr..
Marshall took part In the defence OF his country
during the revolution, though not us regularly
enlisted soldier ana his grave and its All lquated
tombstone In tue old cemetery on Pdtnam
Heights are often visited by those fostering as
sUciduons OF the early history OF this place.
For more than thnty years past Mrs. Mead mas
lived at the house Of MIR. Joseph jefferson, not
the actor but genial Rentlem N well known to
everybody In Greenwich. Mrs. Jefferson. her
self nearly nifty years Of age, great niece OF
Mrs. Mead, has had the care of tn aged lady.
In an upper room OF the house Mrs. Mead has
made her nome for more than i've ears, never
having left IL to go into adl Jiuing rooms or to
descend To tine floor below since her one hum
urelth birthday In August, 1870. she takes
ptiue IN stating that she never has experienced
uay OF actual bodily sickness. Her eyes, OF
lieht gray, are as bright as when she was but
sixteen, and she Is able to sec plainly without
tho aid OF spectaCles. For n person VINO has
passed her lUOth yer, her momOry Is wonder
fully retentive, and she can n,rrate events In
her own WY, and using her own UeCuilnr Ian
| guage. which happened when the grand parents
| OF most OF the Greenwch residents were chill
dren AT times sine is talnaiive, and will answ
readily questions put to her In regard 10 the
past. Again. the tire ads Of her memory seem
| to be broken, and the closest questioning by
those most ntlilr fail to draw Satisfactory an
swefs. For many We lrs she mas been anli ted
| with an almost addei's Dizziness. she never saw
Gen. Washington, though she was thirteen
years old wncn peace was declared, TWEEN y-two
| when Washington was ell cted President, and
\ twenty-nlne when he uled but she remCin bef-
| ell distinctly when WASHINGTON passed through
| the village with MS retiuue. Mrs Mead aus
| band h al seen Washington often. fought under
| him, and, after restoration " pea q ana the
adoption Of the COn.ttutI N, ctsta vO.o for him
| a, his FIRST ana second elections.
Mrs. Mead 81 Tins to remember Gen. Israel
Pu nam, ana says she often attended tue churcn,
when ~he was child, the steps II winch be-
| Q me famous In connection WITH Putin ms well
known DARING feat. Mrs. Mead h ner family
BtUle, printed III EdtuOutRh, which she bas
possessed and read e,ghty-uye years. She re IDS
but seldom III IL now, and her extreme deafness
prevents her lie ring what others IA ~ read Tor
her. On tle page containing the family record
appears the following:
Ira Mead was born Oci TO- A D., 1900, and was mar
rlcd " Nancy Marshal, June 1 1875.
Among other curious things OF the past which
Mrs. Mead has preserved aud which nave come
down with her 10 the present generation as me
mentOt :, are "A chair ia which she sat Tor more
than seventy years aud which belonged to her
mother auu Grandmother; spiunng wheel, wool
carder, aud dist once operated by herself
quaint stone china sugar bowl ana mix cuu
made la England, ana Sl1.5J in COutinental
money.