The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-04
MISS ELIZABETH D0RSETT.
TIE BURTIL or THE OLDEST INH1B-
IT.iNT or MIDDLETOHN, NJ ,.

Gov. BedIe's Aged Anccstor-Snid 20 Have
Convctscd with George Washington ~ Ina
ut the Age Of One Hundred and Two Years.
The funeral services over the remains "
Miss Elizabeth Dorsctt in the Baptist church Of
Mddlatown. n j.. yesterday morning. was be-
gun by singing Teach mo the measure Of my
DAVIS" The text OF the discourse was from job.
AN the days Of my appointed time will wait
lii my change COME " For many years. the
Rev. f. J. Foote began. " our friend lived on an
assured expectation Of what was to come. She
barely had her existence here. There was not
regret or sorrowful thought in any Chris
tian mind. under the bright sunshine of last
Sabbath morning when it was announced to us
that Aunt Betsy had gone up TO worship in the
beauty of holiness She was 1O2 years old. less
10 idays. having been born juno 15 l117. rs
Is undcniuby uttcsted hy the record in the fam
lily Bible inscribed boy her fathers own hand.
She was Graded amid the cangor 81 war. Sho
was ono year old at the battle Of Monmouth. and
her infaut eyes may have gazed on the red coats
Of the enemy IA they passed through Middle
town. Tho Roy. Abel Morgan preached in this
church on the morning OF the battle. 1t has
been said that she saw and conNcrsed with
Washington. This is probably not true. though
she wis II years old when he was innugnrut. d
a. President II a child born on the l5thuf the
pr son; juno should live n long rs she did. and
II the progress OF Christianity during its CEN
fury of Lie should be as rapid ~ II was during
her life, \ would live to SEQ every native Chris
Among the many relatives in the. congregn-
tlon was ex-Gov. Joseph Dorset Bedlr. His
mother Mrs Thomas |. Bede who was pres
ent with her husband. and whose golden wcd-
ding was drs rlbcd IN. THE SuN two years AMI a
half ago. Is niece II Miss Dorset. In the little
graveyard near the old Dorscu homestead
whore Aunt Betsy. as she was called 10y friends
and relatives alike. lived, lie buried five Joseph
Dorsctts fathers and sons through i've genera
lions; M were substantial farmers 1i Non
nudn l-'nn IT, having rmiErWed tntthcr nom
England ia order tO enjoy. without persecution
or annoyance. his BAPTIST Inih.. The last was
an only brother of Gov. Bellies mother. He
died when young man. without having been
married, Coy. Brdle named his son Joseph
Dorsett Btdl". Miss Dorset was cousin OF
Cert Dorset Wall. United States senator from
New Jersey, whose daughter married the late
two more direct descendants Of the Dorset
family ara To be- buried in the little graveyard.
md then IL will be closed. The church in which
Miss Dorset was christcncd. and from which
She was buried was founded in lGss. For many
years she lived with Miss Nancy Dorset. the
ago. when she WINS - years Of age. she went To-
live with her niece. Mrs. Ezra Osborn, In the
course Oh time. Mrs. Osborn md her husband
died at a ripe age ana after that she cuGtiuuci
TO live with her two grand nieccs. Their chill
dren. until their dea'hi she was % years 81
age when her niece Mrs Ezra Osborn was
born. She saw her married. WIS ~ her golden
Wedding and attend ii her funeral, though she
dyed to be 40 yours of age The only
relics II her childhood now in existence are a
singing boob copied in ink ~ her mother. and
valentine which she received when she was
II years old. The valentine ia nm elaboEately
folded paper. on which several hearts in red
ink ara repres, nted "a pierced with darts. 4m-
passiOned verses are illustrated with pictures
OF clouds. houses. and trees. ali being very
clevcrly drawn. though apparently 10y an anna
teur, in col0rcd INKS. A large red heart. in
red ink. was so drawn on the outside OF the
valentine that II was necessarily broken when
the missivc was opened. Attention is drawn 10
this TACT by a couplci inside. When Miss Dor
Beit received this valentine she was teased 80
much about itthut she wept-ninety years ngo
Among the stories told OF Miss Dorset father
In the village, Is ono That Iust before she was
born some tories entered his house and took
him prisoner. In such haste We're they that
which. howe yer. was thrown after HIM by a WOO
man that was attending his wife He was
brought To New YORK nud locked up IN the old
Sugar House prison. IL is further related that
away had three sons who were on terms Of in
tmacy with some British officers. Ho WAS
friend OF her father. and told his sons that un.
less they could procure his release he would
ashore beyond the British lines on Sandy Hook
whence he made his way. after narrow escup,
from being shot by al American picket. 10 his
home, anu then for tue first time greeted hi'
child
When Miss Dorsett's grand nephew was
elected Governor. his picture in an illustrated
journal WAS shown to hrr. She recognized il
though her sight was falling her. Her remark
was that Joseph was always q nice boy, and
now he'd been made Governor
Though in her Inter years Miss Dorset {
eight and hear ng were imperfect she retained
her reason 10 the last. When on her centennial
birthday many presents were brought TO hen
she said that one thing hat been forgotten
That was "A pair Of sp'ttgr!os that woul cuahl'
her 10 see them. She died uainlessly. Of III,
slow wasting away OF her vitality.