National Republican., 1883-07-09
DEATH OF FOLDAUNTP0LLY.
4 Member Of the Methodist Church for More
Than Ninety Years
She was Born in IT77 ana Claimed 90
Have Waited on Washington.

"old Aunt Polly" cclored woman who
had reaclfed the remarkable age Of LOG years,
died Saturday morning at her homo in the
alley between Sixth, Seventh, l., and M
streets Her name was Mary Peel but she
was known by everybody as "Auut Polly"
She was born In Bladensburg, Nd, In May,
1777, and was Of pure Guinea stock, an
African race noted for the hardness and
longevity Of its people. She was born free,
her mother having also been free. She had o
distinct recollection of seeing Con. Washing
ton and waiting on him about the end of the
revolutionary war, and saw him many times
afterward. IL was one Of hor greatest de-
lights to recount tho events Of hor early lifo
when she used to sec the soldiers marching
and hear the guns firing. When she was 20
years Of age she married q man named Bacon,
by whom she had two children. Her hus-
band died in 1920, and shortly after
Methodist preacher. By the latter hus-
band she had five children, three
of whom are now living in Washington. oil
daughters now women of advanced age, with
numerous children. One Of her sons was in
the war Of 1879. Her last husband died
twenty-five years ago, and Of late years she
has been living with her son-in-law, VIM.
H. Posey, respectable colored citizen of
Washington. For ninety years she has been
member of the Methodist church, and al
ways noted for hcr piety and charity. She
was devoted attendant at Asbury church on
Eleventh and X streets, and up to two weeks
ago. when she took to bed, IL is said that she
never missed going TO church at least once
every Sunday for the last three quarters Of q
century. Her health was never interrupted
during her entire life. She never had "a
spell of sickness" Of any sort, and it said that
she never had even q slight fever. Her in
dustry was proverbial, washing and ironing
being her usual employment, though about
forty years ago she established dairy on l.
street, which she ran for some time. She
formerly owned house and lot, but was
swindled out of IL In some way by professed
friend. This misfortune weighed heavily on
the old lady's mind, and she frequently COM
planned of her bad luck. Generally, however,
she was gay aud cheerful. She did not use
tobacco in any shape. Her physical faculties
were unimpaired to the last moment. She had
grown thin and bopy, and the shriveled skin
hung in wrinkles on her face, but her hearing
was acute, and in describing her voice her
son-in-law said: "Why, sir, she had voice
like lion." Her teeth were good to the last,
though much worn, and she never wore spec
tacles. She could thread needle US quickly
as young girl.
About year ago she began to grow child
ish, and for several months before her death
her mind wandered constantly over the
scenes of her childhood, and she talked of
things that happened century ago as if they
were the affairs of yesterday. Two weeks
ago she went to bed because she was too weak
to sit up. Saturday morning at o'clock she
woke her daughter and told her she was dy-
ing. 1t was not believed that the old
woman was in any immediate danger, but
Aunt Polly" insisted that her time had come
The angels we're there, she said waiting for
her, and she could see them hovering over
her bed. She wanted her grandchildren
brought to her so she might tell them good
by. After an afiectionate farewell and some
good advice given to the children, she peace
fully expired, without struggle. It was
simply death from green old age-the ma
chine had worn out.
She will be buried to-day at 9 o'clock
The funeral services will be held at Asbury
church, and the remains will be inferred in
Harmony cemetery.