New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-14
SHE SAYS SHE is OYER A HUNDRED.
A NEGRO WOMAN WHO DECLARES THAT SHE
PASSED THE CENTURY MARK SEVEN


A colored woman lives at No. 1853 Crecnwch-st.
who could probably compete successfully for the honor
of being the Oldest person in this city. Mrs. Lucy
Ridley is her name. She claims the ripe old age OF
III. With her live her son-in-law Benjamin Ridley ,
her granddaughter Mrs. Rebecca Ridley, and the lat
tcrs daughter, Miss Rebecca Ridley. These four per
live, and seem to enjoy themselves. In the base
ment Of old-fashioned three-story house. Three
rooms all they have. The basement was not
originally intended for dwelling place The approach
to it Is by narrow, stonestepped cellar-way Heavy
wooden doors, intended 10 close over the cellarway
are still In place. that the occupants of the base
ment can secure themselves from the outside world at
will.
Mrs. Rcbecca Ridley busy ironing when o
Tribune reporter called II Is on the income from her
labor at cleansing garments that the household prnci
pally depends for support.
81 amt got no time" Mrs. Rebecca Ridley said.
when the reporter encountered her at the door she
had hot fatiron in her hand, and seemed to be i'm
patient ut the interruption OF her work "De ole
Iady,s IN bed an you can't see her. People keeps
comm here to her. an to talk wild me about her.
an, dcy keeps tabn' me from my work, SOS can't
make no livin'. Ny times wort dollar an hour
when / kin keep busy. but when keep gttin in
terruped all de time, it amt wort ten cents People
can't do me no good comm here, an dey can't make
de ole lady younger, SO wha's de use OF my wasn
my time7"
The reporter however, finally permitted to see
the old lady She was not in bed after all. She was
sitting I'm a rear room, In great, high backed. old
fashioned rocker She was DOING softly In her chair.
She is a TALL thin woman Of q mulatto compexiop.
with luxuriant head Of gray hair. Her teeth are
all GONE and her granddaughter believes tie last
disappeared about twenty years ago. Her hearing is
GOOD, but her eyesght has been poor for several
wears. she has large growth on her neck, which 10
said TO be the result Of strain sustained years ago.
This growth affects voice. and makes 1t difficult
for her TO speak. Her digestion has been poor for
several years, and she eats the most simple foods.
Mrs. Ridley was born In Africa and was brought 10
| this country in a slave ship, earlier than she can
remember she became slave Of man she still calls
| sMassa James Downey," who lived near Oxford. In
| North Carolina. When james Downey died she fell
into other hands aud had several successive masters
She finally became the property Of james Ridley, who
also lived near Oxford. She was then sixteen years
old sho continued In the Ridley family until she was
freed By the Emancipation Proclamation She has been
married three times, the first time almost century
ago and has had nine children. ali OF whom ere dead.
Her last husband was one OF James Ridley's slaves.
A. that tame she had grown danEhter Her husband!
Ers. Rtdisy's husband died, and her Daughter fol.
| bowed soon st(se. The son-tnlsw ID the Benjamin
| Ridley that stin lives with her. psnjsmn says
s. azty lgus years -. snA ~ sessasaaos confirms