The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-05-03
CentenarianS Can be Found
ii Every County of
the State.
SOME VENERABLE TWINS.
Aunt Judy Cummings, of Long
Branch, Who Saw ''Gin'ral"
Washington.
Sneciat b tae s..ndal afor1.lllp Nelps.


longevity. Old folks get to be very old in
Leon Abbett's bailiwick, and the older
they are the more vivacious they seem to
become. The number that are just ear,
or have just passed the century mile
stone, is large and incites wonder and adj
miration. There are many distinguished
veuerabies. and apart from those who are
old without being foolish, there are some
ancient twins and pri initiye triplets. The
newspapers of New Jersey are now seek
ing TO settle the interesting controversy
as TO the oldest twins in the State. There
have been six contestants and the matter
IS still OPEN Simon Wallen and his sis
ter are old-fashioned folks down in the
primitive town Of Salem. where John
Fenwick began settlement over 200
years ago. They were born seventy-eight
years ago and are still of the hale and
hearty kind. Abner ana Aaron Blanch-
ard are the distinguished twins of Morris
county. They were born over eighty-four
years ago, and still bear emblance to
each other Abner carries cane, and
Aaron walks three miles to church with
QUE one. In Monmouth county there Is
"Unclen Jacob Sonner aud his brother
Joe. One is short and the other long.
Jacob has a good memory. but Joseph Is
like Max Adeler's Fourth of July orator,
that 1t was ninety-one years ago last May
wnen he and Jacob made their bow hand
IN baud. Jacob insists that 1t was only
eighty-six years ago, and that Joseph has
gone astray on account of the leap years.
The triplets are Mason Blake of Mut-
rAyville, Ocean county: james Blake Of
Kingston, Middlesex county, aud Mrs.
Hanpah Wartman of Trenton. They
were born sfxty-sfx years ago Ia GIouces-
Ter county, uear Woodbury., where they
lived untis their father moved to Burlina-
ton county, where the boys remained
until they were ready to look out for
themselves. These old people have a
strong family resemblance, and enjoy
good health.
SHE SAW GIN RAJ WASH TON.
The oldest colored woman in the State
is Aunt Judy Cummings. who lives at
Long Branch, and is the oracle of the coll
ored colony Of that fashionable seaside
resort. She resides with her daughter,
Mrs Margaret Crunel She was born
slave on Southern plantation, and lat
terly became the property Of Major VIII
liam Waters, who resided near New
Brunswick She had many owners be-
fore the Emancipation act released her.
She is the mother of twelve children by
TWO men. She has some recollection OF
General Washington. Her claim to the
honor Of seeing that iilustrious patriot
seems to be based on more facts than the
able claim OF having seen the iilustrious
George. The particular time when she
saw him was when he dined at the house
of Major Factor, near New Brunswick.
She was young at the time. She is quite
particular about her description of the
dresses of Martha Washington, and In
sists that the General had on navy blue
knickerboekers with brass buttons Last
February AUNT judy celebrated her
11lth birthday by personating Martha
Washington at a tea party given by the
ladies of the Trinity African Methodist
Episcopal Zion Church of Long Branch.
Randall Jones, colored man now re-
siding In Asbury Park, IS 106 years old.
He formerly resided near Jerseyville in
Monmouth county. He is a hale and
Jolly old man. w. v Reid of Villa Park,
now sixty-three years OF age, remembers
Randall when he was a boy, and he was
then a middle aged man.
Aunt Toby" Mason lives In the colored
settlement at Kinkora. Burlington couu-
ty. She has the reputation of being 10i
years old and is still vigorous. She is
credited with much ability as fortune
teller and has considerable business. She
is small and dwarfed and her skin is cop
per colored.
Trenton has jolly old lady who is now
104 years old She Is Mrs. Amy Anderson,
aud resides with her son-in-law, Michael
McGovern. She was born in Monmouth
IL
She spends her time knitting and sewing,
and can thread q needle without the as
sistance of spectacles. Five years ago she
had paralysis OF the brain and recovered.
Her mind Is clear and she recites many
incidents that occurred during her child
hood days.
A remarkably well-preserved, if not a
very lively Jerseyman, can be foand IN
Middleton township, Monmouth county,
II is Uncle" Joseph Field, who will be a
cold hundred next year. He is rich
farmer and still looks arter things round
the place. every day. He gets up with
the sun and goes to bed with the chickens
and he claims that he does all his chores
before breakfast Occasionally he walks
over TO Red Bank, a distance Of two miles,
Just for exercise aud to get some good to-
bncc0.
In BelIeville. suburb of Newark, there
Is an historical figure. known as "Old
Bake" who has been known by three
generations Of Belleyilleites. he has no
idea OF hts age, except that he Is over a
hundred. He Is full of melody and good
humor. He can dance and play with much
zest and never tires of telling stories. He
lives mostly on the charity of the town
He firmly believes that this is his second
time on earth. To his mind he died d
quarter OF a century ago and came back
to earth after being dead three days He
was then dressed for burial in a new suit
ever since They are out of style and
threadbare, but Bake and the clothes
have become inseparable.
FATHER OF A DISTINGUISHED MAN
John Higg Of Burlington has Just
turned one hundred He has always
lived in the Quaker town, and is the
father OF James Higg. who is the body
servant Of General Grubb. and Is now
turning seventy.
Mrs. Catherine Duncan, coiored, living
near PhilhDsburg, Warren county, re-
Gently reached her one hundredth birth
day. She Is the daughter OF O native of
Guinea, Africa, who was captured By
slave traders when boy and brought to
Amfrica. The father was sold into
slavery and the daughter was born in
bondage january 81, 1791 While still a
small child she was sold to Cornelius
Lake of Midtown, n. j., who gave her
her freedom when she reached her eigh-
teenth year. She has always had good
health and Is still sDry and active,
There Is a remarkable old lady living in
lrvingfon, Essex county. She is Mrs.
Pawbe Durand, who isDow getting ready
TO celebrate her Que hundredth birthday.
She lives with her daughter, Mrs Juliet
Baker. 1t is matter of undisputed
record that she has never been sick 4 day.
Al recent party she danced the lauclers
with Q grandson as u partner Her hus-
banu,s brother was Asher Daraud, the
celebrated engraver,who was the inventor
OK pnnk note printing. Many of her de-
Ecendants reside IN Newark and New
York.
"a 49,