The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-01-23
VERY GID FAMILY.
Eight Of the Wilkinsons Living
Whose Ages Aggregate
662 Years.

MT HOLLY, Jan. %, 1896.-Probably the
most remarkable case of longevity in this
county is to be found in the Wilkinson
family, the majority of the members
being residents of Mt. Holly. The ages
of the eight persons now living are Mrs.
Martha Groom, 81 years; Priscilla Wat
kinson, SS years; Margaret F. Lamb, 81
years; Ann Curtis, SO years; Mrs. Ruth
R. Barton, 81 years; Lavinia watkinson,
70 ears; Abel Watkinson, 70 years; Will
liam E. Watkinson, n years, their aggre-
gate ages being 662 years, an average of
q years.
The happy band of brothers and sisters
have now living fifteen children, thirty
five grandchildren and -twenty-seven
great-grandchildren. All the sisters are
members of the First Baptist Church OF
Mt. Holly. and Mrs. Groom, the eldest,
has been a member of the Baptist de-
nomination for the past sixty-five years.
Not one of these aged people has ever
been afflicted in any way. They are
all well, active, possess the best OF
health, have sound minds, memory and
understanding. They attend church reg
ularly and frequently take part in the
prayer meetings.
l. u are iudly ItLudIhdOlG @ClICulu-
stances connected with the lives of These
people. particularly from the fact that
both father and mother died at an early
age, both parents, being the victims OF
consumption. Abel Wilkinson, a Welsh
m died in 1928, at the g of As. and
his wife, Deborah, a German, died in
1892, at the age of 81. Not one of the
children has had the slightest trace OF
symptom of that bred disease. The
children were all born on the homestea1
farm at Pemberton, where they passed
Mrs. Martha Evans Groom was born
at New Mills. now known as Pember-
band. Edward Groom. They have been
occupying their Garden street residence
for the past forty-two years. Mrs.
persons at 50 years. She can give the
family genealogy without a moments
hesitation; She can recite many Incl
brothers participated.
Mr.. and Mrs. Groom had two children,
one. q daughter, now liying with b. them lem
tie of Fredericksburg during the Civil
Mrs. Groom's husband. Edward. is in
his ssth year, and he can read the hnest
print without glasses.
Mrs. Groom has many family relics
til it was recently sold. Mrs. Groom,
like many other ladies. had a penchant
for almanacs, and has in her possession
almanacs for every year since 1888. The
one of that year is called Father Abra-
hams Almanac" and was published in
Philadelphia by Peter Stewart. 1t con-
tains many historical references.
Abel Wilkinson was a cavalryman IN
the Mexican War and was wounded in
the leg at Monterey. He also enlisted in
Summers Second Cavalry during. the
Civil War. He was married three times.
having engaged in his last matrimonial
bride was so. w. E. Wilkinson, who was
born in 1919, went to school in his early
days to William Mann. father of Colonel
William B.. Mann. of Philadelphia. In
i845 he was married to Miss Margaret
Keen, of Philadelphia. He entered the
ministry and had charges at Njcetown,
Pa. and many other places. He fire.
uuently speaks at the Old Ladies' Home.
at Philadelphia, and supplies pulpits
occasionally.