Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-08-06
PASSES THE CENTURY MARK.



GRoroN, Aug. 1.-The people of Gro
ton Joined with Mrs. Abigail WEIGH,
better known among her intimates as
Aunt Na0by,' Saturday, in the celebra-
ton of her one hundredth birthday, and
also in commemOratlon of the fact that
she has during the whole time OF these
100 years been resident of this village
4 bounteous dinner was served to her
many friends at the home of II. n.
WelCh, her grandson, which the vener-
able lady has made hers for many years.
Her great age is perhaps best evidenced
by the fact that of a number OF grand
children one is a great-grandfather and
several have died of old age.
Mrs. Welchs maiden name was Abigail
Hosmore, and she was born on the Ken
frew farm in the northeast part OF the
town, where Aaron HOsmOre, Jr., her
father. lived at that time, July 81, ld91.
He was known as Aaron, Jr., as Aaron,
Sr., his father, was still living. AUNT
Nabby' still remembers her grandfather
distinctly, though he was born 10 years
before George Washington and in the
very wear that Vermont was first settled
at Fort Dummer. He was the pioneer OF
the section around the mouth OF the
| Wells river, both on the Vermont and the
New Hampshire sides, and was the first
settler in Groton, Ryegate and also IN
Caledonia county.
Aaron HosmOre, Jr., was reared in
Groton. where he married Dorothy Oar
hing. They lived on the Renfrew farm
where they raised family of II chill
dren, the eldest and only survivor of
which is the subject of this sketch. lie
was wel-known citizen and was one of
the founders of the Baptist society in
Grotou in 1899.
Aunt Nabby" was born on the Rem
frew farm, but when - years of age her
father erected gristmill In what Is now
GrotOn village. 1t was the first built in
that vicinity, and she remembered OF
taking from a horses back the first grist
ever ground in GrotOn. March Q, 1913,
the year of the battle of Waterloo, she
was married to Medad WEIGH, she being
Is wears of age. She, like her mother,
was the mother of II children. Only
two of the l are now living and one of
these at the present time is in critical
condition and will doubtless be outlived
by his mother The two living are Oar
ling and Frank Welch of Redwood
Mimi, neither of whom were able o be
present at this centennial. Her husband
died nearly a quarter of a century ago
She has IS grandchildren, nine great
grandchildren and two great-great
grand children.
Her health has always been remarka
bly, good, and she never wore glasses
though she was a great reader of the
Bible up to two years ago. when hel
mind began to fail, She still Is quite
strong physically, and her mind is cleal
enough to recognize and remember PEG
pie whom she knew in the past after be
ing told who they are. She has been {
staunch supporter of the Baptist society
since 1910. at which time she became q
member.
The celebration on Saturday was large
" attended and the number present in
cluded all her relatives and descendant
who were able to come, as many did
from a considerable distance. She die
not seem to realize her great age and o
course took but little part in the festiv
tiles Several days ago she sat for he
photograph and Il number of good like
. npSSpS were secured.