The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-01
TOLD BY A C%ENTENARTAN.
A TALK WITH OWE VINO DIED ZEE
GENTLE ar THE AGE OF o
She Lived when Washington Lived, and Her
Father Was One of Hts soldierp-Reminis-
cences of Revolutionary War Times.

Rochester unquestionably loses its oldest resi-
dent. The deceased was 102 years and 8
months old. She was born in Northumberland,
Saratoga county. N. Y. March 10. 1895. Her
father. Charles Cloes. was a Revolutionary
soldier. who served faithfully with the Conti-
mental Army under Washington from Its until
the surrender OF Yorktown. His death occurred
on Sept. 10. 1888.
At the age Of 10. years she was married to
Joshua Ray. who had served az q private in the
Tenth New York Detached Militia in the war OF
1912. Shortly after their marriage Mr.. and
Mrs. Ray moved from Northampton to Web
ster. After remaining in that village for a
short while they moved to this city In 1883.
Their family consisted Of one son. Myron II.
Ray. whose death occurred six years ago. De-
ceased leaves one grandson. Emmett 8. Ray.
who is the only surviving relative.
For n woman of her years Mrs. Ray was a re-
markably bright woman. having retained pos
session Of all her faculties until her death. with
the exception Of slight impairments OF hearing
and sight. During her long residence in this
city she became acquainted with many OF the
citizens. It was her custom to hold q reception
on the occasion OF each birthday, when all her
friends would be present. On the hundredth
birthday celebration 500 friends gathered O
the family residence on Joslyn Park. whore
they were given a hearty handshake by the
hostess. The reception OF last March was
limited to the intimate friends Of the family.
as 1t was thought that Mrs. Ray could not stand
the ~exertion OF entertaining a large number as
In former years.
She could talk interestingly OF all the differ
ent Presidents Of the United States from George
Washington to Mckinley, having lived under
all their Administrations which is q record
equalled by few OF the inhabitants Of this
country. She had seen a majority Of the Presi-
dents also. When Washington was in power
she was only a little girl four years OF age. Mrs.
Ray drew a pension OF $12 per month for her
husbands services in the war Of 1912. In her
younger days she was a prominent member OF
the National Association OF the Daughters OF
the American Revolution. On one occasion tho
branch at Washington sent Mrs. Ray a hand
some gold souvenir spoon. This gift arG the
certificate OF membership to this society are
greatly priced by the grandson OF the deceased
Emmett Ray. Among the other heirlooms which
are highly priced Is a parchment which Is about
sixty years Of age that contains the names Of
different members OF the Cloes family. The
sisters OF Mrs. Ray possessed the good old
fashioned names that are so seldom used at
the present time. such as Polly, Hannah.
Priscilla, Betsey. Clarena, Caroline and Sallie.
Mrs. Ray gave the following interesting remi-
niscences to q reporter on the occasion Of the
hundredth anniversary Of her birthday:
Yes. I'll be 100 years old next Thursday"
said Mrs. Ray. Strengthening. with evident
pride and as well as possible, her bent form.
tb Ihsfs Pr sogl Glq qath Sqs have lys ssad nv 70 s oe s sfas.
That hat was rss6 a hard d6 6lSE to NE N xheP Ra he s dbled;b her
Il can't remember Washington, although 1
w wos sGiP pssp III tOu! . SMfsffs st G1e T knew NJ hi aie Veil ate oi
course. as he, served under him SO long. He
father was at Bunker Hill and in almost every
big battle OF the Revolutionary war. well re-
nnd ~ the hoT Ta ne HES f th sell the fs9T Telu ot shs T Sad
to suffer. He served under Lafayette. too. and
when Lafayette came to Rochester q great
am sorry that did not 60 to see Lafayette. but
at that time I did not give the matter much
Webster. where we lived then. to seq him. But
now he is called a great hero. and OF course he
Envy father thought a mighty lot of Lafayette.
one Of the battles. my father happened to be
near the General. There was an Indian in am
push shooting at our our %spI and d. L Il says
gun Father said that it was against the rules
to let any one take his gun; but when one Of his
the piece es.l lafayette took the musket. loaded
it and shot the indian. So when Lafayette was
ception to him. to which only Revolutionary
veterans we're admitted. Ny, father attended
the reception anu reminded ueD. InIayeUt6 OF
the gun and Indian incident. The old General
remembered al about t and It made my father
Father fought at Bunker Hill right through
the wal and was never wounded. He drew a
war he joined the Free Masons because Wash
ington was a Free Mason. Father died when
during the Revolption; Ny folks were Lying
and when the British got ND there thew all had
to fly. They went to PopGhkeepsie until the
l EsaSp" item went at 4 BaistoP had h s ssfat SRoI ssu He1
town these qncles wanted to gain the
presents; He took the presents and also took
them prisoners. He sent them afar. off and
three-story house; In the night they took their
blankets that had been given them and tore
let themselves to the ground and, escaped.
They went through the woods for a I3png dis
tones Sat an th stlS ss% CAME 10 Z 70 5G q sp pa1h; I Near th hSy
spring was a house in which. lived an old
wS%S9 the she Toa sayS ah tdf lived T on not for Of da p%Ssa hntfi
they got back to Baiston. Their wives were
FLA Ia t e see s6 ns ISd{ GrSsh hsS di% rot know what
of every Up PIresident Of the United States, Wash
was a BABY. She remembers we'll when JeferD
son was PRESIDENT, and even recalls the first
e aasm By s ses F %ethsr' : I psren maas Who no Drove dsp ea to
NAANN ~
Saratoga from Canada when she was a baby.
They came across the 81. Lawrence on the ice.
and returned alters brief visit. because they
were afraid q thaw was near at hand and the
ice would all go out and leave them on the
American shore with no way to get home.
They say / don't remember my grandfather
and grandmother coming here" said Mrs. Ray.
her dim eyes looking into the far-away past,
but / do right well. That day when they
came my mother. was a-washirg. and had her
hands and arms in the tub away up to her ell
sleigh my mother burst out crying, she had
not seen them in 80 long a time. This made
an impression on me. as l thought IL strange
for my mother to cry So"
Were the girls ofthose days like the girls of
to-day? ?" was asked of the centenarian.
Laws. mol Why. / had to spin my two run
OF yarn every day, as did all the girls then. And
II / didn't do 1t / had to make IL up the next
day. Oh. l have spun. many and many a hun
dred run Of yarn: Il the girls had 70 do that
make our W clothes; and the ane fr9cks Of
my sister next older had u calico dress, and
when she outgrew 1t 1t was given TO me. Well.
| thought so much Of that frock that | used to
take the best care of II. though. more Of that