The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-26
His Name is James J. CaVan-
augh, His Home Is WatertoWn,
Maine, and He Celebrated His
III Birthday
STILL ENJOYS THE
BEST OF HEALTH
Was Once a Tailor in London and
Made Clothes for King George
III and King George Was
Used Tobacco for Nearly d
Hundred Years

Waterfowl, Dec, 25.-There is liv-
ing in this town a man who is regarded
as the Oldest man in New England, if
not in the country.
His name is James J. Cavanaugh, and
today he was III years old. While
this venerable man does not look to be
day over IS, his relatives say they
have absolute proof that he is as old as
he claims
Mr.. Cavanaugh lives on Main Street
Sherry. He was born in county Mona
CHAN. Ireland, Dec. %, 1870, where he
remained until he was u years of age.
His family then moved to London.
where he was bound over to a tailor to
learn the trade. He served seven years
with one concern. that being the term
Of his apprenticeship
He remained with the fr1e rs jour
neyman for many years afterwards.
Among the customers were n,euSbers of
the royal family, and Mr. C&yanaugh
claims to have made garments Tor King
George III and King George ~
The old man lived in England so long
that he became thoroughly English, and
to this day he has never gotten over his
love for that country.
To his mind, England is the greatest
country in the world. and the English
| people are the brightest and smartest
on earth; in fact. he loves England so
thoroughly that he never became a
naturalized citizen of this country.
When in a talkative mood, which is
not very often. the old man likes to tell
of the great people he met Among the
1oA1f9 h1as 10 % a r.o Il,
and NAPOLEON.
The former he first saw when she
visited DevOnshire Castle At that time
the queen was but 16 years of age He
considered her the greatest woman that
ever lived, and at her death he was
deeply affected.
His first and only glimpse of Napo-
leon was after the battle of Waterloo.
The great general was a prisoner on
board an English vessel called the Bel
lerophOn.
The ship was at anchor in the bay at
Torbay, England. In company with sew
eral other lads he rOwed out to where
the ship lay and was rewarded for his
trouble by seeing the wonderful Ma
poleOn walking back and forth on the
deck
He has never forgotten this incident,
which he considers one of the greatest
of his life. He always was of a very
reticent nature, and never could be in
duced to talk about himself in the
presence of strangers. He never re-
lates any of his experiences except to
the members of his family, and but sell
dom to them.
Mr. Cavanaugh lived in England I'M
til 1887, when he emigrated to America.
He was then Al. He remained in New
York awhile, but soon came to Boston.
and made his home in the North End
for many years.
Four years after his arrival in Bos-
ton, he married Hannah Barrett. The
wedding took place May 1, 1871 Rev.
FIR Harkins, then pastor of the old
Hanover Street Church, was the offfci-
ating clergyman.
He can relate some interesting tales
Of Boston in those times, but the events
in this country never awakened the
interest in him that the happenings in
England did
His wife died about 20 years ago, and
then he came to WATERFOWL to live with
his daughter, with whom he has since
made his home.
He always has entertained a dislike
for photographs, and never could be in
duced to have a picture taken. For
nearly 100 years he has used tobacco,
and today he enjoys his pipe as well as
any smoker.
His hearing is badly affected, and of
late his eyesight has troubled him, but
outside of these ailments he has re-
tanned his faculties to a remarkable
degree.
Always of an even temperament he
never allowed anything to bother or
cause him worry, and to this he at
tributes his long life.
He takes an interest in all the i'm
portant events of the day. and any
thing pertaining TO England is partic-
Ularly interesting to him.
His health is remarkably good con-
sdering his extreme age, and almost
every pleasant day he takes a short
walk in the vicinity of his home