his mother “for seventy consecutive years
without a break”, surely some kind of record
in itself. “In 1829, being then in her 90th year,
Jane held her great-grandchild and godchild
in her arms at the font.” When she was over
90, the old lady “cut
a third tooth, which
was always a source
of inconvenience”
to her. She died on
October 8, 1841, at
the grand old age
of 102, 14 years after
her contemporary
Mrs Austen died at
Chawton.
What was the
secret of achieving
such a long life?
Doctors suggested
temperance,
avoiding smoking
or snuff-taking,
and eating a mixed
diet with a “liberal
use of vegetables”.
However,
Richard Brown
of Peterchurch,
in Herefordshire,
who died on
December 30, 1794,
“in his 108th year
... was seldom seen
without the pipe
in his mouth, and
took a last whiff a
short time before
his death. He had
lived in the reigns
of six sovereigns,
and was so little
enfeebled with age
as to walk out to the
haymakers during
the last harvest”.
The writer, in the Gentleman’s Magazine
Supplement of December 1794, opined: “In
the example of this old man, the assertion
that smoaking [sic] tobacco is prejudicial to
health, is completely refuted.”
Maybe mineral water was the best health
preserver. Lewis Morgan, from Co Radnor,
“died in his 101st year, occasioned by a fall
down some garden steps ... He lived chiefly
on [a] vegetable diet, and drank frequently
of the famous rock-water of Llandidrod”.
One centenarian, Anne Henley, reputedly
only drank whey until she was 40 years
old. She died aged
104 at Smart’s
Buildings, London,
having supported
herself in old age
by making and
selling pincushions.
Another centenarian
was Janet Muttie,
of Pencaitland, in
Scotland, who was
depicted in 1794 at
the age of 108.
Perhaps a
Mediterranean diet
was the best way to
ensure a long life. The
Edinburgh Magazine
of March 1794
reported the story of
Francis Hannibal, a
resident of Marseilles
in 1742. At that date
Hannibal was 106
years old and had “a
brother then living,
aged 112”. Francis still
worked in the fields
and vineyards. His
son, aged 70, looked
much “older than
his father”, because
he was bent double
with age, while his
parent still walked
erect. Hannibal
had recently buried
his wife, who was
over 90 years old.
When some local
wag joked with him
about re-marrying, “the old blade answered,
he thought he could not, but ... his refusal
did not proceed from any want of ability to
discharge the duties of the married state”.Janet Muttie, of Pencaitland, depicted at age
108 in 1794 (National Galleries of Scotland)