In the year 1670 died Henry Jenkins, of Yorkshire. He remembered the battle of Floddenfield in 1513, and at that time he was twelve years of age. It was proved from the registers of the Chancery and other Courts, that he had appeared, 140 years before his death, as an evidence, and had an oath administered to him. At the time of his death he was, therefore, 169 years old. His last occupation was fishing; and when above the age of 100, he was able to swim across rapid rivers.
Next to him, in point of age, is another Englishman, Thomas Parr, of Shropshire. He was a poor farmer's servant, and obliged to maintain himself by daily labor. When above 120 years of age, he married a widow for his second wife, who lived with him twelve years, and who asserted that during that time he never betrayed any signs of infirmity or age. Till his 130th year he performed all his usual work, and was accustomed even to thresh. Some years before his death, his eyes and memory began to fail; but his hearing and senses continued sound to the last. In his 152d year his fame had reached London; and as the King was desirous of seeing so great a rarity, he was induced to undertake a journey thither. This, in all probability, shortened his existence, which he otherwise might have preserved some years longer; for he was treated at Court in so
royal a manner, and his mode of living was so totally changed, that he died soon after, at London, in 1635. He was 152 years and nine months old, and had lived under nine kings of England. What was most remarkable in regard to this man is, that when his body was opened by Dr. Harvey, his internal organs were found to be in the most perfect state, nor was the least symptom of decay to be discovered in them. His cartilages even were not ossified, as is the case in all old people. The smallest cause of death had not yet settled in his body ; and he died merely of a plethora, because he had been too well treated.
This Parr is a proof that, in many families, a constitution so favorable to longevity may transmit a remarkably good stamen vitce. His great-grandson died at Cork, "a few years ago, at the age of 103.