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Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser Wednesday 30 Jan 1889
Page 8 Column 4
Remarkable Somerset Centenarians.
The death of one Somerset centenarian, and the celebration of the 107th birthday of another, within a few days, will make the following list of some of the more remarkable Somerset centenarians on record interesting. Sarah BROOKMAN, of Glastonbury, died 1775, aged 106, John BEEDEL, of Taunton, died 1782, age 100, leaving descendants to the number of 240. Elizabeth BROADMEAD, of Wilton, died 1784, aged 117. Joseph BISHOP, of Banwell, died 1825, aged 103, with 180 descendants, of whom 115 were living a the time of his decease. Mrs GANNETT, a widow, of Wells, died 1751, aged 112. Lydia HEWETT, of Broadway, Ilminster, died 1774, aged 107.
Hannah HEALD, of Midsomer Norton, died 1785, aged 100, she was carried to her grave by four of her great grandsons. Her descendants of all degrees with wives and husbands fell little short of 500 persons. If they had increased in the same proportion to the present day, they would have about equalled the population of Shepton Mallet.
Rachel HUDDY, widow, of Hatch Beachamp, died 1793, aged 100. Though blind for the last 11 years of her life, and of so great an age she continued to pursue her profession as a midwife, almost to the very close of her life, as she actually attended one of her old patronesses only seven weeks before her death.
Sarah HAYNES, widow, of Winford, Somerset, died 1713, aged 103. Till within a year of her decease, she continued to work for her own maintenance by the knitting of stockings, which were always of a remarkable fine texture. She had been the mother of 11 children, two of whom, a son aged 70, and a daughter 67, both deaf and dumb, survived her.
Petronella KING, of Taunton, died 1812, aged 102. Till within a few years of her death she was so hale as to be able comfortably, and without any assistance from anyone, to go about her own business in the town. It was remarkable that for the last twelve months of her life, though in full possession of her faculties, she scarcely ever by night or day closed her eyes in sleep.
George LAMBERT, of Charlton, Shepton Mallet, died 1827, aged 101; Jane ROBBINS, of Stoke Lane, died 1766, aged 100, and in the same years Ann ARNOLD, of Evercreech, aged 102. Jonathan RANDOLPH, of Somerton, attorney, aged 107, died in 1785.
Rachael STREET, of Crowcombe, died in 1782, aged 114. About three years before her death she lost her sight, but her other senses remained perfect to the last.
William TRUEMAN, farmer, of Frome, died 1808, aged 104. He was accustomed, as a proof of his great age, to relate that he was weeding corn at the time of the great eclipse in 1715, when the darkness was so intense as to necessitate him and his companions to desist from work, and leave the field. Throughout life he maintained the character of a sober and industrious man.