Page:Item 2 1835.pdf/89

Longevity at Bexhill - Wonderful Dinner Party

In the official accounts of the parish of St. Mary Magdalen Mr. Satterly is first mentioned in 1800, as the recipient of £5 13s. for medical attendance on the poor parishioners. From that time until 1810, when he was described as "Dockter" Satterly, he was paid various sums ranging from 4/6 to £5 13s. From 1812to 1814 two considerable payments were made to "Satterly and Wellings," and in 1818, the sum of £2 14s. was paid to "Satterly and Duke. "

These reminiscences are necessarily discursive, but they afford some varied information not otherwise obtainable, and whilst they contain any items of local history not heretofore published, it is hoped that they contribute some readable gossip to the literature of the day. To be still writing under the assumed date of 1838, and yet practically taking my readers backwards and forward to other periods, looks like a paradox; yet if it be borne in mind that it is a narrative of associations and reminiscences which grow out of the subject in its chronological progress, the anomaly become more apparent than real.

As I proved, I shall have occasion to add considerably to the longevity cases already given as applying to Hastings and St. Leonards, and shall show that the neighbouring town of Bexhill also shares in these long-life conditions. If the mural records of Bexhill, before its recent advance from a village to a town, be searched, it will be found that there are few, if any, places even among the health-resorts of the southern coast that can lay claim to greater longevity. It has more than once been told in story - and will bear telling again, with additional information - how, when George the Third was King, a party of "jolly old boys" met at the Bell Inn, Bexhill, there to celebrate the eighty-first anniversary of that monarch's birthday. It was so arranged that the average age of those who formed the dinner-party should be the same as that to which the King had attained. These were twenty-five in number, and their names and ages, together with the ages at which they subsequently died, as well as the years of their death, so far as I have been able to ascertain, are as follows :-

	Age at dinner	Age at death	Year of death
Coleman, Wakeham	78 -5	84+	1825
Curtis, Thomas	82	-	--
Clifton Henry	81 -6	91+	1828
Cramp, John	77	86+	1820
Duke, William (chairman)	83 -11	90+	1825
Elliott, Peter	83 -11	-	--
Eastwood, Thomas	80	90+	1830
Easton, John	78 -6	-	--
Freeman, Henry	80 -9	81+	1820
Godwin, John	83 -10	90+	1826
Godwin, Joseph	82 -3	84+	1822
Gilham, John	77	-	--
Hammond, Jno. (vice-chairman)	82 -4	-	--
Longhurst, Thomas	87 -9	-	--
Mewett, Nicholas	86 -5	88+	1821
Miller, William	75-3	78+	1823
Page, John	82 -6	88+	1825
Prior, William	82	-	--
Reeves, Thomas	77 -9	87+	1820
Vidler, John	87 -6	-	--
Welfare, William	77 -9	78+	1820
Week, William	75 -3	-	--
Young, Joseph	80 -5	-	--

There were also fifteen improvised waiters, and the average age of these was 71 years, or ten years less than the mean of those on whom they waited. Their individual ages, names, &c. , were as under :-

Carey, Joseph	73	84	1832
Chatfield, William	73 -9	89	1825
Christian, John	72 -6	76	1822
Duke, John	73 -8	87	1833
Dunk, William	73 -3	103	1849
Edmonds, William	69 -6	73	1821
Easton, Samuel	72 -8	77	1822
Lennard, John	74	87	1833
Mitten, William	70	72	1822
Maplesden, John	69 -7	85	1834
Munn, Thomas	73 -1	81	1827
Sands, Thomas	69 -7	-	--
Spray, Edward	68 -9	85	1838
Tapp, John	74 -7	81	1825
Wimbourn, William	69 -3	84	1835

There were also six men who rang the church bells in honour of the double event - the King's birthday anniversary and the local celebration thereof. These, as might be supposed, were younger men, yet the average was 61 years - ten years less than that of the waiters, and twenty years below that of the diners. Their separate ages at that time and at the after period of death were :-

Burgess, Samuel	60 -0	75	1834
Fairway, Richard	55 -2	-	--
Lansdell, John	65 -9	83	1836
Lansdell, Wm.	62 -8	-	--
Roberts, Thomas	62 -9	94	1847
Sinden, Samuel	61 -8	-	--

Omitting the thirteen names whose ages at death I have failed to obtain, the total of the remaining thirty-three is 2,691 years, or an average of more than 81 1/2 years, without taking into account the odd months, whatsoever they might be. When, therefore, it is borne in mind that the population from which this party was made-up did not exceed a thousand, and that there were also living at the time at least seventeen other males who, for various reasons, did not join the party, but whose average ages amounted to three-score and ten; also that there were twenty-six females whose united ages amounted to 1923 years, or an average of 74, I think it would be difficult, if not impossible, to find in any similarly small community so rare an example of longevity. This presentment of long life is still more apparent when the ages at death of those not included in the festival are arranged in the same order as those already placed before the reader. It will then be seen that whilst the ages of the excluded males and females averaged 70 and 74 respectively in 1819, the average was relatively increased to 80 and 82 at the time of death. It will also be seen in the whole set of figures that there were no fewer than three centenarians - one (Mrs. Mary Reeves) who had reached the age of 101, another (Mary Mitten) who lived to the age of 100 years and 11 months, and a third (William Dunk), who compassed the span of 103 years. He was the last survivor of the great dinner-party; and as a memento of the event and of his great age, the inhabitants erected a monumental stone to his memory. The following additional list of names, ages and time of demise, will probably not be without interest -

Brook, John	67	70	1822
Bishop, Samuel	70	88	1837
Coussens, John	70	86	1836
Christian, Thomas	67	80	1835
Curtis, John	70	82	1833
Clinch, Robert	68	71	1823
Gilham, Thomas	79	89	1829
Holland, --	84	90	1825
Lock, Samuel	76	90	1834
Mitten, Thomas	62	70	1824
Maplesden, Thomas	66	74	1828
Pearce, James	70	81	1831
Parker, Edward	70	75	1825
Ransom, Edward	66	78	1831
Read, William	70	77	1827
Stunt, Thomas	72	73	1820
Brazier, Jane	70	73	1823
Bevis, Elizabeth	71	75	1823
Bishop, Mary	76	87	1830
Chatfield, Hannah	66	89	1842
Cruttenden, Mercy	79	82	1823
Cruttenden, Hannah	81	83	1821
Cramp, Anne	73	84	1830
Clifton, Sarah	70	75	1825
Curtis, Mary	71	72	1820
Easton, Phillis	68	69	1820
Easton, Ann	73	77	1823
Griffiths, Elizabeth	70	73	1822
Godwin, Eliza	71	80	1828
Hammond, Ann	70	79	1828
Mewett, Anne	76	84	1827
Maplesden, Sarah	75	80	1824
Mitten, Mary	73	101	1871
Newington, Catherine	82	85	1823
Ransom, Sarah	76	82	1825
Rich, Jane	68	72	1827
Reeves, Mary	84	101	1836
Stunt, Ann	74	82	1828
Swadling, Mary	77	78	1820
Southouse, Mary	74	77	1823
Spray, Jane	76	86	1829
Welfare, Sarah	76	82	1825
Wenham, Mary	74	77	1823

Lest it should be thought that the above specimens of longevity belong exclusively to the past, and that Bexhill may have since deteriorated in its life-prolonging conditions, I purpose to conclude this subject with a less formal notice of later interments. That there have been burials of children and young persons in the grave-yard at Bexhill, the same as in every other place consecrated to the dead, is but a natural condition; yet it is the preponderance of great ages out of so comparatively a small community that impels one to the task of pointing out what appears to be an exceptionally high rate of longevity. The following alphabetic enumeration of names, with their ages at the time of death, will, it is presumed, bear out what has been stated. In 1849 Mrs. Amberson died at the age of 81, being preceded by her husband at a less advanced age. In 1878 the remains of Louisa Ann Alsager there found an abiding place, after an earthly pilgrimage of 82 years. Another lady (Charlotte Attree), was buried in 1878 at the age of 81; but this lady, it should be stated, was conveyed thither from Hastings. Coming to the initial B, one finds quite a host of names and long ages presenting themselves. In 1860, Thos. Barnard died at the age of 83, his wife having preceded him some years before at the age of 68. The next is Mrs. Ann Brook, who at the time of her demise had passed the age of 92. Near the south-west angle of the church lie the remains of the Rev. Thomas Birch, D. C. L. , late Dean of Battle, Arch-deacon of Lewes, and Rector of Bexhill; he died in 1840 at the age of 74. Among the Bennett family are Elizabeth, 78; Mary, 62; William, 79; and Mary, 85. Then there is a William Breton (probably a surgeon, known in my younger days as "Dr. Breton," a Liberal politician of an ardent type). He seems to have died in 1867 at the age of 82. Ten years later, Hannah Breton, aged 84, was registered on the death roll as Hannah Briton, but this difference in orthography is by no means rare. Of the Beechings there are Thomas, aged 76, and Ann aged 84. Elizabeth Badcock appears to have died in 1853, aged 91, and her husband some years earlier, aged 76. It was similarly the case with Robert and Elizabeth Bristow, the former dying in 1847 at the age of 76, and the latter in 1852 at the age of 81. Edward and Elizabeth Barnes were each of them three-score and five, whilst Elizabeth Baker was 88, James Burt 83, Thomas Morley 88, and Thomas Bean 90. The deaths of William and Mary Burgess occurred in 1860 and 1864 respectively, at the ages of84 and 81, whilst those of Benjamin and George Butcher (father and son) took place in 1845 and '67, at the respective ages of 89 and 82. Still more recently (1879) the interment (sic) of Margaret Bray took place, the old lady having attained to the age of four-score and ten. I have not nearly exhausted the aged B's, but I will finish with the Britts or Bretts; for, as in the case of many other names, the orthography is convertible. James Britt died in 1842 at the age of 80, and ten years later, John Britt died at precisely the same age. A still greater length of life was granted to Samuel Britt and to Hannah, his wife, the former dying in 1870 at the age of 94, and the latter in 1878 at the age of 92. On their joint monumental stone are these lines:

"Speak gently to the aged ones,
Grieve not their careworn hearts;
The sands of life are nearly run,
Let such in peace depart. "

In 1867 grim Death found out the abode of another of the Bretts, even that of "Old George," a milkman of ancient days, and carried him off at the age of 84. But that was at St. Leonards; yet, as most of the Britts and Bretts of St. Leonards, as well as those of Hastings and Rye, appear to have sprung from two or three branches of an original Bexhill stock, the process of association is neither far-fetched nor inopportune. A brother of the George Brett, just referred to, ^{(illegible text)} at Stream Houses, near St. Leonards, and died in his 91st year. Also in Hollington Lane there was a William Brett of the same age as that of Henry Brett, just named. Then there was another Brett, who lived many years in St. Leonards, who, in 1880, could boast of the age of 95, and who until a few antecedent years was noted for his delight and endurance in following a pack of hounds. This is the more remarkable because, as a sawyer, he, in 1839, was crushed by some timber, which fractured both legs, and inflicted other serious injuries upon him. Mr. Henry Brett, at Stream Houses, was also a sawyer, as well as a patten-maker, and even, at his great age, continues in a leisurely manner to follow his handicraft. He is apparently in easy circumstances, with land and houses about him, and being a hale old man, his appearance would not bespeak him to be a nonagenarian. The William Brett (or Britt) who lived in the same neighborhood was 43 years in the service of the late Edward Farncomb, of Filsham farm. His brother and sister, aged respectively 94 and 92, were those before mentioned as being interred at Bexhill. And this again takes me back to the spot whence a slight digression was irresistible.

It is hoped that there have been many Christians in quite the purest sense interred at Bexhill, but, irrespective of such an attribute, there is evidence that many nominal Christians have there found an abiding place. There appears to be about a dozen of these placed side by side, and the regard which has been paid to the preservation of their memorials indicates a praiseworthy attention on behalf of some surviving relative which would be worthy of imitation. They date as far back as 1768, in which year three of the family appear to have died. With exception, however, of the octogenarian before mentioned, the longevity of the Christians is not so great as that of many other families. There are John and Sarah (man and wife), 53 and 50; John and Elizabeth (man and wife), 76 and 66; Ann, the wife of Jesse, 72; and several children of the latter. Then there are eleven or twelve members of the Crowhurst family, who appear thus to have forsaken the adjacent village whose name they bear. Their seven monumental records are all in a row; and like those of the Christians, display the care which has been bestowed on their preservations. The dates range 1793 to 1854, but the average age of this family is not a very high one, the oldest members being John and John (apparently father and son), who both passed away at the age of 74. The next considerable family interments are those of the name of Cruttenden, of whom there are Everenden (before mentioned as having formed one of the great dinner-party in 1819), aged 84, and Elizabeth, his wife, 77; Thomas, 66, and Dorothy, his wife, 59; Hannah, 83; Henry, 83; Ann, 84; and Mercy, 82. The Cramps come next, all of whose memorials are commendably well-preserved. The lowest age amongst these is 54, and the highest is 86, the average being 72 1/2. From Cramp I go to Collins or Collings, for here again there are two ways of spelling the name. Their ages at death were: Mary, 70; Ann, 84; Thomas, 84; and William 88. Passing on to the initial D, there are George Duplock, 80, and Elizabeth, his wife, 91 1/2; Abraham Duplock, 80; William Dunk (before mentioned), 103; Mary Davis, 82; Hannah Davis, 85; Elizabeth Daw, 72; Edward Daw, 88; David Delves, 79; and Elizabeth Delves, 81. Under the next letter in the alphabetic scale the following names and ages occur: John Elliott, 83; Martha Elliott, 75; Thomas Eastwood,82; Elizabeth Easton, 92; Sarah Easton, 92; and Richard Earl, 86. There was also buried at Bexhill in the year 1833 Sir John Evelyn, Bart., at the age of 75, his remains having been removed from St. Leonards, where Sir John had resided. The families whose names have the initial F, who have found a resting place in the burial ground at Bexhill are neither few nor far between; but a dozen of their names and ages must here suffice. These are Elizabeth Furby, 74; Mary Furby, 80; Barbara Freeman, 84; John Freeman, 82; Sarah French, 71; Elizabeth French, 80; Sacket Farcey, 74, and Mary, his wife, nee Mary Brett; 78; Arthur Fuller, 83; Judith Ford, 79, John Foord, 81; and Richard Forde, 78. The last three names afford another example of the different ways of spelling. Among the G's are John Gander, 83; Naomi Gander, 88; Hannah Gander, 80; Elizabeth Gan-