Much has been written in "N. & Q." respecting the "Old Countess of
Desmond," who is said to have died at the age of 140; but there is a
still more remarkable instance of longevity recorded in the pedigree of
the Vernon family, and which seems to be too well authenticated to admit
of doubt. Sir Ralph Vernon, of Shipbrooke (Lysonsi styles him _Baron_
of Shipbrooke, a barony founded by Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester), who was
born some time in the thirteenth century, died at the great age of 150!
and is said to have been succeeded by his descendant in the sixth
generation. He was called the "_Old_ Sir Ralph," or Sir R. "_the long
liver_." His first wife was a daughter of the Lord Dacre; and in 1325 he
made a settlement on the marriage of his grandson (or, as some pedigrees
represent, great-grandson,) Sir Ralph with the daughter of Richard
Damory, Chief Justice of Chester. This deed was the cause of future
litigation; and it is said that the papers respecting this law-suit
still exist, to prove the fact of the old knight's patriarchal age. I
would refer those who may be curious for further information on the
subject to Ormerod's _History of Cheshire_, where, in the pedigree of
"Vernon of Shipbrooke," they will find some account of "Old Sir Ralph."
* * * * *
While on the subject of _longevity_, I may mention that in 1833, while
passing through Savoy on my way from Italy, I saw and conversed with an
old woman, who was then in her 119th year. It was at Lanslebourg, on the
Mont Cenis. Her name was Elizabeth Durieux, and the date of her birth
was the 17th of December, 1714, only four months after the death of
Queen Anne, and when Louis XIV. still occupied the throne of France. Her
age was well authenticated. In early life she had been in the service of
the then reigning family, and a small pension had been settled upon her,
which she had been receiving nearly a century; and, until within ten
years of the time when I saw her, she had been in the habit of
journeying on foot over the mountain annually to receive it. She had all
her faculties, with the exception of a slight degree of deafness; and
assured me that she could remember everything distinctly for one hundred
and twelve years! She was bony, large limbed, and appeared to have been
a tall strong woman formerly; excessively wrinkled, and very dirty. How
long she may have continued to live after I saw her in 1833, I know not.