[We are indebted to the kindness of the Rev. THOMAS CORSER for the
opportunity of preserving in our columns the following interesting
notice, from the _Manchester Guardian_ of the 19th August, 1843,
of the subject of his communication in our No. for May 31. (No.
83, p. 421.)]
Having heard of the extraordinary circumstance of an old man named James
Horrocks, in his hundredth year, living in Harwood, about three miles
from Bolton, whose father lived in the time of Oliver Cromwell, we took
an opportunity, a few days ago, of visiting this venerable descendant of
a sire who was contemporary with the renowned Protector. Until within
the last few years he resided at Hill End, a small estate left him by an
uncle when he was about twenty-six years old; but both his surviving
daughters being married, and himself growing feeble, and his sight
failing him, he left the land and went to reside with his eldest
daughter, Margaret, and his son-in-law, John Haslam, at a place called
"The Nook," near the Britannia, in Harwood. Here we found the old man,
surrounded with every comfort which easy circumstances and affectionate
friends can afford, and, to use his own language, "neither tired of
living, nor yet afraid to die." He is a remarkably good-looking old man,
with long, silvery locks, and a countenance beaming with benevolence and
good nature. He has nearly lost the use of his eye-sight, and is a
little dull of hearing, yet he is enabled to walk about. The loss of his
sight he regrets most of all, as it prevents him from spending his time
in reading, to which he was before accustomed; and, as he remarked, also
denies him the pleasure of looking upon his children and his old
friends. He converses with remarkable cheerfulness for one of his years.
As an instance, we may mention, that, on observing to him that he must
have been a tall man in his youth, he sprang up from his arm chair with
the elasticity of middle age, rather than the decrepitude usually
accompanying those few who are permitted to spin out the thread of life
to the extent of a century, and, with a humorous smile upon his
countenance, put his hands to his thighs, and stood as straight as an
arrow against a gentleman nearly six feet, remarking, at the same time,
"I don't think I am much less now than ever I was." He stands now about
five feet eight inches and a half. A short time ago, on coming down
stairs in the morning, he observed to his daughter, with his accustomed
good humour, and buoyancy of spirit, "I wonder what I shall dream next;
I dreamt last night that I was going to be married again; and who knows
but I could find somebody that would have me yet." His son-in-law is an
old grey-headed man, much harder of hearing than himself; and it
frequently happens, that when any of the family are endeavouring to
explain anything to him, old James will say, "Stop, and I'll _insense_
him;" and his lungs seldom fail in the undertaking.
From this interesting family we learn, that William Horrocks, the father
of the present James, of whom we have been speaking, was born in 1657,
four years after Oliver Cromwell was declared protector, and one year
before his death. He would be two years old when Richard Cromwell, who
succeeded his father, resigned; and four years old when Charles II. was
crowned in 1661. The exact period of his first marriage we have not been
able to ascertain; but it is certain that his bride was employed as
nurse in the well-known family of the Chethams, either at Turton Tower,
or at Castleton Hall, near Rochdale. By this marriage he had four
children, as appears from the following memorandums, written in an
excellent hand in the back of an old black-letter Bible, printed in
1583:
"Mary, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Horrocks, was born
the 15th day of September, and baptised the 23d day of the same
month, Anno Dom. 1683."
"John, the son of William and Elizabeth Horrocks, was born the
18th day of January, and baptized the 25th day of the same month,
Anno Dom. 1686."
"Ann, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Horrocks, was born the
14th day of March, and baptized the 23d day of the same month,
Anno Dom. 1699."
"William, the son of William and Elisabeth Horrocks, was born the
9th day of June, and baptised the 17th day of the same month, Anno
Dom. 1700."
At what time his wife died, we are also unable to ascertain; but there
is no doubt he remained a widower for many years, and at length married
his housekeeper, a comely blooming young woman, whose kindness to the
old man was unremitting, and he married her in 1741, at the age of
eighty-four, she being at the time only twenty-six.
This marriage evidently attracted much attention in the neighbourhood,
and we find that, about two years afterwards, the old man and his
youthful partner were sent for to Castleton Hall, the residence of a
branch of Humphry Chetham's family, where they were treated with great
kindness, and a portrait painter engaged to take their likenesses, which
are now in the possession of their son, and add much to the interest of
a visit to him. These portraits are well executed; and, of course,
appear rather like those of a grandfather and his grandchild than of
husband and wife, although he appears more like sixty than eighty-six.
In front of each painting is prominently inscribed the age of each of
the parties, and the date when the portrait was taken. Upon that of the
husband the inscription is, "AETA: 86--1743." And upon that of the wife,
"AETA: 28--1743." These, it appears, were taken two years after their
marriage, and preserved in the Chetham family, at Castleton Hall, as
great curiosities.
In the following year, the present James was born, as appears from the
following entry on the back of the same old Bible:
"James, the son of William and Elizabeth Horrocks of Bradshaw
Chapel, was born March 14th, 1744."
He will therefore complete his hundredth year on the 14th of next March.
He was born in a house near Bradshaw Chapel, which has long since been
removed. He was about twenty-seven years old when an uncle left him a
small estate in Harwood, called Hill End; and soon after he married, we
believe in 1773, and by that marriage had eight children. William, the
son of James and Margaret Horrocks, was born February 21, 1776;
Margaret, March 31, 1778; John, August 11, 1781; Simon, Dec. 23, 1783;
Matty, June 28, 1786; James, Jan. 13, 1789; Sarah, Sept. 22, 1791; and
Betty, Jan. 8, 1794.
Of these, the only survivors are Margaret, aged sixty-five, the wife of
John Haslam, with whom the old man now resides; and Betty, the youngest,
aged forty-nine, who is married, and has four children.
The old man was only eleven years old when his father died, and has no
recollection of hearing him mention any remarkable event occurring in
his lifetime.
On asking the old man how he came into possession of the portraits of
his father and mother, he stated, that, some years ago, he saw in the
newspapers a sale advertised of the property at Castleton Hall, and went
there before the day to inquire after the portraits, with the view of
purchasing them before the sale. The servants at the hall admitted him,
and he found they were not there. He then went to the house of the
steward, and found he was not at home; he, however, left a message,
desiring that the steward would send him word if there was any
probability of his being able to purchase the portraits. Accordingly,
the steward sent him word that they had been removed, with the family
portraits, to the residence of a lady near Manchester, where he might
have the satisfaction of seeing them. The old man cannot remember either
the name or the address of the lady. However, he went to the place, in
company with a friend, and saw the lady, who treated him with the
greatest kindness. She showed him the portraits, and was so much pleased
with the desire he manifested to purchase them, that she said, if she
could be certain that he was the heir, she would make him a present of
them, as his filial affection did him great honour. His friend assured
her that he was the only child of his mother by William Horrocks, and
she then gave them to him, although she parted with them with regret, as
she had no other paintings that attracted so much attention. His
recollection of the circumstances are so perfect, that he remembers
offering a gratuity to the servants for packing the portraits, which the
lady would not allow them to receive.
As an instance of the health and vigour of this remarkable old man, it
may be mentioned, that ten years ago, in the winter of 1832-3, he
attended at Newton, to vote for Lord Molyneux, then a candidate for
South Lancashire. He was then in his ninetieth year. He walked from
Harwood to Bolton, a distance of three miles. From thence he went to
Newton by the railway; and, having voted, he by some means missed the
train, and walked to Bolton, a distance of fifteen miles. On arriving
there he took some refreshment, and again set out for Harwood, and
accomplished the distance of twenty-one miles in the day, in the depth
of winter.--_Manchester Guardian_, Aug. 19, 1843.