DURATION or HUMAN LIFE. 47 
But numerous and remarkable inftances of American 
longevity are, by no means, confined to the Northern and 
middfe siates. On the authority of two gentlemen of re- 
fpetability and obfervation one from Virginia—and the ¢ 
other from North-Carolina,---I am warranted in faying, 
fuch inftances occur in thofe ftates,as induce a belief, 
that their climates are favorable to along duration of hu- 
man 
At Thomfon in Connecticut, in 1790, Mr. Henry Elthorp—aged 105 years. 
At Albany, in the ftate of New-York, in 1790, Mr. Abraham Vanverts,—aged 124 years. 
At Eaft-Haddon, in Maflachufetts, in 1790, Mr. Weeks Williams,—aged 100 years. 
At Windham in Connecticut, in 1788, Mr. Arthur Ribbins—aged 110 years and ten 
months. 
At Chefterfield in Virginia, in 1788, Danie] Nunally—aged 105 years. 
At Wilmington in the ftate of Delaware, in 1789, Mr. Chriftopher Hendrickfon,—aged 
upwards of 100 years---He wasone of the firft Swedith fettlers on the Delaware. 
At Northampton in Maffachufetts, in 1788, Mr. Jofiah Clark--aged 92 years. He was the 
youngeft of rr children (fix fons and five daughters,) three of whom lived to be above 90, 
four above 80, and three above 70 years ofage. From the fix fons, only, have defcended 1158 
children, grand-children and great-grand children; 925 whom are now living. 
At Dover in New-Hampfhire, Mrs. Margant Wight, in 1787---aged 102 years. 
In Berks county, Pennfylvania, in 1789, Jofeph Mountz,---aged 100 years. 
At New-London, Connecticut, in 1789, Mrs. Dowfett,---aged 102 years. 
In the city of New-York, in 1789, Mrs, Elizabeth Lynch,---aged 104 years. 
At Great Barrington, in Mafiachufetts, in 1789, Mrs. Chapman,---aged 101 years. 
In South-Carolina, not long fince, Mrs. Dedcot,---aged upwards of 100 years; Mrs, Maffey, 
aged ro2; and Mrs. Maffey’s nurfe, aged 115 years. 
I am indebted to Jonathan Williams, jun. Efq. one of the Secretaries of the A. P. 8. for the 
following inftances of American Longevity, which he was fo obliging as to tranfmit to me, 
from Richmond in Virginia, in June lait viz. 
Abraham Eades, now living in Albemarle county Virginia, is 110 ycars old.---His wife died 
at 100, and they were married 80 years. 
A man of thename of Ige, Monongalia county Virginia, is now living---106 years old. 
A Mr. Crafton, King and Queen county Virginia, is 1¢4 years old, now living. 
John Dance, of Chefterfield county Virginia died at 125 years eld. He began to cut teeth 
before his death. 
$ Dr. Williamfon. This Gentleman has given me permiffion to make ufe of ibe following letter, on this 
ocea/ion. 
SIR, 
It is not poffible to give a general rule which fhall apply te che feveral parts of North-Caro- 
Jina, in anfwer te your queitions concerning the] duration of human life in that ftate. In theeaft- 
ern part of the ftate, within fifty or fixty miles of the fea, where the country. is flat and there 
are many marshes, the inhabitants are much afflicted during the fummer and autumn by inter- 
mitting and other bilious fevers. During the winter, as the coldisfeldom intenfe and by no means 
con{tant or certain, the inhabitants in general are not fufficiently careful to defend themfelves 
againft the cold: hence many, inthe vigor of life, menefpecially, are cut off ina few days 
by pleuritic or other inflammatory fevers. Such isthe ftate of the fluids in thofe who have been 
reduced by intermittents during the autumn, that they feldom refift inflammatory fevers. 
‘Time and obfervation will doubtlefs teach the inhabitants, by keeping themfelves dry and 
warm, to prevent what they cannet readily cure. There are inftances neverthelefs of a con- 
fiderable degree of old age, in that very climate. In the weftern parts of North-Carolina, to- 
wards the mountain, the inhabitants enjoy a great degree of health. Many of them have ve- 
ry numerous families and attain to old age. As that country was long the refidence of a mae 
ternal ancestor, I have probably been more attentive to the progrefs of population there. be 
6 
