8 Mr. Worcester on Longevity. 
itself. Of the 93 years, there are only 37 for which any names are 
given ; and there are several periods of considerable length, as from 
1735 to 1754, 1754 to 1765, and 1775 to 1787, including, in 
these three intervals, 35 years, during which none are enumerated. 
Less than a fourth part of the towns in the State are found in 
the table ; and it is observable, that of the first 25 persons men- 
tioned, 7 belonged to the town of Chester. The disproportion 
between the several counties is also noticeable. Taking the 
divisions of the State as they were before the new county of 
Merrimack was formed, the 96 persons whose residence is given, 
will be distributed as follows: 47 to the county of Rockingham, 
18 to Strafford, 16 to Hillsborough, 8 to Cheshire, 7 to Grafton, 
and 0 to Coos. 
Dr. Belknap states that ‘in Londonderry, the first planters’ 
lived, on an average, to 80 years ;’”? and it has been said that the 
earlier inhabitants of this country were a stouter, more vigorous, 
and longer lived race, than their descendants. This may probably 
have been the fact, as their circumstances and habits were more 
favourable to longevity than those of the present generation, 
inasmuch as they were more universally industrious, frugal, and 
temperate ; and possessed all the necessaries, but none of the 
luxuries of life. The preceding table, however, furnishes no 
evidence of a diminution of instances of longevity ; nor, on the 
other hand, can it be considered as affording any evidence of the 
contrary, as the table is undoubtedly more complete with regard 
to the later years than the earlier ones. 
The five following persons, Lovewell, Perkins, Metlin, Welch, 
and Scoby, lived to the age of 110 years or upwards. 
Zaccheus Lovewell is said to have reached the age of 120 
years, which is the longest life that is known to have been attained 
