‘By a letter from Stonhive, we have an account that one John Anderson died there lately who could not be less than 108 years old, he having been about 16 at the fight of the Bridge of Dee, which happened in the 1639.’—E. E. C.
1731. Nov.
‘William Crawford, janitor of the High School at Edinburgh, somewhat in years, having been thrice proclaimed in the kirk, went thither with his friends, and stood some hours expecting his bride. At last he received a ticket from her in these terms: “William, you must know I am pre-engaged. I am so. I never could like a burnt cuttie. I have now by the hand my sonsie, menseful strapper, with whom I intend to pass my youthful days. You know, old age and youth cannot agree together. I must then be excused if I tell you I am not your humble servant.” The honest man, not taking it much to heart, only said: “Come, let us at least keep the feast on a feast-day. Dinner will be ready. Let us go drink, and drive care away. May never a greater misfortune attend an honest man!” Back to dinner they went, and from the company convened the bridegroom got a hundred merks, and all charges defrayed; with which he was as well satisfied as he who got madam.’—C. M.
Nov. 19.
‘Died William Eadie, bellman of the Canongate, Edinburgh, aged 120. He had buried the inhabitants of the Canongate thrice. He was 90 years a freeman, and married a second wife, a lusty young woman, after he was 100 years old.’—C. M.
1732. Apr. 9.
‘Died John Gray, master of the Rope and Sail Manufactory at Edinburgh; eminent for his unparalleled skill in cutting whalebone.’—C. M.
In April, it was intimated from Kirkcaldy, that Margaret White of that place, aged 87, has lately cut eight fresh teeth. ‘Her husband,’ moreover, ‘is in hopes she may bring him also a new progeny, as she has recovered, with her new tusks, a blooming and juvenile air.’
These were encouraging facts for the aged; but what were they in comparison with the case of Jean Johnston of Old Deer, in Buchan! Being aged 80, and the widow of three husbands, she lately married for her fourth a young man of eighteen, who had since bound himself apprentice to a wheel-wright. ‘She seems exceedingly well pleased with him, and remarks that, had it not been for the many changes of husbands she had been blessed with, she must have long ago been dead.’ She lived, too, in hopes of a fifth husband, should this one unfortunately not live long.
‘Thursday last,’ says the paper of June 5th, ‘a certain gray-haired hair-merchant in the Landmarket, aged between seventy and eighty, a very heavy and corpulent man, laid half a guinea that he should make the round of Hope Park in twenty minutes, which is reckoned about a Scots mile. He made it out in about nineteen minutes, but was so reduced before he reached the starting-post that he arrived there upon all-fours. On taking a dram, he reverted so well, that he offered to lay the same wager again instantly.’