| Matthew Pearson c1752 - 1846
This article was in the Yorkshire Evening Post - 7th January
1978
It was taken from Old Yorkshire Diary by Derek Naylor.
Matthew's Recovery
Matthew Pearson of Pannal Ash, near Harrogate, died in
1848 aged 112. He was a working man during the whole of his life, and was
for a long time a common carrier between Leeds Harrogate and Knaresborough.
He was only once confined to his room, by sickness, in the
whole of his life and that was about 40 years before his death, when he was
so dangerously ill that the doctor gave him up as incurable, and told him to
prepare for the worst. He had, however, a different opinion himself, and on
the return of his wife to his bedside he asked her for a glass of rum.
She complied with his request; thinking if it did no good
it could do no harm to a dying man. He had no sooner swallowed it, that he
said. "Noo I shall get better!" and he did mend and never had another day's
illness till the close of his long life.
He had the use of all his mental faculties unimpaired by
the time and sever usage to the last, and was able to walk about to within a
few days of his death.
He died because the lamp of his life was completely burned
out. He was a man of middle stature, strong and active in his younger days,
and although once restored to health by a glass of rum, he was not a man of
intemperate habits.
Note:- Matthew is also mentioned for his long life
in the Pannal parish registers which also gives his age as 112. As most
genealogists will know sometimes ages were out by a number of years. Until
Matthew's birth can be found his true age at death will not be known. His
parents John Pearson and Elizabeth Neal married in 1751 at Pannal. His
father John was born in 1725. Most of the Pearson's that came from Pannal
were christened at St Robert's Church where Matthew and his wife Phoebe were
married. Matthew's christening is not at Pannal. We estimate that he was
about 94 years old when he died which, in those days was a good age.
Many thanks to Ronnie Pearson who forwarded the above
article to me. |
