Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Old Age

In Memory of Ann Howard
Wife of George Howard
Born 1724
Died November 24, 1841
Aged 117 years



So reads the tombstone in the old George Howard cemetery on British Cemetery Road.

Jonathan Price, in his 1795 map and article, "A Description of Occacock Inlet," writes that about thirty families were living on the island, and that one of the "original proprietors" had reached his "ninetieth year" and did not "appear to feel any of the infirmities of age." This was undoubtedly William Howard, Sr., one-time owner of Ocracoke Island.

Nationwide, about 5% of the "above 65 year old" population of the United States is more than 90 years old.

At the present time there are at least three island residents who are over 90 years old. 

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is about the Unionist North Carolina State Government established at Hatteras in 1861. You can read all about it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news092114.htm

4 comments:

  1. Goood morning.
    Blanche (94) I know is a descendant of Wm. Howard.
    Are the other nonagenarians descended from the original families?
    If you could Interview all of them, wouldn't that make for a very interesting newsletter?

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    Replies
    1. Yes, Blanche is 94 years old, and is a native islander. Eleanor Garrish (98) is from Minnesota, and married an islander. She has wonderful stories of traveling to exotic places as a young woman. Leonard Meeker (98) discovered Ocracoke in the 1950s. He worked in the State Department under President Kennedy, and later became ambassador to Romania. About a year ago he gave a presentation at the library about his involvement with the Cuban Missile Crisis. Blanche, Eleanor, & Leonard are quite sharp, and all have interesting stories.

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    2. Appreciate your response
      Have a great day

      Delete
  2. Anonymous10:38 AM

    MY goodness what a coincidence another blogger at Cote De Texas writes about TWO different gentlemen in that 5% making headlines in the NYT and Publishing books (one about Pablo Picasso) and their excellent taste in decorating. It is one of Cote de Texas' stellar posts!! a good read with picture!!

    ReplyDelete