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Carlisle Patriot, Saturday, 26 July 1817, page 4
(FOR THE CARLISLE PATRIOT)
MEMOIRS OF A VERY OLD VILLAGER
[written on 18 Jul 1817]
Few counties in the kingdom have produced so many instances of longevity as CUMBERLAND, which, perhaps, may be attributed to the salubrity of her mountain-air, to the constitutional vivacity of her inhabitants, as well as to their temperate and regular modes of life. When we walk into its church-yards, particularly in the country, we often see tomb-stones in memory of persons who have died at the age of 80 or 90 years. In Castle-Sowerby Church-yard, we find the monument of a man, who, if my memory does not deceive me, had reached his one hundred and ninth year; and, about the middle of the last century, a woman died in the eastern parts of the county at the age of one hundred and ten years, who could remember the siege of CARLISLE by CROMWELL's forces, when a horse's head sold for half a crown, about fifteen shillings of our present money. Even in these days of degeneracy, when luxury and intemperance have so much contributed
to abridge human life, we frequently observe in a summer evening a number of gray-headed men sitting at the threshold of their cottages, and viewing their great grand children at play on the village green.
As every thing which AGE has made venerable becomes an object of curiosity, the following narrative of the life of a very old man, given in all the simplicity which such a topic requires, may not be uninteresting to the Reader.
ROBERT BOWMAN, (the subject of these memoirs), was born at Hayton, near Brampton, in 1705, and was brought up to the profession of a husbandman. He has resided during the last forty years of his life at Irthington, a pleasant hamlet surrounded by a tract of dry and well-cultivated land, about seven miles from CARLISLE. Some time last May, accompanied by my worthy friends the Vicar of the parish and his Son, I paid a visit to his humble habitation, which, like its aged proprietor, has withstood many a wintry blast. I found him lying on a couch near the fire-place, with the roseate glow of health on his cheeks and a serenity on his countenance that indicated the tranquility of his heart. I approached him with all the veneration that is due to an old man of an hundred and twelve; and was happy to find, in the course of conversation, that TIME, though it had blanched his locks and furrowed his brow, had not impaired his hearing, his memory, or his intellects; and that, though it had extended him on his couch, and incapacitated him from walking, he was not without hopes of continuing the contest with the tyrant a few years longer. All the occurrences of his youth are still fresh in his memory. He well remembers the insurrection of the Scots in 1715, in favour of the Pretender, when the Sheriff of Cumberland mustered on PENRITH Fell the Posse comitatus, to stop the progress of the rebels, and can recollect the time when Barley was three shillings a bushel (Carlisle measure), Oats eighteen pence, Butter three-pence a pound, and eggs a penny a dozen. Wheat and potatoes had not then made their appearance in Cumberland, and animal and tea were mostly confined to the tables of the opulent. If the Cumbrian Peasant could see an oatmeal pan-cake and a cowed tword [ed: sp may be wrong], (a sort of pudding made of oat-meal and hog's lard), smoking on his board, he cast no longing eye at the flesh-pots of his more wealthy countrymen.
At the age of fity, our venerable villager married and took a farm of five pounds per annum in his native parish, which he managed so successfully as to realize a little fortune. He had all the merit of a good farmer; he was skilful, frugal, active, and industrious; and, what adds not a little to his character, was well respected by his neighbours. His wife, who had been long the sharer of his toils, and by whom he had several children, died some years ago. He felt her loss sensibly; but had too much veneration for her memory to enter into a second marriage. He determined to live a chaste widower; and "the bonniest lass (he would say) that ever was wooed in a corner should never tempt him to break that resolution".
Long after he had completed a century, TIME had made so little impression on his constitution that he could perform the most laborious operations of husbandry, and use the spade, the flail, the scythe, and the reaping hook with all the vigour and dexterity of a person that has not seen thirty summers. At the age of one hundred and nine, he walked to and from Carlisle, a distance of fourteen miles, with an expedition that would surprise men in these degenerate times; and it is little more than a year since he was assisting his family at their harvest-work.
He has always lived abstemiously; his diet being chiefly potatoes, butter, cheese, milk, and hasty-pudding*. Snuff or tobacco he never used, and seldom tasted spirituous liquors. He is no friend to tea-drinking, to the general prevalence of which he imputes the whole train of nervous disorders and mental maladies which have spread so much pain and misery over the world. He has no aversion to ale, provided it be made of good malt and hops, which, he says, was always the case before the establishment of public breweries. He was never intoxicated but once during his life; a circumstance that happened during the festivity of a marriage, when that grave virtue SOBRIETY is generally forced to give way to jolly Comus and his train. His dress was generally light, even in the rigour of winter; and, whether the weather was cold or tempestuous, he was seldom seen muffled up in a surtout. He rarely wore gloves, which he considered as an effeminate covering; and boots and spatterdashes were also rejected for the same reason. He made it invariably his practice to go to bed soon and rise early, and during the summer-season generally took a noon-tide nap on some breezy bank where he enjoyed the air in all its purity and elasticity. Of the beneficial effects of that element on the human system we can have no doubt. The Scriptures inform us that Methusalem always slept in the open air. An angel said to him, "Arise, Methusalem and build thee a house, for thou shalt live yet five hundred years longer." But Methusalem answered and said, "If I am to live but five hundred years longer, it is not worth while to build me a house--I will sleep in the air as I have been used to do."
His life, in many particulars, resembles that of old Parr, as described by TAYLOR the Water-poet:
"Good wholesome labour was his exercise,
Down with the Lamb and with the Lark would rise;
In mire and toiling sweat he spent the day,
And to his team he whistl'd time away.
The Cock his night-clock, and till day was done,
His watch and chief sun-dial ws the Sun,
He entertain'd no gout, no ache he felt,
The air was good and temp'rate where he dwelt,
While Mavisses and sweet-tongued Nightingales
Did chant him roundelays and madrigals."
It may seem rather astonishing in this sickly, pill-taking age, that a doctor's recipe was never known to enter his house; for, like many other old men who have enjoyed an uninterrupted state of good health, no argument could ever convince him of the utility of the medical profession. The strength of nature and a good constitution he thinks are sufficient to withstand any distemper with whatever severity it may make its attacks, and he looks upon the great increase of physicians and apothecaries as a melancholy testimony of modern times. To his industrious habits and temperance, to the restriction of the passions within the limits which Virtue and Religion prescribe, and to the equality and serenity of his temper, which he never suffered an over-solicitude for the perishable things of tihs world to destroy, as well as to the native vigour of his constitution, must be attributed, in a great measure, the great age which he has at present attained.
His stature hardly reaches the middle size, his frame is rather slender, excepting that he has a broad chest, and his countenance is said to have had formerly much animation. he retains still a part of the vivacity of his youth, is always cheerful, and sometimes facetious. He is communicative, but not garrulous, and is lavish of panegyric on past times, without any disposition to censure the present. To a man who has attained his 112th year it cannot be supposed that life can bring many pleasures. The companions of his youth are all gone, and a new generation has risen around him. He may well say with the author of "The Night Thoughts":
"----------- My world is dead,
A new world rises, and new manners reign,
What a pert race starts up! the stranger gaze,
And I at them; my neighbour is unknown."
But thought every thing appears dreary and solitary around him, the tranquillity of his mind has not forsaken him; he reposes with all the firmness of a good Christian on the hopes that there is "another and a better world", where sorrow, pain, and care shall not enter.
(Kirklinton, July 18, 1817) S.
*On this dish, called sometimes "Thick Pottage", the Cumbrian peasant makes generally his morning and evening repast. The following anecdote from Clarke's Introduction to his Survey of the Lakes, is a sufficient evidence of its wholesomeness: "A medical gentleman, who has taken up his residence in the neighbourhood of Keswick, on being asked 'how he liked his situation?' made the following reply: 'My situation is a very eligible one as a gentleman; I can ejoy every species of country amusement in the greatest perfection. I can fish, hunt, and shoot amidst a profusion of game of every kind; but, as a physician, I cannot say it is quite so alluring, for the natives have gotten the art of preserving their health without boluses or electuaries, by a sort of plaister taken inwardly called Thick Pottage; this preserves them from the various diseases that shake the human fabric, and makes them slide into the grave by the gradual decay of nature!'" After reading so strong an attestation in favour of this meritorious dish, who will not regret that the tea-kettle should have usurped the place of the pottage-pan in so many of our farm-houses?
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Carlisle Patriot, Saturday, 13 Jan 1821, page 4
Mr.
Robert Bowman of Irthington, in Cumberland, who has completed his 115th
year. By Dr. Barnes. In a letter to Professor Jameson.
Dear Sir,
I
was lately induced by curiosity to visit a remarkable instance of
longevity, of which I have drawn up the following brief notice. At my
first visit, I was accompanied by two gentlemen, and on making inquiry
for old Mr. Bowman, the name of the individual alluded to, the person of
whom the inquiry was made, very significantly asked, if we meant "the
old man of all?" I have since understood, that this is not an uncommon,
and certainly very emphatic, appellation for the old man. You may
probably think the following account contains too much of the physician,
and too little of the philosopher, for insertion in the Philosophical
Journal. But should you deem it sufficiently interesting for your
publication, it is at your service. I am, Dear sir, your obedient
servant, Thomas Barnes, M.D.
Carlisle, Sept, 14, 1820.
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ACCOUNT OF MR. ROBERT BOWMAN
Of Irthington, in Cumberland,
WHO HAS COMPLETED HIS 115TH YEAR.
BY DR. BARNES, OF CARLISLE.
Mr. Robert Bowman, of Irthington, in Cumberland, who is now living, and has completed his 115th year, was born at Bridgewood-Foot, a small farmhouse near the river Irthin, about two miles from his present residence. His birth-day is not known, but he believes he was born about Christmas. As some doubts have been entertained with respect to his age, to put it beyond dispute, I have examined the register of his baptism, at the parish church of Hayton. His name, and place of nativity, as well as the year of baptism, which was 1705, are very legible; but from his name having been placed at the foot of the page, the month and day are worn out. The baptism immediately preceding his, was on the 23rd of September, and the next succeeding on the 28th of October: of course, his must have been between these periods; and if his own account be ocrrect, which the register nearly confirms, he will be 116 years of age at Christmas next. This interesting old man enjoys exceeding good health, and is content and cheerful. He is of the middle stature and says, when young, he was rather stout, and very strong; that he was fond of wrestling, and considered himself a good one. He joined in the amusements common among young people, and was rather partial to cock-fighting which he now strongly condemns; he was always sober and regular in his conduct. His parents both died when he was young, but he says that he remembers them very well. He married at the age of 50, and had six sons, all of whom are now living; the oldest is 59 years of age, and the youngest 47. He has a great number of grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. His wife died at Irthington in 1807, at the age of 81. His sons pay him a visit regularly once a year: they appoint a convenient day, and his friends in the village and neighbourhood are invited to meet them. With him this is a day of great rejoicing. His chest is large, and his person well proportioned. Although the hand of time has at length laid him prostrate, it has not yet made much impression on his constitution. The texture of his body is not loose or emaciated, but firm, and in embonpoint. His face is not wrinkled or shrivelled, but appears plump, round and rather florid. His sight is tolerably good: he never used glasses, and can at present see every object around him distinctly. He hears very well, and his taste and smell are very good. His hearing and sense of smelling, indeed, are uncommonly acute. His skin is soft and delicate; and his hair, which, in his youth, was of a dark brown colour, is now white. He has had no teeth for upwards of forty years. He sleeps soundly in the night, and also frequently during the day. He has been confined to bed for six years past, yet he can move all his limbs; but he is not able to walk without the assistance of two persons. All his limbs are free from complaint, the right hand excepted, the fingers of which are much contracted. This contraction he attributes to an injury he received a few years ago on his shoulder joint. He always serves himself when taking food, for which purpose he uses his left hand, which is perfectly steady. Between six and seven years ago he walked to Carlisle, and returned home on the same day with great ease. Carlisle is about eight miles distant from his residence. He frequently took a staff with him, when walking but seldom used it: he generally carried it under his arm. Only seven years ago, he actually hedged, reaped corn, made hay, mounted stacks of corn and hay, and assisted in making them; in short, he applied himself to all sorts of farm-labour, and was, to use his own expression, always a "top worker". He first took to his bed during some severe weather in winter, not in consequence of any severe indisposition, but on account of the coldness of the season. He has preferred his bed since that time, for the superior comfort he derives from it. He resides with one of his sons, on his own estate, the fruits of his industry. The house which he inhabits is in the farm-house style; his bed is placed in a corner near the kitchen-fire, and he has unremitting attention paid to him by his family. For some time, his bed was in the parlour, but finding that he was at too great a distance from the family, preference was afterwards given to the kitchen. He does not remember ever having been indisposed in his life, excepting twice: the first time was when very young, and then he had the measles; the second was not many years ago when he had the hooping-cough. One of his grandchildren slept with him, and they both had the hooping-cough at the same time: he was then upward of 100 years of age. He has occasionally met with severe accidents, but never had a medical attendant and does not remember ever having taken a dose of medicine in his life. He was always strong and healthy: if he got wet, while working in the fields, he seldom changed his clothes, and would not unfrequently thrash in the barn, or use some other active employment until they became dry. He never took any tea or coffee, and was never intoxicated in his lfie but once, and that happened at a wedding. He says his friends deceived him, by putting something strong than he expected into the liquor he was drinking. He very seldom drank any ale, spirits, or wine, except occasionally at the market, at a wedding, or at a funeral, and then only a single glass. He gives two reasons for his not drinking; one is, that he had no pleasure in taking intoxicating liquors; the other, he liked his money much better than them. He confesses he was rather avaricious. His common drink is water. His food, milk, hasty-pudding, broth, bread, potatoes, an egg, a small piece of animal food, or any thing the family are taking. His clothing was always plain, but warm and comfortable. His appetite is good, and his bowels are generally moved every second day. He was never regular as to the time of taking his meals or going to sleep. He generally took three meals a day, and dined about mid-day. His breakfast and supper he took when opportunity permitted. Sometimes he omitted a meal, and at other times, took four or five in a day, as his appetite prompted, or his occupation allowed him. He went to bed at different times of the night, and sometimes rose at one hour and sometimes at another in the morning. When he went for lime or coal, which he often had occasion to do, he generally slept in the open air all night. Even at the advanced age of 80, during part of the summer season, he wrought daily at a peat-moss, a few miles from Irthington, and being there late in the evening with his horse and cart, he would sometimes unyoke the horse, let it go loose upon the common, and take his repose for the night in the cart. This is a good instance of his great industry, as well as of the strength of his constitution: his principal object in remaining all night was, that he might be able to pursue his employment early in the morning. His pulse is 68 in a minute, regular and strong; no ossification of the arteries at the wrist can be discovered. His breathing is natural; and his voice, which is rather strong, appears to have undergone very little change. His mental faculties seem perfect; his memory is excellent as to particular circumstances, but he does not remember dates. He is happy, and appears to enjoy life. He is alive to every thing arond him, and acquainted with all the news of the day, at least with such news as country people are generally conversant in, and particularly with any thing that has happened in the village or neighbourhood. When trying his memory, I asked him if he ever heard of the battle of Waterloo? He answered that he had heard too much of Buonaparte; that he was a bad character, and at best only a coward; as soon as he found himself in danger he ran off. I reminded him that he himself had once done the same thing, having been previously informed that he was employed during the rebellion in 1745 in making trenches around Carlisle, when he made a precipitate retreat: he laughed heartily, and confessed he ran away as soon as he could get; he said he only remained among the soldiers one night. He entered freely into conversation with me, and made many inquiries about Carlisle, and particularly about the Carlisle canal. He said, he remembered the first rebellion in 1715; he was then eight or ten years of age; he heard a great deal about it at the time, and saw several men running away from it. On asking him why he was so late in marrying, he said he never thought much about getting a wife, and how he got one he does not know, but thinks it was by mere accident. When inquiry was made of him if he still entertained any idea of marrying a second time, and if he would not like a young wife, he replied, he would not like a young one; that he thought an elderly one might suit him; but being so very comfortably situated, he was better without one. When I asked him if he ever used tobacco or snuff, he very shrewdly answered, he never wasted his money that way; he had plenty of ways of getting quit of money without setting fire to it; and as for spending it in snuff, it was just throwing it away. He seemed healthy and hearty. I have seldom been in the company of any one, either young or old, that enjoyed better spirits. His education has been very limited; but he appears to have profited much by a few plain rules of conduct. His mind has been seldom if ever affected by anxious care, restless ambition, or studious thought. He has led the life of an industrious and laborious farmer. He has been temperate in all his pleasures, for which reason they have been of long duration. He has been regular in his mode of living, which has produced an unusual share of rational enjoyment. He has never indulged to excess in sensual gratifications, nor committed any great irregularity. By him, exercise, temperance, and simplicity of diet have been considered cardinal virtures:---
"Multa tulit, fecitque puer, sudavit, et absit,
Abstinuity Venere et a vino." --- Horace.
"Though I look old, yet I am strong and lusty;
For in my youth I never did apply
Hot and rebellious liquors to my blood;
Nor did I, with unbashful forehead woo
The means of weakness and debility." --- Shakspeare.
I have been particular in describing his habits, dispositions, and appearance, from a conviction, that his habits and dispositions have essentially contributed to prolong his life through a long series of years; and as there is at present very little appearance of decay, he will, in all probability, yet continue to live for many years. Some of his relatives having lived to an extreme old age, it is probable that nature originally conferred upon him a good constitution. One of his brothers died in 1810, aged 99 years; two years ago, one of his cousins died aged 95 years, and he has another now living at the age of 85.
There is a remarkable difference between him and the generality of old people: he is cheerful, good-humoured, and easily satisfied; he does not complain of any unpleasant change that has taken place in any thing arond him, nor of the manners or habits of the people. This, I think, can in no way be accounted for, except from the perfect state of his senses and mental faculties. The degeneracy of the times, and the disagreeable changes of which many old people bitterly complain, are not so much to be attributed to any change in the objects around them, as to themselves: their senses and faculties being impaired, the same objects cease to make their former agreeable impressions.
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Westmorland Gazette, Saturday, 28 Jun 1823, page 4
DEATH OF
Mr. Robert Bowman, of Irthington,
in his 188th Year!
On the evening of Friday, the 13th inst., this venerable old man breathed his last, at Irthington, near Carlisle, in the 188th year of his age.
He was born at Bridgewood-Foot, a small farm-house, near the river Irthing, "about two miles . . . [repeats from the above article] . . . of course, his must have been between these two periods." Thus the age of this extraordinary man is ascertained with a precision not often met with in accounts of persons whose span of life has been extended in any considerable degree beyond the general term of "man's pilgrimage on earth".
In August, 1817, Mr. Thomas Sanderson, or Kirklington, (a writer whose productions have often delighted and instructed the Cumbrian public), inserted in this paper a memoir of Mr. Bowman, from which a few extracts at this time cannot fail to be generally acceptable . . . MORE TO COME
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