EXTRAORDINARY LONGEVITY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1564, 21 May 1887, Page 3

EXTRAORDINARY LONGEVITY

It may he Interesting, sayß a Scotch contemporary, to record some remarkable eases of longevity m Ross-shire. The parish of Loohbroom, Roas-shlre, m proportion to Its population; contains, parhaps, more aged people than any other parish ln Sootland. There are centenarians of both sexes, but the oldest of them all b Mr Hugh M'Leod, residing at Moorfieldt, about two miles from Ullapool. Ootogenarians remember Hugh as a grown-up man ln their earliest infancy, and middle-aged people rejnembsr him p an old man from their ohildhood, for dating the past thirty or thirty- five years be has undergone little or no change ln his external appearanoe, Born m 1782, Hugh's memory goes far back into the time when "George the Third was King," He was 14 years of age when the poet Bnrni died, and 37 years of age when Queen Viotorla waß born. Being only eleven years younger than Sir Walter Scott, Hugh was thus m the 50th year of his age when the great novelist died, In 1832. Though m the 105 th year of bis age, he is still quite brisk and lively, and apparently able to weather a good few winters yet. At Aohnahaird, ColEaoh, m the same parish, tnere uvea a ale old woman named Mrs Catherine M'Nichol, who Is 103 years old, and during her long life she has never travelled many miles from her birthplace Mri M'Leay, who resides In Pultney ■treet, Ullapool, ie a most remarkable old lady, and deserves more than a passing notloe* She was born at Leokmelm Loohbroom, m 1795, and waß married In the year of Waterloo to the late Mr M'Leay, of Rhidorrooh, by whom she had thirteen children, and her descendants to the fourth generation are nowjepread over Scotland, England, and the colonies, and rue io numerous that, if gathered together they would of themselves form a respectable oolony or a good-sized village, and Set Mrs M'Leay knows them all by name 'he following is their number up to date M far as known, viz , 13 children, 04 grandohlldren, 105 great-grandoblldren, And 13 great-great- grandohlldren, or 225 tn all. Although Mra M'Leay Is m her .92nd year, she is quite aotive, and with Unimpaired faculties* She reads a greai {Jeal,- and evinces a lively interest m piffling 'evoats. Mr Hugh Fraser, of Blphtn (sfitasn mile from Ullapool), also deserves to ba mentioned. He is m his 96th year, bnb more vigorous and lively than many a man at 60. Besides being a good walker, he undertakes considerable jonrneya on horseback. At a gathering {of orofters held some time ago m connection with the land agitation, Mr Eraier Challenged all theorofterß present %o run a race with him, on condition that lie would get a start of one yard from the competitors for every year he exceeded them In age. The challenge was pot ao? flint cd.