This is an image of a death record from 1827. Do my eyes deceive me or was Eleanora 109 when she died? I know that 29 is far more likely...but I still see 109. What do you think?

img514.imageshack.us/i...cchia2.tif

Donna

p.s. This is the first time I have used Image Shack. Did I make the image big enought to read?

Looks like cento nove 109 to me! Way to go! Not much pollution in those days. One of my husband's ancesors died in 1836 age 92. Why not 109.

Thank you! I agree. I see "cento nove" there. That means that dear Eleanora lived from 1718 to 1827. Can you imagine that?

Donna

Just keep in mind that one of the most flawed Stato Records of all are the Morti. The age at death is wrong in the older records 75% of the time, sometimes a couple years off but often (in the case of elderly people) by a decade or more. It was information given (naturally) by the decedent's survivors who were in many cases unreliable informants.

Of course you are right James. But until we find out otherwise...Eleanora was 109!

Donna

DonnaPellegrin wrote:

Of course you are right James. But until we find out otherwise...Eleanora was 109! Donna

We should live as long, no? Wonder what a person thinks and does at 109? I know my grandfather was 93 and he still had all his wits about him when he died. My great aunts (both of them) are 93 and 96 and they also still understand everything.

Wow Donna! That beats my eldest ancestor who died at 98! Great find!

Oh, I'm not related to Eleanor. I wish! I was just going through the film, learning about the history of the village, and there she was and I did a double take. I just wanted to make sure I was reading the record right.

I'll bet Eleanor had some fantastic stories to tell though. She lived through the great earthquake of 1783, Cardinal Ruffo's hordes, the guerilla war against Napoleon and the Neapolitan Revolution. And those were just the events of her old age!

Donna

Donna, Guinness Book of World records actually documents all proven cases of longevity over 105, no matter how far back. If her baptism could be located and submitted along with her death act they would record it.

Now just to get at those church records!

I remember reading about this one woman recorded and proven by Guinness who lived from 1796 until 1906! She lived from George Washington to Teddy Roosevelt!!

My grandmother, God willing, will turn 100 this coming November. All of my grandparents and great-grandparents that I know of lived to the high 80's and 90's. My father passed away at 89. So far we seem to be a long-lived family. With our lifestyles and diet, I doubt that my and my children's generation will fare as well.

Mary