Monday, November 6, 1972
– Guardian (cf. Stephen James Dunn
Facebook page)
Article Recalls Life Island’s Oldest Native
This is a short sketch of the life of
Mrs. Donald Graham (1776-1887) the oldest person known to have lived on Prince
Edward Island – whose age lacked fourteen days of one hundred and eleven years.
The following extract is taken from “Past
and Present in P.E.I.”, published in “The Islander” in the early 1900’s.
Longevity on the Island
“We note a case of extraordinary
interest near the village of Alma in Prince County on the Western Road. There died a few years ago, one Mrs. Donald
Graham who at the time of her death lacked but fourteen days of being one
hundred and eleven years old. Her maiden
name was Catherine Brown, daughter of John Lawrence Brown of
Charlottetown. When she was seven years
old, a vicious rooster picked out one of her eyes; but this only seemed to make
the other grow stronger and it retained its strength and has to the end of her
long and busy life. Mrs. Graham being
able to read and sew without glasses to the day of her death. She was very vivacious, always in good humour
and ready to dare fate and meet her on equal terms, when adversities came,
strong in courage and cheerfulness. Her
memory was remarkably good and her reminiscences of the early days on the Island
– those days of simplicity of life and iron seriousness of purpose, wherein
heroic men and women were laying the foundation of what is in itself a glories little
empire – were exceedingly interesting in narration and unquestionably very
truthful and were always heard with close attention.”
“At the age of twenty-three, she
married Donald Graham who was 25. From
this union there were born eight children, two boys and six girls. Their names and who they married are as
follows: (1) John married Isobel D. Adams,
Lot 11, five children; (2) Marie married Thomas Adams, French River, eight children;
(3) Mary Ann married Williams, Sea View, seven children; (4) Helen married John
Thomson, Sea View, one child; (5) Catherine married Alexander Bernard, New
London, three children; (6) Donald married Elizabeth Coulton, three children;
(7) Jane married Artimus Vincent, Wilmot, one child; (8) Isobel married William
MacKenzie, Wilmot, seven children.
“Donald and Mrs. Graham lived in
Margate all their married life. Donald
died in 1850 at about seventy-seven years of age. After his death Mrs. Graham moved to Alma and
live with her daughter, Mrs. Thompson for fifteen years. After Mrs. Thompson’s death she moved next
door with another daughter, Mrs. Vincent, and stayed there until her death
eighteen years later. When Mrs. Graham
was 110 years old (1886), my mother and I drove with horse and carriage from New
London to Alma, a distance of sixty miles, to visit Mrs. Graham. She was living with her daughter, Mrs.
Artimus Vincent. While we were there she
walked across the kitchen and carried a home-made hardwood chair and placed it
against the opposite without resting.
“Mrs. Graham’s father, Lawrence Brown,
married Jean Jamieson December 21, 1770, Lawrence Brown’s Sister, Janet,
married Alexander Pickering of New London.
They had six children. Their
oldest daughter, Jennie married John Woodside of Clinton. They had eight children. Another daughter, Jane, married William
Adams, New London, and they had eight children.
Lawrence Brown’s sister, Mary married
James Smallwood of Mt. Stewart and their great-grandson is Joey Smallwood, ex-Premier
of Newfoundland.”
I am very grateful to Mr. Neil
Matheson who asked for information on Mrs. Graham’s descendants in a news item
in the Guardian in May, 1970; also to Mr. Ira Brown, a descendant of Lawrence
Brown, and to Miss Rae Barbour who lived next door to the Vincents in Alma.
Ira Brown was born in York in
1882. He has the trunk which Lawrence
Brown brought out from Scotland and each generation has added papers of interest. He has his signature on his marriage license
and several letters.
The following are excerpts from Rev. R.W. Dyer’s 1859-1883 Journals
April 29, 1883 - Went this morning to Montrose. Roads very bad. It made me quite sick to get along. Had very good audience. Clark present and many of the Western Road
folks, preached from Matt 7: 24, 27. I
enjoyed the Sermon, so I hope did the people.
May it please God to bless His Word.
Had a message from poor old Mrs. Graham 104 years old to ask me to go
see her. She is very poorly – Returned
to Alberton for the afternoon Service.
Fine day Mr. and Mrs. Buckerfield present about 70 present. Had a nice Service preached from James V: 7
verse. Mrs. Duvar present, all is well
thank God.
April 30, 1883 - Mr. Champion came to see me this morning to
say I could have the horse and wagon to go to see Old Mr. Graham an that Mrs.
C’s mother could go with me so about 10 a.m. we started. Roads bad could not go the Line Road nor by
the way of Clark’s Mill. So we went all
around by Mr. Hockin’s and round by D. Gordon’s and down the Western Road to
the old ladie’s. We got ther about 12
noon. How they all were to see me. Found the old lady in bed. I had never before found her in bed. She had been ill and so went to bed. She may never get up again. God knows.
Though she had been sick she was quite able to converse about her Dear
Saviour being all sufficient to save her soul.
I found her full of hope full of the Gospel Truths and well able to
recount them to me. I was surprised to
find her so intelligent. She could
accurately tell me how she and all her father’s family lived 80 years ago and
repeat Scripture to a great length. The
beautiful text ask and ye shall receive’’ Fight the good fight of Faith
‘’’ She told me that she was willing to
go when it should please her Heavenly Father to call her. It was truly delightful to find her sensible
and able to tell me all about her past life.
She had a pious, God fearing Father.
He being dead yet speaketh in his daughter her Father has been dead over
70 years. I read to her. The XIV Chapter of John and made some remarks
and then prayed for her commending her to her Saviour. She said to me Oh if I never see you again I
trut that we shall meet in heaven where we shall pain no more. After this delightful visit to this aged
Saint I was asked to go and see another family close by. Here again I found a
sick house. The poor young Mother dying
in Consumption pale as death a very sick baby Grandmother and sister poorly. I
endeavoured to comfort them from God’s Word which I read to them all. After
praying with them and some other Godly counsel which I pray God to bless to all
present for Jesus’ sake. I returned to the old ladie’s found her asleep. I made
ready for home through mud, water and snow. After the very rough journey I
arrived safely at sun down all well thank God.
October 26, 1883 - After prayers went to see Mrs. Murphy. Had prayer with the family. They were glad to see me. I then went to see Mr. Vincent. Had a baptism the young child. From there I went on to see the old, old
lady. Mrs. Graham going I think on a 106
years. She was so glad to see me. I was greatly delighted with her. She is so full of the Spirit. She trust in God through J.C. and she is full
of hope. I talked to her. Read to her and prayed for her. Then she repeated a long, long piece of
poetry very nicely which she had learned about 90 years ago. She is waiting for her Heavenly Father to
call her home.
