The extraordinary life and times of Thomas Parr, who lived to be 152 years of age : with remarks on disease and health, and the means of prolonging life / [T. Roberts & Co.].
- T. Roberts & Co.
- Date:
- [1890?]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The extraordinary life and times of Thomas Parr, who lived to be 152 years of age : with remarks on disease and health, and the means of prolonging life / [T. Roberts & Co.]. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![with his own hand the secret of the method by which he pro¬ longed his life to the grand old age of 152, produced a marvellous effect on the system of medicine in vogue at the time of its discovery [some 60 years ago]; and will doubtless be altogether adopted in preference to the present methods, which are still full of absurdities. According to the “Philosophical Transactions ” (a scientific work which appeared contemporary with Parr), he was born at Winningto.n, in Salop, on the 14th September, 1483. The authenticity of this date is supported by the inscription on his tomb in Westminster Abbey, and the following words which appear on a brass tablet in the old church or chapel of Great Wollaston, place the matter beyond doubt ‘ ‘ The olde, olde, very old man, Thomas Parr, was born at the Glyn, in the township of Win- nington, within the Chapelry of Great Wollaston, and parish of Alberbury, in the county of Salop, in the year of our Lord 1483. He lived in the reigns of ten Kings and Queens of England, viz., King Edward IV., King Edward V., King Richard IIP, King Henry VII., King Henry VIII., King Edward VI., Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth,, King James I., and King Charles I. He died the 13th, and was buried in Westminster Abbey on the 15th of November, 1635, aged 152 years and 2 months.” Parr’s father was a petty farmer, and it is said that his birth¬ place still exists. At a very early age he commenced real life by joining his father in the cultivation of his small holding,, and nothing was observed to lead anyone to suppose that he would live to such a remarkable age, the length of which causes him to be regarded after centuries have elapsed as one of the landmarks on the page of history. Ere he reached man’s estate he was stricken with that most terrible complaint known as the bloody flux and King’s Evil, which he patiently endured for many years. In those days of rough-and-ready methods of cure—an age essentially of the survival of the fittest—it may be imagined](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30479861_0005.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
