3-071-276 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Miss Margaret Bailey, of Cairncastle, County Antrim, now in her 111th year, 1881. Engraving from a photograph by Mr. Boyd. '...there is no doubt of the reality of this extraordinary instance of female longevity...In addition to her own uniform statement and the concurrent belief of her relatives and neighbours, the age of this remarkable [Irish]woman is attested by the Rev. Classen Porter, of Ballygally Castle, in the same parish, who has in his possession the original family record, giving not only the date of Miss Bailey's birth, but also that of her brother and sisters...Miss Bailey occupies, as her forefathers did for generations before her, the position of a tenant- farmer, and that she was born and has spent all her days in the house she now occupies. Her brother dying young and her sisters marrying early in life, she was for many years called upon to superintend personally the business of her farm. This she continued to do effectually until an accident a few years ago to some extent disabled her. But her mental faculties are not in the least impaired, and her bodily health in other respects being excellent, she is able with help to move a little about her house, in the management of which she still acts as mistress'. From "Illustrated London News", 1881.