The 'Swinefleet Centenarian': Mrs Hannah Dyson

Goole History > Goole People & Families > Hannah Dyson

 

From the Goole Times 25th October 1890:

 

DEATH OF THE SWINEFLEET CENTENARIAN

Mrs Hannah Dyson, well-known as the "Swinefleet Centenarian," died on Saturday night last. She passed peacefully away at about 6-30 p.m. Mrs Dyson completed her hundreth year on the 29th April 1889 and had she survived until next April would have attained the extra-ordinarily advanced age of 102. Up to a short period previous to her death she enjoyed remarkably good health, and was in full possession of all her faculties. Within the last few weeks, however, she has gradually become weaker and her early demise was fully expected by her relatives and friends.

The cottage in which the old lady was born was one in which her parents had resided for thirty years previously. Mrs Dyson's parents - whose names were John and Hannah Parkin - removed to a house on Mr Empson's farm at Goole Fields, and where she herself had worked for the unusually lengthy period of fifty years. She was married to William Dyson, who also worked on the same farm and who died in 1858 at the age of 74. Her life was one of hard work, it being spent very quietly in her own domestic circle. An occasional trip to Hull by water and a very rare trip to Doncaster - whether by road or rail is not certain - very nearly constituted her journeyings abroad.

Of a family of ten, four are now surviving, two daughters and two sons, the latter residing in the United States. She lived to see and recognise seven generations of her descendants. One of her daughters lived with the old woman in the comfortable cottage which the kindness of Mr and Mrs Empson, of Ousefleet Hall, had provided for her. The united ages of the old lady and her two daughters - Mrs Theaker and Mrs England - who have been with their mother during her last days - would exceed 250 years, while the years of her two sons combined with those of herself and two daughters showed a record of over 450 years. This for five individuals is marvellous. The old lady always spoke in terms of the highest praise of the generous manner in which she had been treated by Mr and Mrs Empson. She has had a special satisfaction in relating the reminiscences of her early days, and alludes to the fact that at one period within her memory there were only three houses on this side of the bridge which spans the river Don at Goole.

Her remains were interred on Tuesday at the Hook churchyard by the side of those of her husband, whose life she had outlived nearly 30 years. There was a numerous family of relatives present, and the Rev. W. Booth, the Vicar, officiated. Mrs Empson's carriage followed the funeral, while crosses were laid on the grave through the kindness of the Rev. J. W. deCobain, vicar of Swinefleet, and Mr Luck, of Goole Fields.