METHUSALEM EVANS 1775-1861
On Friday May 18th 1861 the “Welshman” newspaper printed on page 4 of its edition the following story. It started with the headline SUDDEN DEATH OF AN OLD MAN. What is so interesting though with this story is his christian name – METHUSALEM (or METHUSELAH ) a name of huge biblical significance and a name very rarely used. Clearly Mr Evans was an intelligent individual being a clockmaker and repairer but to live your daily life in the middle of the 19th century had its own dangers as one got older. The fact that the “gossipers” in the town were spreading wrongful information of his demise as suggested in the news article was typical of the period. Methusalem was certainly not starved as the inquest rightly reports as the family clearly cared for him.He was however buried with little ceremony at St Davids cemetery on the same day of the publication of the news article – on May 18th 1861. Today he has no headstone but is not forgotten.. The news headline as mentioned above is therefore somewhat ironic as the real Methuselah as mentioned in the bible is the oldest recorded living person ever mentioned, though in reality and in today’s world an impossibility. Here then is the report of the inquest…….
Yesterday evening an inquest was held in the Town Hall, before John Hughes, Esq., on the body of Methuselah Evans, clock maker and brazier of Goose Street who died suddenly the previous night.From the evidence given it appeared that the deceased, who was in his eighty-sixth year, was in receipt of three shillings per week from the parish, being unable to do much work. He was in tolerably good health, and on Wednesday walked to Llwynhyr, about a mile from the town, where he repaired a clock, and was afterwards supplied with refreshments, of which he partook. He returned home between 3 and 4 o’clock, and spent the evening much as usual, and about 10 o’clock he and his nephew, who lived with him, took some coffee and bread for supper. On getting up from the table the old man fell against the mantelpiece, bruising his forehead, but he did not seem much injured, and soon afterwards went to bed. About I o’clock in the morning his nephew thought there was something the matter with him, as he seemed very cold and did not reply. He then procured a light, and found the deceased quite dead. This was the substance of the evidence, and the Coroner, in addressing the Jury, referred to the rumours in the town that the deceased had died from starvation, which it was evident could not have been the case, as on Monday he received 3 shillings out of which he paid 8d. for his lodging, and on Wednesday he received one shilling for repairing a clock at Llwynhyr, and, as they had seen, he had food during the day. The verdict of the Jury was, Died by the Visitation of God.”
Photograph below of stained glass window of Methuselah in Canterbury Cathedral. Methuselah was the grandfather of Noah who it is written lived to the age of 967 years of age.
