Henry Jenkins (longevity claimant) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry Jenkins
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Portrait of Henry Jenkins
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| Born | Unknown (reportedly in 1501) Ellerton on Swale, Scorton, North Riding of Yorkshire, England
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| Died | December 1670 (reputedly aged 169) Bolton-on-Swale, North Riding of Yorkshire, England
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| Known for | Extreme longevity claim |
Henry Jenkins was an English man famous for living an incredibly long time. People said he was 169 years old when he died! He was buried on December 9, 1670, in a village called Bolton-on-Swale, in North Riding of Yorkshire, England.
Contents
The Story of Henry Jenkins
His Amazing Age Claim
Henry Jenkins claimed he was born in 1501. This was a very long time ago! Back then, official records of births were not always kept. So, it is hard to know for sure if he was born in that year.
He lived in a place called Ellerton on Swale, near Scorton. Henry said he worked as a butler for Baron Conyers at Hornby Castle. He even claimed to have shared drinks with the Abbot of Fountains there. Later in his life, he became a fisherman. Towards the end of his life, he had to ask for money to live.
Henry's Memories and Records
In 1667, Henry Jenkins went to a special court called the Court of Chancery. He swore an oath that he was "about one hundred fifty and seven" years old. The judge asked him if he remembered any famous battles. Henry said he remembered the Battle of Flodden Field from 1513. He even claimed he carried arrows for the English archers in that battle!
While his birth date is not officially recorded, we do know when he died. His burial was written down in the church records of Bolton-on-Swale. It says he was buried on December 9, 1670. The record described him as "a very aged and poor man."
Remembering Henry Jenkins
Many years after he died, in 1743, people wanted to remember Henry Jenkins. They put up a tall stone monument, called an obelisk, in the churchyard. They also placed a special black marble plaque inside the church.
A man named Dr. Thomas Chapman wrote the words on the plaque. It talks about how Henry Jenkins was not famous or rich. But he was lucky to have good health and live for a very long time. The plaque says his long life was a gift from nature. It suggests that living a long life comes from being sensible, working hard, and having a peaceful mind. The plaque states he lived to the incredible age of 169.
Henry Jenkins in Books and Places
Henry Jenkins's story has appeared in books. For example, in 1957, a science fiction book called The Master: An Adventure Story by T. H. White mentioned him. The main character in that book was 150 years old, and the story compared him to Henry Jenkins.
There was even a pub named after him! In the village of Kirkby Malzeard, North Yorkshire, a pub was called "Henry Jenkins." It stayed open until 2008.
