Noah Raby facts for kids
Noah Raby (born around 1772 or 1822, died March 1, 1904) was an American man famous for claiming to be very, very old. He said he lived to be 131 years old! He also claimed to have fought in the War of 1812, a big war that happened a long time ago.
Noah Raby's Amazing Claim
Noah Raby's claim about his age was quite extraordinary. He said he was born on April 1, 1772. This would have made him 131 years old when he passed away in 1904.
He also told stories about his past. For example, he claimed to have been discharged from a ship called the "Brandywine" many years before. He said he was born in Gates County, North Carolina. His father, he mentioned, was a full-blooded Native American named Andrew Bass.
What the Records Show
Even when Noah Raby was alive, some people were unsure about his age claim. Newspapers noted that his story was mostly based on what he said himself. People in his local area, near New Brunswick, New Jersey, were proud of his story.
However, official records tell a different story. The 1850 census lists Noah Raby as 28 years old. This record shows he was born in North Carolina and was living in New Jersey. If he was 28 in 1850, it means he was born around 1822. This would make him 81 years old when he died in 1904, not 131.
So, while Noah Raby's story of being 131 years old was interesting, official documents suggest he was much younger.
See also
- Longevity claims
- Longevity traditions
