Elizabeth Harton

A carte-de-visite portrait of Elizabeth (‘Betty’) Harton, photographed on 23 November 1861 when she was 105 years old and r’esiding in Walmgate, York,’ according to an inked inscription verso in a period hand.

Another inscription pencilled recto in the lower margin reads: ‘Betty Harton 105 / 61.’

‘DEATH OF A CENTENARIAN AT YORK — During the present week, Elizabeth Harton, who had reached the extraordinary age of 108 years, has been interred in the city of York. For a great number of years she had been an inmate of Winterscale’s Hospital, in Walmgate, York, and up to the last possessed the whole of her faculties. She has left a daughter behind her of the age of 82’ (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 1 October 1864).

‘LONGEVITY — On Saturday last, died in this city, a woman who had attained the extraordinary age of nearly 108 years. For many years she had resided in an hospital in Walmgate, and her daughter (now 82 years old) has lived with her for the last seven years to take care of her. The old woman retained the use of her facilities almost until the last, and not very long since attended a public meeting in the parish. She was buried on Monday last, at the Cemetery, on which occasion the Rev. H.V. Palmer, in addition to reading the burial service, delivered a very excellent address’ (Yorkshire Gazette, 1 October 1864).

Photographed by William Thomas and Robert Gowland of York.