Back to photostream

A Ripe Old Age

“If you live to be 100, I hope I live to be 100 minus 1 day, so I never have to live without you.”

~Winnie the Pooh

 

While we are sharing headstones... and while I am stuck in "Winnie the Pooh mode"... and they kind of go together in this instance. I mean, this guy lived to the age of 103!! Isn't that quite amazing for the 1700s?!!

 

John N. McCollum (1658-1760) who emigrated from Scotland, possibly as early as 1685, is buried in the cemetery of the Basking Ridge New Jersey Presbyterian Church. He is buried along with his wife Mary (1676-1760) and their grandson John N. McCollum III (1731-1769). Their tombstones were moved in the early nineteenth century when an addition to the church was constructed. The actual graves are beneath the sanctuary, against which the re-located tombstones rest. John Senior was the immigrant ancestor of this McCollum line, coming from probably Corran, Parish of Craignish, Argyllshire. Scotland.

 

The "cheery" epitaph reads:

"You Old, you Young, you Middle Aged, Great and Small, take my advice; be ready for Death's Call. I once was Young and many Days did See, I Dy'd when Old, no Age from Death beaing free. I'm now Intom'd in Earths' Dark Cavarn Lye, Conquered by Death. Make ready ALL to dye."

1,588 views
13 faves
19 comments
Uploaded on July 25, 2014
Taken on July 22, 2014