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“The 20th century was one of adding
years to life. The 21st century will be one of adding life
to years.” (AARP)
In her 1882 Vermont History Gazetteer, Abby Maria Hemenway captured
the story of a remarkable Moretown resident who was about to
attain the great age of 95 and could demonstrate that she had
life in her years.
“Mrs. Hopy Holt, aged over 90 years, is the oldest person we have any record
of now living in Moretown. She was born in New Bedford, Mass. Her parents were
Abraham and Mary (White) Howland. Her mother lived to nearly 82 years. Mrs. Holt
was the wife of Amos Holt, who died in Moretown some 38 years since, and the
mother of 10 children, 9 of whom lived to settle in life as heads of families;
7 now living; 3 over 70: Amos Holt, of Berkshire, age 77, Sept. last; Hopy, aged
74, June ‘81 -- Mrs. Hopy Holt Hartwell, now of Montpelier, widow 17 years
of William Hartwell, who died aged 59, in Berlin; and Mrs. Mary Goodspeed, who
lives in Northern New York, aged 72.”
Approaching
95, Hopy Holt “can drop down on
her feet upon the hearth, at the fire-place, light her pipe sitting
on her feet, and spring up lightly again without touching a hand
down; a feat not half of the women of 40 can accomplish.”
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The
account continues: “Her present
home is with her son, G.H. Holt of Moretown. We saw the mother
of 94 and daughter of 74, together the past summer. It seemed quite
a sight, a mother with a daughter of 74 years by her side; and
the mother in appearance bid fair to outlive the daughter.” What
a picture this conjures up: an aged mother and daughter sitting
together on a summer day, both named Hopy Holt.
Soon after this was written, Hopy Holt died. The end of her story
reads: “Since the above was in type we have learned that
Mrs. Hopy Holt died Dec. 12, 1881, aged 94 years 3 mos, 24
days.” She was born in 1787, three years before Moretown’s
first settlers came here.
(Abby Maria Hemenway was a noted editor and chronicler of Vermont
history. This portion of the Moretown section may have been
written by Aaron Goss.)
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