Now! Then! Death of Levi Whitehead, centenarian walker and runner of Bramham, near Wetherby

Excerpt

On the 14th instant, died in the 100th year of his age, Levi Whitehead, of Bramham, in Yorkshire. He was formerly noted for his swiftness in running, having won the Buck’s Head, for several years, at Castle Howard, given by the grandfather of the present Earl of Carlisle. He also won the five Queen Anne’s guineas, given by William Aisleby, Esq. of Studley, near Ripon, beating the then noted Indian, and nine others selected to start against him. In his 22nd year he ran four miles over Bramham Moor in 19 minutes; and, which is still more remarkable, in his 95th and 96th years, he frequently walked from Bramham to Tadcaster (full four miles) in an hour. He retained his faculties to the last.

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To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.

Abbreviations

Comment

Charles Howard was the paternal grandfather of the then Earl of Carlisle. Who was the Indian? What was the buck’s head?

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Original

On the 14th instant, died in the 100th year of his age, Levi Whitehead, of Bramham, in Yorkshire. He was formerly noted for his swiftness in running, having won the Buck’s Head, for several years, at Castle Howard, given by the grandfather of the present Earl of Carlisle. He also won the five Queen Anne’s guineas, given by William Aisleby, Esq. of Studley, near Ripon, beating the then noted Indian, and nine others selected to start against him. In his 22nd year he ran four miles over Bramham Moor in 19 minutes; and, which is still more remarkable, in his 95th and 96th years, he frequently walked from Bramham to Tadcaster (full four miles) in an hour. He retained his faculties to the last.

127 words.