Sir, - A few days ago the writer of the column “Looking Around,” commented upon remarkable old ages, and particularly mentioned an old Cullercoats Salt who died at the age of 115 years, mentioning the records from which he had culled the information. Of course it is quite common knowledge in the village, but what struck me as singular was the mention of a different name. I had never known any other than that of Jimmy Christie. Of his history I know nothing except that in the Watch House at Cullercoats there is a very good pen and ink drawing (about six inches square) of him.
In conversation with others I learned he is buried in Tynemouth Old Priory Churchyard, where there is a tombstone to his memory. I thought at first that perhaps Christie might be a nickname, as very few old Salts were without such an embellishment, but was informed, and here the evidence was only hearsay, that they were two and totally different personages, both living and dying about the same place and period, which coincidence to me seemed highly improbable. However, should this be news of any interest to you no doubt Lucky Lukey or some other of your journalists could make copy out of it. – Yours, etc. G. W. L. Cullercoats.
[Note: Sykes's Local Records states that there died this month in 1807, at Cullercoats, John Ramsay, mariner, aged 115 years. He served as cabin-boy aboard one of the ships in Sir George Rooke's squadron at the taking of Gibraltar, in 1704. –Ed.]
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