Family Stories 2
News & Observer Sunday 24 June 1951. Cloey Howard Credle was pretty sure that she is 95 years old. She says she was a good size yard yongun when the war between the states began and disrupted life in Hyde County. She lives with her baby boy Thomas Credle Jr on the outskirts of Bayboro in Pamlico County NC. She remains active in the affairs of the church and her family. Recently making a 75 mile trip to attend the birthday party of one of her grandsons in Kinston NC. She is the head of a very large family of direct descendants. The family consist of 10 Children, 60 Grandchildren, 32 Great-Grandchildren and 18 Great-Great grandchildren.
Polly Foster Thomas. "Aunt Polly" as she was ofter addressed was thought to have been about 106 years old, died at her home at Stonewall according to an interesting letter about her that was received by The New Bernian Newpaper from a prominent Stonewall business man. The Stonewall man wrote that “Aunt Polly” claimed to have been forewarned of her passing, and to have conversed with “Spirits” for three days prior. Here is his letter in part:
“Aunt Polly Died Monday, Feb 23rd. She said that she remembered the falling of stars or Meteor Showers, In 1831 at which time she was 14 years old. Should she be correct about her age at that time would make her about 106 years old at time of her death. For a number of years, she has claimed to be around a 100 years old and was fairly active all through life and lives alone a great deal of the time since the death of her husband about 16 years ago, until the last two years which time she has lived with one of her sons. While she did not do a great deal of work in her latter days, yet she was able to walk around the town, get up wood and look after her little affairs around the home. She claimed to have talked with spirits each day for three days prior to her death and on Sunday the 4th day she told her son that the spirits would come that day and that it would be the last day. She sat out in front of her house on Sunday, bathing in the sun, talking with her friends, and sat up late Sunday night talking to her people and right before midnight she called her son and told him the time has come for her to leave him, told him good-bye, and died in a few minutes thereafter. “Aunt Polly is survived by 4 children, the youngest being about 50 years old and 3 older children.
“Aunt Polly Died Monday, Feb 23rd. She said that she remembered the falling of stars or Meteor Showers, In 1831 at which time she was 14 years old. Should she be correct about her age at that time would make her about 106 years old at time of her death. For a number of years, she has claimed to be around a 100 years old and was fairly active all through life and lives alone a great deal of the time since the death of her husband about 16 years ago, until the last two years which time she has lived with one of her sons. While she did not do a great deal of work in her latter days, yet she was able to walk around the town, get up wood and look after her little affairs around the home. She claimed to have talked with spirits each day for three days prior to her death and on Sunday the 4th day she told her son that the spirits would come that day and that it would be the last day. She sat out in front of her house on Sunday, bathing in the sun, talking with her friends, and sat up late Sunday night talking to her people and right before midnight she called her son and told him the time has come for her to leave him, told him good-bye, and died in a few minutes thereafter. “Aunt Polly is survived by 4 children, the youngest being about 50 years old and 3 older children.
