James Rye, 1800-1901
James Rye featured on more than one occasion in the ‘About the neighbourhood’ column penned by ‘Felix’ for the Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate & Cheriton Herald. For example on 13th May 1899:
Congratulations.
Folkestone’s Grand Old Man entered into his 100th year on Thursday last. I need hardly state that I am referring to Mr. James Rye, who first saw the light of day at Adisham, in the year 1800. Mr. Rye is little short of a marvel. He enjoys life immensely. His only ailment is a little deafness, or as he puts it, I am “little ‘ard o’ hearing.” Our old friend reads his daily paper regularly without the aid of glasses, he can sing “The Farmer’s Boy” with any man his own age, and dance a country jig in rare good form. Moreover, his face is almost free from wrinkles, whilst his complexion may be said to be in the pink of condition. It is worth repeating. Mr. Rye was originally employed as an agricultural labourer. He has ploughed over most of the land whereon stands “Fashionable Folkestone,” and can recall the time when this flourishing town was nothing but a mere hamlet. Mr. Rye, too, remembers the time when he helped to succour the wounded soldiers which had arrived at Dover from the field of Waterloo.
And then a longer piece on 12th May 1900, when he reached the age of 100:
FOLKESTONE’S GRAND OLD MAN.
A HUNDRED YEARS OLD YESTERDAY (FRIDAY).
HE IS IN GOOD HEALTH AND SPIRITS.
HE READS HIS NEWSPAPER WITHOUT THE AID OF GLASSES.
A FEW PARTICULARS OF HIS CAREER.
(BY FELIX)
In the small Kentish town of Adisham, James Rye first gazed on the light of day 100 years ago yesterday (Friday). I have frequently alluded in these columns to this truly wonderful gentleman, and the occasion of his attaining his century is sufficient excuse for referring to the interesting subject again. Mr. Rye came to Folkestone as a youth, and has remained in this neighbourhood up to the present. He was a farmer’s boy at Walton Farm, and during his long career has ploughed over most of the land upon which Fashionable Folkestone now stands. The centenarian’s
MEMORY IS WONDERFUL,
and it is one of his fondest recollections that he assisted in conveying the wounded in farmer’s transport waggons from the battle of Waterloo to Canterbury hospital, the soldiers having arrived in sloops at Dover from Ostend. Mr. Rye has led an uneventful life. but of course has noted the great changes that have taken place—the wonderful inventions in machines and science as well as the changes in social existence. But perhaps the greatest wonder in the long length of years that has been granted him is himself. Where is his equal in the land? Daily, bag in hand, he takes his walks abroad, leaning lightly on a staff. He stoops but little, and his general gait would be that of a man between three and four score years. A smile in general illumines his face, which, moreover, is but little lined with wrinkles. Truly Time has been kind to our old friend. Although hearing is defective, his sight is marvellous, for he reads the smallest print without the aid of glasses. The old fellow is serenely happy, and care or trouble appear to be strangers to him. Although
HE ABHORS TOBACCO,
yet he still enjoys a glass of good ale, and declares that for a “night-cap,” nothing can excel a small quantity of the best whisky. Mr. Rye is a staunch Churchman, and many’s the time years ago I have seen himself and deceased wife sitting in the front pew of Holy Trinity Church. But his hearing became worse, and so the old fellow gave up Church going, and fell back, as he remarked to me once, on “the good Old Book,” a portion of which he reads every day. Only a few weeks ago I was in his company, when he sang a rattling country song, danced a hornpipe, and read aloud without the aid of glasses, a portion of an article from a daily paper. Mr. Rye is altogether a wonder, and Folkestone is proud of him. May the remaining years of his life be free from a cloud of care, or a twinge of pain.
He was baptised at Adisham on 15th June 1800. His father was Thomas Rye, and his mother Benedrita née Byrch. James Rye married Susanna Birch at St Martin, Cheriton, on 27th December 1830, and the 1841 census found them living at Cheriton Street. Ten years later they were at Trucks Hall, Newington; in both years James was listed as an agricultural labourer.
In 1871 James was living alone at Cheriton Street, Susanna having died in 1867. His occupation was given as “Grazier & landowner”. That same year he married Mary Ann Holden. The 1881 census has them as “Lodging house keeper” and “Lodging house keeper wife”, at 36 Bouverie Square, Folkestone. Mary Ann died in 1886; at the next census in 1891 James was shown as “Retired farmer”, boarding with a lady called Elizabeth Cock at Sea Beach Cottage, South View, Cheriton. By 1901 Miss Cock had moved to 37 Broadmead Road, Folkestone, her lodger James Rye accompanying her there; his occupation was given as “Retired farm bailiff”.
James Rye died at the age of 101, being buried on 14th August 1901 at St Nicholas, Newington Next Hythe.
Songs
The Farmer’s Boy (Roud 408)