Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/183

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GAUGHAN. 179 tants of that parish presented him with a valuable piece of plate; and a similar compliment was paid him by the dean and chapter of St. Patrick, for his services as their proctor. At length, in 1788, he fell a victim to the gout, Awhich had long tormented him; and h i s death was, b y the inhabitants o f Newcastle, s o deeply regretted, that a subscription was carried into effect for the purpose o f erecting t o his memory a handsome monument. I n addition t o his “Rudiments o f Grecian History,” the only other work which h e published, was a small tract without his name, “A Letter from a Clergyman o f the established Church o f Ireland, t o those o f his Parishioners. who are o f the Popish Communion.” This was written principally with the intention o f endeavouring t o recon cile t o the established church such o f his parishioners o f Newcastle, a s professed the Roman Catholic doctrines. THOMAS GAUGHAN. This individual i s merely introduced a s a n extraordinary instance o f memorial vigour a t a n advanced age. He was poor, but always cheerful and contented, and passed one hundred and ten years o f his life wholly unacquainted with sickness, u p t o the end o f which period h e was able t o take a full share with a l l the young members o f his family i n the labours o f the field. A memorable circumstance, i n his otherwise eventless history, was his appearance i n the county court a t the age o f one hundred and six, when, b y his clear and intelligent evidence, h e fully proved the validity o f a surviving maiden, i n the year 1725, thereby contributing chiefly t o the termination o f a n important law suit. He died near Crosmonna, i n the county o f Mayo, o n the 16th o f August, 1814, a t the advanced age o f one hundred and twelve years. His eldest son, whom h e was still i n the habit o f calling “ the boy,” though upwards o f seventy, bids fair t o emu late the father's patriarchal fame.