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The Supercentenarian World
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25/04/2022 2:57 am
Barbados has one of the highest rates of centenarians per capita in the entire world, at 39.9 per 100,000 people. Despite having a population of only around 180,000 in 1900, the small Caribbean island has produced no less than six supercentenarians over the past 12 years, beginning with James Sisnett (1900-2013), who remains the oldest Barbadian person ever, having died at the age of 113 years, 90 days. Pictured here on his 113th birthday in 2013:
However, he wasn't the only living supercentenarian in Barbados at the time of his death, as Emily Clark passed away just 1 week later at the age of 110. It wouldn't be for another 5 years before Barbados would produce another supercentenarian: Millicent Yearwood (1907-2019) would pass away in 2019 at the age of 112 years, 33 days, and is currently the oldest woman ever from Barbados. Photo taken on her 112th birthday:
The Six Supercentenarians of Barbados:
(all verified)
1. James Sisnett (22 Feb 1900 - 23 May 2013) 113 years, 90 days
2. Millicent Yearwood (22 July 1907 - 22 Aug 2019) 112 years, 33 days
3. Melville Williams (21 Feb 1910 - 21 July 2021) 111 years, 150 days
4. Edna Cumberbatch (14 Dec 1908 19 - Nov 2019) 110 years, 340 days
5. Louise Thorne (1 Jan 1908 - 14 Oct 2018) 110 years, 286 days
6. Emily Clarke (17 Nov 1902 - 1 June 2013) 110 years, 257 days
In addition, the following four supercentenarians were born in Barbados, but emigrated to other countries. I was unable to verify all of their ages:
1. Ismay Spooner (27 Dec 1900 - 8 Jan 2013) 112 years, 12 days (died in Guyana)
2. Violet Cave (28 Feb 1909 - 3 Mar 2020) 111 years, 4 days (died in USA)
3. Elsie Ward (13 Jan 1903 - 6 Nov 2013) 110 years, 297 days (died in St Lucia)
4. Henrietta Bruce (18 July 1891 - 21 July 2001) 110 years, 3 days (died in USA)
Sisnett Familial Longevity
Aside from James, the Sisnett family is known for its longevity: two of his sisters died at 99, and two others reached 100 and 105. In addition, one of his cousins, James Stewart, died in 2021 at the age of 103, and one of his nephews, Fritzgerald Brereton, turned 100 this year. Based on his current health (still walking completely unaided and having just renewed his drivers license), he seems to be on track to reaching his uncle's age!
James was also related to another Barbadian centenarian through the marriage of one of his descendants. In this photo from 11 May 2013 (just a few weeks before his death), he can be seen with MacDonald Reece, who was aged 100 at the time:
Oldest Living Barbadians
The oldest living person in Barbados is currently 108 year old Ursula Mayers (15 Dec 1913), a title which she inherited following the death of 111 year old Melville Williams in 2021 (who coincidentally was born almost exactly 10 years after James Sisnett). However, Una Adams (15 Oct 1913) was born 2 months before her, but now lives in Canada. The oldest living man in Barbados is Winston Richardson (30 Dec 1914), who was born in St. Lucia. The oldest living Barbadian-born man might be Rupert Springer, who just turned 106 last month.
Profile picture: Marita Camacho Quirós (1911-Present)
25/04/2022 3:57 am
A while ago, I found a likely birth record for Violet Cave. Although it doesn't have a name recorded, the parents match. The record is dated April 13, 1909 and the birthdate recorded on the document is March 8, 1909, so she appears to have been 8 days younger than claimed.
I looked and wasn't able to find a birth record for Ismay Spooner. But the other cases listed are documented - it's probably selection bias, but so far I haven't come across a false claim from Barbados, which is unusual for any country.
Mendocino and heatwave116 reacted
Topic starter
25/04/2022 3:39 pm
A while ago, I found a likely birth record for Violet Cave. Although it doesn't have a name recorded, the parents match. The record is dated April 13, 1909 and the birthdate recorded on the document is March 8, 1909, so she appears to have been 8 days younger than claimed.
I looked and wasn't able to find a birth record for Ismay Spooner. But the other cases listed are documented - it's probably selection bias, but so far I haven't come across a false claim from Barbados, which is unusual for any country.
I'd chalk this up to high literacy rates combined with the British system for recording births. The only one of the 10 Barbadian SCs that I sort of doubt is Ismay Spooner, although I also wouldn't be surprised if she was the age claimed as well. Another island in the Caribbean with an even more extraordinary SC performance, Martinique, also hasn't had any false claims from what I can tell.
Profile picture: Marita Camacho Quirós (1911-Present)
25/04/2022 3:57 pm
Thanks for the information, Mendocino and Sailor. Edna Cumberbatch is a new supercentenarian for me! 😀
Mendocino, Henrietta Bruce is an official GRG-pending case, indicating early-life proof for her date of birth was located as early as 4 August 2013. 🙃
Overduidelijk misschien.
22/05/2023 1:45 pm
23 May 2023 making the 10 year anniversary since James Emmanuel Sisnett passed away. A great supercentenarian, he was the world's second oldest living man for 1.5 years and with Jiroemon Kimura one of the last two man who were born in the 19th century.
Born 3 Feburuary 1999. Founder of 5ch anonymous message board about longevity (1 January 2012) / Founder and chief administrator, the oldest people research forum in Japan founded in 1 January 2017. Link: 長寿者研究フォーラム (oldestpeopleforum.jp)
diego reacted
17/09/2023 5:57 pm
Una Adams was the oldest person born in Barbados,born on 15/oct/1913 and died around 7/Sep/2023 in Canadá.Now the oldest person born in Barbados happens to be Ursula Mayers born on 15/Dec/1913 and lives in Saint Andrew
MrCatlord reacted
16/03/2024 10:09 pm
The oldest living Barbadian-born man might be Rupert Springer, who just turned 106 last month.
Rupert Springer died in 7 Feb 2024
Does anyone know who would be the oldest man in Barbados now?. Another question,has anyone heard from Ursula Mayers?,she seems to be in limbo,in case she is in limbo the oldest known person from Barbados would be Hermione Eileen Parris born on 29 Dec 1916
Hermione Eileen Parris - Centenários De Barbados (centenariansofbarbados.com)
ChrisR reacted
