An Upstate New York woman, believed to be 111 years old, who had lived as a hermit for more than 90 years, was found dead in her ramshackle house by some hunters, according to an article in the November 10, 1880 New York Times. The story:

“Neversink, N.Y.–While a party of hunters was passing through the Ulster Mountains, a few miles north-west from here, a few days ago, they discovered a small and peculiarly constructed hut. One of the hunters walked up to a front entrance and knocked. There was no response, and he knocked a second time. Still receiving no reply, he raised the latch-string and opened the door. A wretched sight met the his gaze. Lying in a filthy bed was the body of a very aged woman. She had evidently died from starvation and weakness. The hunter called his companions, when a thorough examination of the hut was made. They found no food of any kind, and the appearance of the corpse indicated that the woman had been dead for several days. Lying on a chair near the dead woman’s bed was found a small slip of paper containing these words: ‘My God! I am dying by inches from hunger. My money will be found.’ This was very poorly written with a lead pencil. The hunters then started for the nearest settlement, where they related what they had discovered. Parties returned to the mountains and identified the body as that of Mrs. Sarah Dempsey, 111 years old, who for a long time had lived the life of a hermit. She had been solitary in her habits ever since she was abandoned by a young man with whom she eloped from school when a girl. It is thought that she had money secreted about the house, but search has failed to find it.”