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Katie Hatton

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Katie Hatton
Birth: 18 December 1876
Camp Zion, Texas, USA
Death: 24 January 1992
Camp Zion, Texas, USA
Age: 115 years, 37 days
Country: United StatesUSA
Validated

Katie Hatton (née Jefferson; 18 December 1876 – 24 January 1992) was an American supercentenarian whose age is validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG). At the time of her death, she was the second-oldest known living person in the United States, after Delphia Welford, as well as the third-oldest living person in the world, after Jeanne Calment and Welford.

Biography

Katie Hatton was born as Katie Jefferson in Camp Zion, Wharton, Texas on 18 December 1876, as the daughter of Harrison Jefferson and Nellie Hooks. Katie herself claimed to have been born in 1875 (or 1876). As a girl, she assisted her father on the farm. Her parents were freed slaves. She went to school in the Camp Zion Community at Spanish Camp and later attended Guadalupe College in Seguin. She was a fanner, businesswoman and devoted housewife. She grew up in the area and married her first husband Nora Ray on 4 October 1900. The couple had one child together before Nora's passing. Katie then married a man named John Hatton and had two more children. She was a member of the Camp Zion Baptist Church for more than 75 years. Katie Hatton was a lifelong resident of Camp Zion and died there on 24 January 1992, aged 115 years, 37 days. She was survived by her three children, 13 grandchildren, and a number of great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. At the time of her death, she was the oldest person in Wharton County.

Age Discrepancy

During her later years, Katie seemed to have given her year of birth as 1876 and 1877. This is shown by one article in particular, although there may be others, a story from early January 1990, where she was reported to have just celebrated her 113th birthday, would put her year of birth as 1876. Katie allegedly claimed to have been born in 1875 or 1876, although this hasn't been confirmed. In another article from 2001, she was quoted as stating her year of birth as 1877.

In the census from June 1880, she is first recorded as being four years old. As she had always claimed birth in the month of December, this would point to 1875 as her year of birth. However, this could have been a rounded age – ‘in her fourth year’ or ‘approaching age four’. On 25 June 1900, Katie is again enumerated with her family in the census, with her age being given as 25, with a month and year recorded as December 1874. This would seemingly point to Katie being born before 1877.

After her marriage in October 1900, Katie started to understate her age, which can be seen in the censuses. In 1910, her age pointed to birth in c.1879. In 1920, her age pointed to birth in c.1877. In 1930, her age pointed to birth in c.1877. In 1940, her age pointed to birth in c.1880, as well as in 1950, her age pointed to birth in c.1877. Katie’s first husband was younger than her by several years, born in February 1881, which makes it more likely that she wanted to avoid controversy, so she did that by understating her age, which was common for women to do that in these situations at the time.

Katie's documents within first 20 years of life support her being born before 1877, so it was decided that 1876 was Katie's more likely birth year. However, it's not impossible that Katie's claimed birth year of 1877 was inaccurate, as her age could've been round in the 1880 census, but it's more likely that she was born before 1877.

References

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