Funeral services for George Faris Saliba, who was, until his death this week probably the oldest person in New England, were held Sunday afternoon, January 31 at the Church of The Holy Spirit (Episcopal), with Reverend Ernest D Silvers officiating. Burial was in Riverside Cemetery. Bearers were relatives of the deceased.
• Mr Saliba was born in the mountainous region of Lebanon, Syria, on May over 110 years ago, a son of Faris Saliba. It is believed he was about 115 years old, for according to historical accounts he served as waterboy in the war between the Mohammedans and the Turks in 1932. This is not an unusual task for small Syrian boys in those days.
His birth record was destroyed in Damascus when Lawrence of Arabia razed the capitol and drove the Turks out of the country in World War I. The elderly man often told how he worked on the building of the roads between Beirut and Damascus over 90 years ago. As a young man he lived the life of Syrians many years ago, and he served in two religious wars between Mohammedans and Christians, one in 1848 and the other in 1860.
Mr. Saliba came to this country 59 years ago, first living in New York then in Massachusetts. He has lived in Plymouth 53 years, making his home in recent years with a nephew, Adam Moses Saliba, a local merchant. He never married. Until recently he was quite active.
For a long time he was one of Plymouth's most unusual characters. In spite of his years the aged man would walk many miles a day, and was able to read without glasses. He was a familiar figure on Plymouth Common where he sat on a bench reading his Arabic newspaper from the homeland.
It is said that his father lived to be 125 years old.
He is survived by three nephews A Moses Saliba and Zedan Saliba, both of Plymouth, and James Saliba of Lawrence, Mass.; a grand nephew, Moses A Saliba, Plymouth; and a great grandniece, Diane Saliba.
• Mr Saliba was born in the mountainous region of Lebanon, Syria, on May over 110 years ago, a son of Faris Saliba. It is believed he was about 115 years old, for according to historical accounts he served as waterboy in the war between the Mohammedans and the Turks in 1932. This is not an unusual task for small Syrian boys in those days.
His birth record was destroyed in Damascus when Lawrence of Arabia razed the capitol and drove the Turks out of the country in World War I. The elderly man often told how he worked on the building of the roads between Beirut and Damascus over 90 years ago. As a young man he lived the life of Syrians many years ago, and he served in two religious wars between Mohammedans and Christians, one in 1848 and the other in 1860.
Mr. Saliba came to this country 59 years ago, first living in New York then in Massachusetts. He has lived in Plymouth 53 years, making his home in recent years with a nephew, Adam Moses Saliba, a local merchant. He never married. Until recently he was quite active.
For a long time he was one of Plymouth's most unusual characters. In spite of his years the aged man would walk many miles a day, and was able to read without glasses. He was a familiar figure on Plymouth Common where he sat on a bench reading his Arabic newspaper from the homeland.
It is said that his father lived to be 125 years old.
He is survived by three nephews A Moses Saliba and Zedan Saliba, both of Plymouth, and James Saliba of Lawrence, Mass.; a grand nephew, Moses A Saliba, Plymouth; and a great grandniece, Diane Saliba.
Funeral services for George Faris Saliba, who was, until his death this week probably the oldest person in New England, were held Sunday afternoon, January 31 at the Church of The Holy Spirit (Episcopal), with Reverend Ernest D Silvers officiating. Burial was in Riverside Cemetery. Bearers were relatives of the deceased.
• Mr Saliba was born in the mountainous region of Lebanon, Syria, on May over 110 years ago, a son of Faris Saliba. It is believed he was about 115 years old, for according to historical accounts he served as waterboy in the war between the Mohammedans and the Turks in 1932. This is not an unusual task for small Syrian boys in those days.
His birth record was destroyed in Damascus when Lawrence of Arabia razed the capitol and drove the Turks out of the country in World War I. The elderly man often told how he worked on the building of the roads between Beirut and Damascus over 90 years ago. As a young man he lived the life of Syrians many years ago, and he served in two religious wars between Mohammedans and Christians, one in 1848 and the other in 1860.
Mr. Saliba came to this country 59 years ago, first living in New York then in Massachusetts. He has lived in Plymouth 53 years, making his home in recent years with a nephew, Adam Moses Saliba, a local merchant. He never married. Until recently he was quite active.
For a long time he was one of Plymouth's most unusual characters. In spite of his years the aged man would walk many miles a day, and was able to read without glasses. He was a familiar figure on Plymouth Common where he sat on a bench reading his Arabic newspaper from the homeland.
It is said that his father lived to be 125 years old.
He is survived by three nephews A Moses Saliba and Zedan Saliba, both of Plymouth, and James Saliba of Lawrence, Mass.; a grand nephew, Moses A Saliba, Plymouth; and a great grandniece, Diane Saliba.
• Mr Saliba was born in the mountainous region of Lebanon, Syria, on May over 110 years ago, a son of Faris Saliba. It is believed he was about 115 years old, for according to historical accounts he served as waterboy in the war between the Mohammedans and the Turks in 1932. This is not an unusual task for small Syrian boys in those days.
His birth record was destroyed in Damascus when Lawrence of Arabia razed the capitol and drove the Turks out of the country in World War I. The elderly man often told how he worked on the building of the roads between Beirut and Damascus over 90 years ago. As a young man he lived the life of Syrians many years ago, and he served in two religious wars between Mohammedans and Christians, one in 1848 and the other in 1860.
Mr. Saliba came to this country 59 years ago, first living in New York then in Massachusetts. He has lived in Plymouth 53 years, making his home in recent years with a nephew, Adam Moses Saliba, a local merchant. He never married. Until recently he was quite active.
For a long time he was one of Plymouth's most unusual characters. In spite of his years the aged man would walk many miles a day, and was able to read without glasses. He was a familiar figure on Plymouth Common where he sat on a bench reading his Arabic newspaper from the homeland.
It is said that his father lived to be 125 years old.
He is survived by three nephews A Moses Saliba and Zedan Saliba, both of Plymouth, and James Saliba of Lawrence, Mass.; a grand nephew, Moses A Saliba, Plymouth; and a great grandniece, Diane Saliba.
Gravesite Details
The Plymouth Record, February 4, 1943.
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
