BIOGRAPHY

Linehan was born in County Cork, Ireland, on 27 April 1892. She grew up on a family farm, where her father raised dairy cows, chickens, geese, and vegetables. She worked alongside her father and nine siblings and was educated in local schools. Her parents believed in the importance of education, and they supported her decision to attend a school in the United States.

At the age of 19, she traveled to Queens Town to purchase a ticket for the Titanic voyage in 1912. However, she never made it aboard the ship because all the tickets had been sold. As she failed to purchase a ticket for the ill-fated Titanic voyage, she instead traveled to the United States on RMS Mauretania, which departed later that month in April 1912. She was accompanied by a female friend who worked as a servant for a wealthy family in the United States, who had paid for their servant’s vacation to her homeland. They slept in adjoining bunks in steerage.

When she arrived in the US, she resided with her brother, Dan, in Hartford, Connecticut. Shortly after, she moved in with a prominent local family and started working as a nanny to the four children to earn money for nursing school. Later, she moved to Massachusetts and enrolled in Union Hospital School of Nursing in Lynn. She had to withdraw from school when she contracted a severe case of the flu during the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918. However, she returned to school and graduated in 1919. Subsequently, she worked in the Boston area and later in San Francisco. In San Francisco, her brother Dan was laid up after falling ill while working overseas for a tea company. As she nursed her brother during the return trip across the country, they made frequent stops. She often spoke of the Native Americans she encountered selling crafts and trinkets at stations along the way.

In 1923, she married James Henry Linehan (1889–1962), whom she had met in school. He worked as an accountant for Armour Meat Co. in Boston. The couple had two children, including Frances Linehan (1929–2012). In 1931, the family moved to South Portland from Connecticut. In 1950, they moved to Portland. She visited Ireland once in the 1920s but did not return thereafter. She gave up her nursing career when she got married but continued to assist people in the neighborhood when needed, providing eye drops to one person and aiding a bedridden elderly lady, among other things.

Linehan was an avid reader. She also watched television occasionally, enjoying shows like the ”Merv Griffin Show” and almost anything on PBS. When she turned 100, her daughter sent a photograph of her to Willard Scott, the ”Today Show” weatherman known for congratulating centenarians on air for their birthdays. After receiving no response, she tried again at 101 and 102, but still had no luck. However, at the age of 103, her picture finally appeared on the nation’s television screens. At that time, her daughter wrote to Willard and shared the story of her attempt to book passage on the Titanic, suggesting that might have caught his attention.

Linehan passed away in Portland, Maine, USA, on 18 February 2003, at the age of 110 years, 297 days. She was survived by her two children, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Linehan passed away in Portland, Maine, USA, on 18 February 2003, at the age of 110 years, 297 days. She was survived by her two children, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

RECOGNITION

At the time of her passing, she was the oldest (known) living person in the U.S. state of Maine. She likely assumed the title on 28 January 2002, following the passing of Donata Breggia.

On 26 November 2002, at the age of 110 years, 213 days, she surpassed the final age of Eva Bearce (1881–1991), becoming the oldest person to have ever lived in Maine. She held the title for 14 years, until 31 March 2017, when Dorris Farrar surpassed her final age.

At the time of her passing, she was the oldest (known) Irish-born person in the world. Upon her passing, she was likely succeeded by Catherine Furey.

Her age was verified by Jimmy Lindberg, Finbarr Conolly, and Gabriel Ainsworth, and validated by LongeviQuest on 5 May 2024.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Margaret Linehan, 110; believed to be Maine’s oldest resident” – Portland Press Herald, 20 February 2003

* “Margaret P. (Sheehan) Linehan” – The Boston Globe, February 2003

* Margaret P. Sheehan Linehan – Find A Grave

GALLERY