In the churchyard of St. Clements in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, you can find the tomb of Mary Ellis. According to her tomb, Ellis passed away at the impressive age of 119. This is all the more incredible considering Mary Ellis died in 1609, after living through the entire 16th century and the reigns of every Tudor monarch. In addition to her longevity, her tomb’s inscription includes the odd detail that she remained a virgin throughout her life. Quite surprisingly, however, it is neither of these features that have made Mary Ellis’s…
