Phoebe Hessel's grave, Brighton.
On 12 December 1821 a remarkable woman died at the age of 108. She is buried in the churchyard of St Nicholas, Brighton.
The fact that Phoebe Hessel, reached the ripe old age of 108 could be considered to be amazing in itself, but this incredible lady spent years serving as a private soldier in the 5th Regiment of Foot, later the Northumberland Fusiliers.
Phoebe was born Phoebe Smith in Stepney in 1713 and baptised at St Dunstans. Women were not permitted to serve in the forces, but Phoebe, dressed and acted as a man, apparently to stay with her lover, Samuel Golding, who was also serving with the regiment. Her tombstone records that she served under the Duke of Cumberland at the battle of Fontenoy on 11 May 1745 where she was injured, receiving a bayonet wound to the arm. She is also recorded as having seen action at the battle of Wilhelmstahl on 24 June 1762, during the Seven Years War, although by this date she would have been 49 years old.
Apparently when the truth came out both Phoebe and her lover were discharged from the army. They married and settled in Plymouth, Devon. After Samuel Golding’s death, Phoebe moved to Brighton and married Thomas Hessel, a fisherman.
After Thomas Hessel’s death Phoebe fell on hard times but in recognition of her service to her King and Country she was granted a pension by George IV.
So if your family name is Hassell, or Hessel, or Golding it might be worth tracing whether you are related to this remarkable lady!
Tags: 5th Regiment of Foot, family history, Northumberland Fusiliers, Women in the army
