Gay Pretender of Colonial Days
King George III ami King' George VI have
something in common: they were both em¬
barrassed by women. The first of the two
created quite a stir in North Carolina a long
time ago.
KING GEORGE VI of England
was somewhat humiliated
and miffed this summer
through the financial manipula¬
tions in Washington and New York
of his beauteous cousin, Lady Iris
Mountbatten. Fortunately for her,
subsequent developments were
more kindly than for the redoubt¬
able Sarah Wilson whose antics in
the colonies worried and harassed
King George III of England in
1772. This lass, posing as the sister
of the monarch, traveled a path
high, wide and handsome.
Back in the glamorous days of
the American Revolution fascinat¬
ing and wily Sarah Wilson, who
claimed to be a sister of King
George III of England, entwined
herself so smoothly into the life of
the colonial town of Wilmington
and other nearby communities that
she was wined, dined and feted
without stint. She coolly intimated
that loans would be acceptable in
return for unbounded generosity
on her part.
Made Many Promises
She promised lucrative govern¬
mental positions to the gullible
masculines who poured out their af¬
fections as well as other substan¬
tial evidences of their regard. Com¬
pletely deceiving and beguiling so¬
cial circles, she received many lav¬
ish gifts which she gently hinted
were never unwelcome. People
went out of their way to be nice to
her, and those upon whom she
showered her favors were regarded
enviously by less fortunate friends.
Everyone tried to make much over
the beautiful girl who posed as the
King’s sister, and there was vir¬
tually no end to the various forms
of social entertainment provided
for her while she remained in Wil¬
mington. And then, without notice
to anyone Sarah quietly “folded
her tents and silently stole away”
a December night in 1772. The
wounded feelings of many "easy
marks" later were appeased when
she was apprehended and exposed
at Charleston, S. C.
The fair lady Susanna Carolina
Matilda (as she pretended to be)
THE STATE. SEPTEMBER 20. 1947
В »/
LOUIS T. MOOKE
was artistic, keen and suave. She
depended upon her beauty, win¬
someness, education, intellect and
natural ability to carry out her
plans. To say that she succeeded
for a long time is putting it mildly.
She reigned queenlike not only in
Wilmington but also in other Colo¬
nial towns.
Prior to coming to Wilmington
the pretender had victimized and
made ridiculous the Governor of
the Colony of Virginia. The his¬
torian Martin reviewing this un¬
usual chapter in colonial life states
that during the summer of 1772 a
female adventuress passed through
Virginia and attracted great notice.
She had assumed the name of Lady
Susanna Carolina Matilda, sister of
the King of England. She traveled
through the province of Virginia,
going from one gentleman’s home
to another under many pretensions.
She affected the manners of royal¬
ty so inimitably that many felt it to
be an honor to be allowed to kiss
her hand.
An Impressive Arrival
Residents of the town of Wil¬
mington were keenly interested
one afternoon in November of 1772
when a coach and four drew up in
front of the principal hostelry in
the village. This tavern was locat¬
ed at the corner of Front and Dock
streets. Incidentally, some years
later George Washington was en¬
tertained in the same place. Prior
notice of the coming of the sup¬
posedly royal personage had been
received and she was accorded ev¬
ery courtesy and consideration. To
some of those to whom she was in¬
troduced she promised governmen¬
tal positions, to other regiments or
promotions of different kinds in
the treasury, army and navy. In
short, she acted her part so adroit¬
ly that she was able to levy heavy
contributions upon persons of the
highest rank. She received the
marked attention of Governor Mar¬
tin and his lady while in New
Bern. Apparently she was greet¬
ed with the same degree of enthusi¬
asm and courtesy in Wilmington.
Upon her apprehension in
Charleston, it was revealed that
the claimant to royalty was plain
Sarah Wilson and not a sister of
King George. She had been taken
into the service of the Queen and
there found access to the royal
apartments in England. Breaking
open a cabinet, she rifled it of many
valuable jewels for which she was
arrested, tried and condemned to
die under the harsh English laws
of that period. Through an appeal
to her mistress her sentence was
reduced to banishment to the colo¬
nies.
Down Through Virginia
Accordingly, the woman had
been landed in Maryland during
the preceding summer. She was
purchased by Mr. W. Duval, of
Bush Creek, Frederick County.
After a short residence there, she
effected her escape into Virginia.
When at a prudent distance from
Maryland, she assumed the name
and character of the King’s sister.
She had brought with her from
England clothes that served to
favor the deception, and also, a
part of the jewels, together with
Her Majesty’s picture. The latter
proved to be her undoing since it
was through notice of the loss of
the picture that she was finally
caught.
The victims of this pretended sis¬
ter of King George were never per¬
mitted to hear the last of the inci¬
dent. It was many, many years be¬
fore they were greeted in any other
manner than with the inquiry as to
how their fair feminine friend —
"The King’s Sister” — was getting
along.
At the battle of Gettysburg,
every one of the 91 men of Cald¬
well composing Company F of the
26th N. C. Infantry was wounded
or killed in action.
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