Christian Davies a dragoon, a soldier

Christian Davies , a wife of three, 'father' of one
(Dublin,1667 - 7.7.1739)

 

 

Early days: Christian Davies, born Cavanagh, was born in Dublin in the year 1667. Her father was by profession a maltster and a brewer, employing about 20 servants. Her mother was a daughter of Bryan Bembrick of Wheatly in the bishoprick of Durham. He hired a farm for her mother at Arthur White of Leslip, which he left entirely in her care. As they wished that their daughter is to be educated they made a great effort to make it thus possible for her. During the time of her education she learned to read and became a good needle-woman, but in other things her patience was lacking. She much preferred  to work at a farm, doing what were deemed the manly employments - ploughing, raking , using a pitchfork or flail. She sometimes rode horses, also barebacked.

Things became much more complicated when her father took part at the battle of Boyne, and there fought on the side of king James. He had personally raised a troop of horse , paid for it with the money he got from the selling of Corn and other things of value. It would all have been well but for the fact, that he was fighting on the loosing side and thus had to retreat. Upon the return home , fleeing from the forces of King William, he brought with him a French lieutenant. They did not stay long and with their complement then fled further on. At the battle of Agbrim he received a grievous wound and, although at first he appeared to be getting better, later died after the effects of fever.

There is a brief mention of one Captain Bodeaux, who was supposed to have come with Christian's father, and was admired for galantry when defending the bridge. This in itself is not quite as unusual as the claim that when defeated and brought into the enemy's hands, they stripped him to find him to be a woman.

After the defeat, since Christian's father had given his loyalty and support to King James, the government siezed on all her family's effects. Leaving Christian and her family in a poorer state.

It was later on, that she found a fancy in her mother's first cousin's son, named Thomas Howel, a student and fellow of Dublin college.They were together for two years. He was enamored with her to the extent that he proposed that he would keep a Latin school to support them both, because she at the time had no money.  He continued to pursue her to the point that they had committed the deed. Later she is said to have thought back on this deed and realised her folly and became quite depressed because of it. This worried her mother to the extent that she agreed to send her to her aunt's who ran a public house in Dublin. This is one of the versions through which she ended up at her aunt's.There she avoided any contact with the said student. She stayed at her aunt's for four years.  After her aunt's death she was left as the sole heiress to all that her aunt possessed. This left her with a good fortune and income, which allowed her a life of ease. At that time however her earlier suitor had already given up.

She fell in love again. This time it was for the man who had been her aunt's servant, a handsome young man, humble and open. When her aunt died, he of course became her servant and though he did have some money he saved, he was in comparison to her a very poor man. He was named Richard Welsh. The name is sometimes also written as Walsh. With the help of a friend she finally married him and found him a good man, humble even after he had thus acquired the fortunes, treating her in the same manner as before, if not with even more respect and humility. He is said not to have pretended to be equal or better to her male guests of better standing than him. She gave birth to two boys and had a third child on the way when he disappeared.

 The husband is gone: It was one day that he went to see Alderman Forest, who provided them with beer to pay him 50 pounds and did not return from this expedition. She waited for him and  In that time trusted her business to a friend who looked more upon their own interest than hers and so caused a great loss of money. When she realised she needed to stop with mourning, she took the business back under her control.

Just as she came to accept that her husband  was no more a letter came.  It was her husband's 12th letter in which he wrote that he hoped it would reach her to explain the reason of his disappearance. In it he explains his reason for disappearing, and where he was at that , present, time. He had been accompanied from Alderman's by his school-fellow friend, who was at the time an ensign , and then was persuaded to follow him into a tavern. Here he was intoxicated with drink, and taken further to a vessel. On which he was given a Bowl of Punch, the vessel setting sail. He must have, during his drunken state, enlisted, as he is than said to be in th army in a Foot regiment. Upon hearing of his misfortune at joining a regiment, she first greatly despaired and then thought it should not be hard to find him. With this resolve she took his clothes and dressed herself in them, so that she could go directly to Flanders. She had first though made certain that her children would be taken care of.

Becoming a soldier: Sending her eldest child to her Mother, her second is then mentioned to be dead and her third sent with a nursemaid. Her belongings she left with the friends, who had spare room for them, while her house she let to the Cooper. Having done so, she had cut her hair and dressed herself in the suit of her husband, she quilted the waistcoat however, to perserve her breasts from harm. She put on a wig and a hat that she had prepared, she then went out and bought herself a silver hilted sword, and some holland shirts. She was at a loss as how to carry her money because it was against the law to export more than five pounds of money out of Kingdom. She decided to quilt them into the waistband of her breeches and thus carried with her without worry or suspicion a full sum of 50 guineas.
She went to Golden Last, where she saw ensign Herbert Laurence beating up for recruits. She was entered into the Tichbourn's company of foot, Regiment commanded by Marquis de Pisare. Lieutenant of her company was Mr. Gardiner, their ensign, Mr. Welsh. 

At a later time she reenters the army as a dragoon in the scots grays (4th dragoons at the time but the name later changes).

Injuries received:  During her career she received several injuries. One such was when she was injured in the leg. She was fortunate however as it was only a graze at it, and did not hurt her bone. She was two months incapable of service, after which she joined her regiment, which was under cover the remaining part of summer and at the approach of winter they were ordered to take Winter residence at Gertruydenberg. They helped restore a dyke at the time, which was eaten down by worms and caused a village to be flooded, after breaking.

During a peaceful Campaign as they were foraging, the French came unexpectedly upon them and took them prisoner. They were stripped and by very tiresome marches sent to St Germain's en lay. The Dutch and the English were not treated the same. Although at the first day they were kept in the same place and with similar conditions, by the next they were separated and the English were to have clean straw every night. The Dutch on the other hand had none. The English were also allowed five farthings a day per head for tobacco, a whole pound of bread and a pint of wine a day for each man. Their clothes were to be returned to them. To other prisoners had but half a pound of bread a day, water and lay almost naked in filthy dark prisons.  During the time The Duke of Berwick frequently came to see that the English were not defrauded and were well treated.

Flirting like the best of them: Christian Davies reports that: "Merrily in my frolicks to kill time I made Addresses to a Burgher's daughter who was young and pretty. As I had formerly had a great many things said to myself I was at no loss in the dialect. I ran over all the tender nonsense which I look upon the lover's heavy canon as the greatest execution with raw Girls." She says to have held and squeezed the girl's hand whenever she got the opportunity, sighed often and looked foolishly and practiced upon the ridiculous airs which she often laughed at, considering them as snares against herself. She in truth had no effect or wish for the girl and did realise that her play was cruel towards the poor thing. The Girl of course had grown fond of her, thinking her a man, and was worried when she was away, even if for a short time. There was another sergeant who fancied this girl and made many attempts to get her attention, but remained without success. When seeing this would all prove fruitless he went to assault and have her by force.  The girl defended herself stoutly, lost her cap and her clothes were badly torn. She made enough noise so that the others came and he was made to abandon his pursuit. This ended in Christian fighting for the girl's honour, though it was not her place, and then being imprisoned for it but let go when the reason of her fighting became clear.

Becoming a father: There was an event at which a lady, very big with child, happened to take a liking to the 'pretty soldier' for so she was called, and used all common methods to attempt to entice 'him'. Since she came without success,  and Christian was already a dragoon at the time, she might have seen a possibility for her fortune and a man who would be well enough to do (better than a private), to take care of her and her child. Deciding so, she accused Christian of being the father of her child, demanding that 'he' support it.  Accepting that charge meant that nobody could doubt Christian being a man, and her reputation as one who fathered a bastard would actually serve her just well. The child did not last long, and died in a month from whence it was delievered.

Further career, the plunder: When at the town of Cicade of Venlo, 29th of august, in the night her horse was employed in the siege and when sent to forage, the peasants left tools lying in the field on which her horse thread once (a scythe) and was injured in such manner hat she was worried for his getting better. She at length and several times does mention the plunder and plundering as well as foraging and obtaining of goods in unlawful manner.

One such event speaks of her finding in a country's hogsty a sow with five pigs. She took them and a corporal named Taylor, belonging to brigadier Panton's regiment of horse, attempted to take this booty. A quarrel began and he drew and made a strike at her head. While defending herself she had the sinew of her little finger cut in two, and returned the favour by a strike of her pistol. This is how she describes it.

Battle injuries received, another time: On 2nd July they left Onderingen and advanced to Ubermargen, situated about a league from Donawert. They began before the vanguard was to make themselves come in the sight of the enemy's entrachments. They began at about six o'clock and were twice repulsed with very great loss.
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Second attack she received a ball in the hip, which has remained so lodged between the bones that it could not be removed, and had remained there ever since.  After receiving the wound she was carried to a tree, where she was to remain until the battle was over, and she could be taken to hospital even if she had insisted on remaining with the fighting. 

Afterwards she was carried to the hospital near Schellenberg and put under the care of three surgeons (Mr. Wilson, Mr. Laurence and Mr. Sea). She was fortunate for she managed to escape being discovered. Here although wounded and under care, she received a fair share of plunder. It was due to the Duke's justice that this was distributed among his fellow soldiers. Among the spoils the English took, was said to be thirteen standards and colours, tents, baggage and the plate of count of Arco.

More plunder: Christian mentions that the soldiers, her included, have miserably plundered the inhabitants, and she had left the Hospital time enough to do so. She narrates further that they spared nothing, killing, burning or otherwise destroying whatever they could not carry off:"The bells of the churches we broke to pieces, that we might bring them away with us. I filled two Bed Ticks, after having thrown out the feathers, with Bell Metal, Men's and Women's cloaths, some Velvets, and about a Hundred Dutch Caps, which I had plundered from a Shop,; all which, I sold by the Lump to a Jew, who followed the Army to purchase our Pillage. our Pillage for Four Pistoles; beside the above Things, as I was not idle, I got several pieces of Plate, as Spoons, Mugs, Cups etc. all which the same conscionable Merchant had at his own Price. "


Guarding prisoners: After the battle of Hochstet she was detached to guard the prisoners. Some of them had no shirts, some no shoes or stockings, others as naked as the day they were born. In this condition they were marched to the plain of Breda. There they stopped and the prisoners were allowed a pint of beer and a pennyworth of bread and cheese. 

Meeting the husband: By chance while taking a rest from the march, she had she seen a familiar face of her man, being embraced by a woman with a visible joy on her face. The Dutch woman's antics raised quite the reaction in her. She is said to have begged her friend to make sure that this was indeed the mentioned Richard Welsh, and ask him of his wife and children. Her friend did so, and returned with an answer that they should meet at the main Guard. They  Drums and trumpets announced that they had to march for Breda with the prisoners to complete their march and did so. They housed their prisoners, whose number was so great that they had to make prisons of workhouses and even of private houses of the peoples. After her duty was performed she went to meet him, and found him in a public house behind the Guard. There she saw him with the girl again and instead of approaching him asked to be taken into a private room. There she ordered beer and cried. Once her emotions were calmed she asked that he is brought to the room. He came and they went into conversation where he was at a defense. Though he claimed to not be in much of a relation with the Dutch girl, being quite mean to her and in want to send her off, she claimed quite the opposite, claiming them quite near to being married and that he made many promises of the like. The Dutch girl then left in tears, with the knowledge that this 'brother's' sister was married to her man and she could make no further pursuit on him.

Because Christian enjoyed her role as soldier so much she demands from her husband that he should claim her to be her brother (as she had done before) and that he would be banished from her bed. Much a good reason because a big belly could be very hard to conceal for a soldier. Her husband was in a foot regiment.

The fatal wound: On the 22nd may they were encamped between Corris and Tourine, near the Stone Mill of Kruisworm. The French believed they had a great chance at victory due to the intelligence which suggested the Elector of Brandenbourg would not be overhastly in sending his troops to the rendezvous, with the reasons on account of inheritence, while the Danes had refused to march.

On the 23rd the battle commenced. Although victorious, with the French army fleeing in great confusion, some to Lovain and others to Wavere, third to Judoigne, this battle proved fatal to Christian. Not perhaps receiving a mortal wound, she did however get an injury to the head. This she  got from a shell from a steeple on which before the battle they had planted some mortars and cannon.  It struck her and fractured her skull. She was carried to Meldre (Meldret) a small town in the quarter of Lovain, upon a small Brook which washes Tirelmont. Here she was trepaned and a great care was taken of her. She did not recover in less than ten weeks.  While her wound was dressed however, her sex was discovered, her breasts thought too big and her nipples (the largeness of those) considered to have given suck.
She suffered great pain through the wound, but worse still, by the discovery of her sex. The news spread quickly and Brigadier Preston was informed. His pretty dragoon was indeed not a man, but  a woman. Her husband supported the claim that she was infact a woman, unable to lie as she was discovered. More comrades came to see her. Lord John Haye came as well, and called for her bedfellow and examined him closely. The man swore he had not known nor noticed anything, although he shared bedplace with her every night. He also recalled the story where she was accused of being a father to a child.

She is said to have been sent a parcel of shirts and sheets to make herself shifts, by his lordship once more recovered, and that Brigadier Preston also made her a present with a handsome silk gown. That officers had contributed to the dressing her in what was more becoming of her sex. She and her husband remarried, with all the officers being invited. "The sack of posset eaten and the Stocken thrown."  After this ceremony, every one, at taking leave, would kiss the Bride and left her a piece of gold, some four or five.

Other professions, cook, sutler: With the loss of her place as a soldier, she was no longer to receive pay. This made it a necessity to find a profession, and she did so at first, by becoming a cook to her regiment. This meant that she was stretched between her husband's quarters and that of her former regiment and this proved too hard to keep with. This meant that she had to give up her cooking and instead turn Sutler. Still, by the indulgence of the officers, she was permitted to pitch her tent in the front, whereas the others were driven to the rear of the army.

Further victories followed, the army made progress, Ostend capitulated. Even when no longer in the uniform of a soldier, Christian continued to expose herself to danger for the sake of her husband, whom she followed. The reason for it , was among others, to bring him food or drink. An event is described, in which her husband had been marched with the General Ingoldsby, while she was in the process of cooking. When the meat was done, she had wrapped it so close that no steam could escape (the kettle?) and carried it with her. She went through a village, occupied by the enemy, running the risk of being found. About five miles further, in the dark and struggling to find the whereabouts of her husband and his regiment, she finally reached him. He and the officers ate, and while she was standing she saw a man over the sandbags. He was coming from the town to pick turnips (possibly French?) and she went to shoot at him. Just as she did so, she too was shot by someone from the pallisades. A lucky shot split her lip and beat one of her teeth out, knocking down.  It was the reduction of this very same town, that put an end to the campaign of 1706 (Siege of Ath).

When moving into winter quarters in Ghent, she gave birth to her shild before her time. The child did not last for longer than half a year. She hired herself to Mr. Dupper, in a tavern on Fish street Hill.

Beating the vain: While in her service as cook, an interesting event took place. The cook was asked to prepare something for Mr. Stone, who was the surgeon. It was ready for the table when a lieutenant by the name of St. Leger (General Evan's Regiment of foot) entered and demanded that he would have it for himself. Upon refusal, he struck down the cook. Christian was at the time in the back of the kitchen, washing the dishes, but seeing the brutality she ran at the lieutenant. She collared him and threw him down in such an unfortunate manner that it broke his leg. The man was of course quite unfortunate, because his action caused the Surgeon, Mr. Stone, unwilling to set his leg. It was later done by a French surgeon, but in quite a bungling manner, so that it remained an eyesore to the lieutenant's dying day. St. Leger was tall, strong, well made and very handsome ,quite genteel and easy on the eye. He had quite a high opinion of himself as well. He was also a bully ,a descendant from Sir Anthony St. Leger, who possessed an Estate of ten thousand a year in Kent. He was not a little proud of his family. He is described as haughty, morose and vain. A gamester, a known setter and a sharper at play.

Punishment for a man who cheats: It is quite surprising that although her husband had not first been faithful to her, and even had another event in which he was seen in the company of the Dutch girl (she having found lodging close to them, and came to entice him) she remained faithful and loving to him throughout. At this time, her seeing him with her man she attacked her with a knife, and cut her across the nose rather severely. He was arrested and given a strong reprimind and would have run the gantlope (gauntlet?) had she not stopped it, after calming herself down. The girl was not as fortunate, as she was first put in a turning stool and whirled around till she felt dizzy and so sick that she emptied her stomach. After this, she was with great ceremony sent out of the town. The spinning or turning stool (which she was made to be exposed to) is a sort of cage big enough for one person. It is fixed on a spindle. It is used to expose the criminal to ridicule of the by-standers. This is before the time when people willingly began to expose themselves to such ;).

Another event is explained in more detail, but which had happened to a different couple (still in Ghent). It happened so that there was a husband with a wife pregnant with their fourth child, who had a mistress. This mistress (maid) put poison in the wife's water gruel. The woman , while taking in this poison, was in great pain, found so by her nine year old boy. The maid was imprisoned and admitted to her crime, but said she was given the poison by her master. She was beheaded, her master broke on the wheel. After the execution they were hung up in iron chains. He by the neck and she by the heels. (1706)

Horse's touch and silly colonels: There was a colonel Cholmonley who was of a gay, lively temper. He saw Christian coming into town with her mare. He waited until she came out. He waited untill she came back with provisions for her tent and then released his small black stone-horse.  The horse began to be quite rude with her mare, and in his rough courtship broke four of the bottles of wine. She managed to chase of the unmannerly horse and after this also the colonel with stones, while he gaily laughed at it. He did not forget to mention the event to the other officers.

More horse antics: Another time found Christian describing her race with Mr. Montgomery, a captain of the grenadiers in lord Orkeney's regiment. They wagered a pistol each, that his horse would outrun hers. They both went to the place they chose for the riding race and would start at the beat of a Drum. His claim would have proved correct if not for her shove at him, which flung him and his horse into a ditch. She won the race, though the captain was half angry about the strategy.

More plundering stories:  Among the things that Christian says to have plundered in her career, are also  a fine bay horse with silver capped pistols and laced houseings and pistol bags. This she sold to colonel Hamilton for nine pistols. The pistols she sold to captain Brown for five crowns. Some of the lace she used for her husband's breeches, fixing the knees, and some she sold to a jew at five livres an ounce.

Another time , while the battle was fought, she entered a chatteu several times and from there she brought a basket of eggs, of cocks and hens. The latter would be called in camp language: The corporals and their wives!
The eggs she presented to the Duke of Argyle and the fowls to some officers.  She also got corn and straw for the mare. But on the third time found nothing more of value, as other soldiers had found and plundered the place. While in search, Some French came upon her and were to take her mare, her forage and herself. They were quarreling as to who would take her clothes when an officer came, whom she actually knew. She was released. Having the fortune to see the whereabouts of the enemy, it was at this time that she informed his Grace, about the dangers she had seen. He was quite fortunate, and though he lost his bed to cannon was said to have been given straw and candle, and while left to sleep, had also been relieved of some of the drink.

Horse anticks which ought not to have happened: 
It was after the seige of Brussels, when the army was encamped at the aloft. While there, Christian observed an officer which rather laced clothes and thinking him to be one of he Guards. He was strolling backwards and forwards in the intervals of the camp. Thinking that he might want to steal a horse, she kept him under watch. What she did discover was something else completely. At length she saw him take a mare , that belonged to a poor woman. But he did not leave with her and rather took her into a ditch and there he did with her :" a  most detestable sin that can enter into the thoughts of man." 

Colonel Irwin and another officer happened also to pass at that instant and catching him in the act gave him over to the Provosts. He remained there untill the Duke condemned him to the gallows, after a trial. The mare was shot, the poor woman given the value equaling the worth of the mare.

Description of the provost office, as written by Christian: "He attends the camp, and all offenders are put under his care, for which reason he commands a strong guard which goes every where with him, and the camp colour-men who always precede the army, escorted by the forlorn Hope, chuse the strongest house they can meet with for his quarters, that he may secure his prisoners. When we march, the less criminals are hand-cuff'd in the middle of a guard; but notorious ones are chained Hand and foot, and put into the bread-waggons.

A little bit of smuggling: Christian claimed to have owned a spaniel, which was a water breed and whose rough coat she could use to earn three shillings from a hatter every half year. This dog however was also used to help smuggle things across the river. And for this service they were paid three crowns a night.

Hugh Jones: Christian was at the time again pregnant with child and longed for eels. A man from the dragoons, fancying her, took it upon himself to supply her with them.  Attempting to court and flirt with her, while she was still married, he was quite unsuccessful. But if her husband should have died, it seemed this man would have been her good choice. He took care of her when she was terribly ill and did his best to keep himself in her good books. 

Husband expects, and it later happens: A short time before her husband met his untimely end which caused her the most terrible grief, they were in conversation and he appeared melancholy. He told her that he thought he would die in his next fighting. This of course she did not believe and made light of the situation. But before we get to that, let us take a look at how and where the men did sleep at certain times. It is said a man who could sleep on a heap of dung, was a happy one. And during this 'night stop' while Christian searched for her man, he was shown to her, while fast asleep with his head on his comrade's backside. (It is so described!). Later on he and some officers ate what Christian had brought from her foraging expedition.

The next day, during the battle her husband was killed.  She searched for him, till finding his body. This brought onto her such grief, that she had torn at her hair and bit at her arm and wept. She burried him, but came several times later to want to unbury him to see his face. She refused to eat and would probably have thrown herself in the same grave, had her friends not stopped her. Even their dog would be seen often sitting on the grave and then returning to the place, where her husband usually was, when the army marched. Captain Ross saw her in such despair and while seen in such company, slowly she gained the nickname of Mother Ross. She never married the man however. She cried for seven days and could not take care of any business. In that time she was chided by one other woman as saying why she cried so much and grieved so terribly , when she had a whole army of men to pick from. The grenadier Hugh Jones took care of her mares at the time, which proved a good thing. He courted her for wife. She married him in camp about 11 weeks after her husband's death on a condition that he should not eat or bed with her till they were in garrison. This decision to marry came as a surprise to some, thinking her 'too quick' but it seemed those mean tongues were later silenced.

Second Husband's death: Her husband's regiment marched with the prince to the siege, commanded to attack the Countercarp. Her husband was forced to do another man's duty and being in the front rank, firing on his knee, received a musket ball in his thigh. She did all she could to keep him from getting a cold - the common killer of the injured - and covered him in her clothes - stripping to her stays and under petty-coat. Mr. White, the surgeon, searched and dressed his wound and said it was slight. However the next day he found the bone to be broken and judged it mortal. Her husband did die in the Hospital at Lisle, while in Winter quarters. He probably died by his leg getting a gangrene. 
 
Returning home: 1712. Some time after the possession of Dunkirk Christian applied to his Grace, the Duke of Ormond, for a pass to England.

Pranks of the drunk and silly:  While waiting to be sent to England, she took part in a bit of a prank. This prank arose from the envy of the men to one of their company who had the most lovely new , fine laced suit. He took more than ordinary care to keep it clean. And this raised a desire in the rest to have them spoil it. While attempting to get him so drunk that he would spill it on himself, they failed each time and not a drop of it was spared on his cloth.  The company consisted of Durel, Godfrey, Clayton, Sir Robert Monroe and Colonel Harison and of course Christian. At length they proposed mischief on her. This ended in the poor man having his coat spoiled by the emptying of her stomach. Since she claimed each time she was unable to finish the bottle, she was excused as this being an accident. The coat could not be worn, till that side was replaced. 

Returning to England: When she returned to England she took lodgings at the Queen's head, Charing Cross. There she rested for three or four days, waiting the arrival of the Duke of Marlborough.  She expected that he might find some favour from him, for her service and also for the loss of two husbands in her majesty's. When arriving at the Duke's, he claimed being unable to help her, since he was no longer in service, but gave her a guinea. He might have been able, had she come sooner, when he was still in command.

She then went to see the Duke of Argyle in hopes of having better luck. It was actually not she, who came to see him first, but he when outside in shis chair. He seemed to have recognised her and then  asked his footman to stop his chair and to see her. He asked her several questions, among which about the length of her stay in England, and where she was residing at that time. He then suggested that she goes to his house, inquires about Macquin who knew her, and there waits for him, and he would consider how something could be done to provide for her.

Doing so she was shown into the housekeeper's room. The lady of the house was informed, and already having learned of her character wished to see her in person. They sat down, breakfasted and then Christian was asked to tell her the stories of her adventures. Since the event - earlier mentioned, in which she had warned the Duke of what she had seen while foraging - the lady had felt in some debt to her and had done Christian many favours in a later time. Christian did not eat dinner in company of the lady and the Duke, as they had company. But she was invited to stay during the evening. Christian was later advised (ordered really) to get a petition drawn up for the queen. This she should carry to the Duke of Hamilton and he would back it. She had the petition drawn. In it she set forth that she served for 12 years in the regiment as a man.She had received several wounds and lost two husbands in the service. 

At first the Duke did not believe her story, and demanded she supports her claim. She said that she was known by the officers and was then asked to come into the other room (parlour, where some of these officers were at that time. She was in luck as she met with the officers who knew her well and saluted her with some deal of good nature , confirming her story.  She was then given a bottle and a crown to have a new petition drawn to present to the queen herself next morning. Duke of Hamilton was to present her with the first petition that night.  She dressed herself the best she could the next day and went to court. Led by the Duke of Argyle the queen came down and Christian came to her right knee as instructed. It seems Christian was yet again with child at the time of this meeting. The queen offered that should the child be a boy, she would give him a comission as soon as he was born. As luck would have it however, it was a girl. Earl of Oxford was ordered to give her 50 pounds to defray the charge of her lying in. He however could not, and so instead Sir William Windham was ordered to do that, with more success.

Along with the 50 pounds she was promised a shilling a day for life, but the treasurer at the time of Queen Anne, a certain Lord treasurer Oxford, reduced this to five-pence. When the ministry changed, she applied again with the request and Mr. Craigs produced a warrant with which her affair was made right again. Since then she was to receive a shilling.

Meeting a badmouth soldier: Christian was told to meet Lord Forester and Lord Fosard at the King's Arms in Pall Mall. They were to dine with some other noblemen and gentlemen of the army to design a collection for her immediate support. She was punctual but their lordships were not. Standing with her child at the door a soldier who had served abroad saw her and thinking her a lewd woman decided to make sport of her. Some of his words were along the lines of: "Treating her with a volley of g-d D---s mixt with common flower of rhetorick B---h and w---e. Said it was a burning shame the nobility should encourage a pack of idle lewd b---s and support them and their bastards with their bread which they ought rather to distribute among such as had ventured their lives and spilled their blood in the service of their country." This he concluded with a blow of his stick across her breasts. It was not surprising that she wished to trash him good and well, feeling a slight to her character. She began to beat him with her right feast, having a child in his other. A drawer seeing that, took the child from her to make it easier to beat him with both hands. Which she certainly did until he was forced to cry out for quarter.  She 'rowled him in the Kennel' and would have demolished him if he had not promised to beg pardon in the most submissive manner. This he also did. From this fight she earned money from Lord Harvey, Marquis of Winchester and others of nobility, and the quality who had dined at the King's arms that day.

Going to Dublin:  She finally left for home, and first wrote to her mother that she was returning. Of her children the elder of them died at the age of 18. Here it is rather confusing as before it is mentioned her second had died before, unless the younger in this case means the youngest of the three grown old enough to enter the work-house at that time. This could be as the nurse with whom she left her goods and her youngest c hild, did throw him upon the parish as soon as she was able. Most of those to whom she entrusted her things had thought those to be theirs now, and thought her quite unreasonable to expect a return. The man to whom she trusted her goods (the honest one) sadly had just a few and those worst. but those he repaired. In the same way she also lost her house, because the person who took care of it died, and another lay claim to it.

Her thoughts on the matter were said to be: "To expect justice without money, is much the same as to think of reducing a fortify'd town without amunition."However, the tricks of the trade she had learned as  a sutler became useful at this time. She took a house, put in a stock of beer and made pies.

Third husband: Through this she had got a comfortable support untill she decided to marry a third time to a soldier named Davies. He had served in the first regiment of Foot guards in the low countries, but at the conclusion of the peace between France and high Allies he was at his own request discharged from service. He returned home to find his father had died in his absence but left him something to sustain himself. However, his brother, upon reaching him, thought not to hear any of it and as before, with justice being on the side of those who paid, he never saw that money again.  His brother lived near Chester.

Since he could not expect to get any of the money, he decided to enter himself into the military life again. He went to Dublin and enrolled in 'Welch fuzileers'. she continued in her business after her marriage to the man, untill his regiment was ordered dispatch. She only stayed behind so long that it took her to dispose of her effects and then she got a pass from the secretary of war and followed her husband to Glocester and then to London.  With her business she actually tried and succeeded in paying her husband out of the army. only to have him get drunk a few days later and enlist in the Guard. 

This third husband was actually quite bad with money, and never did bring any that he earned, while managing to sell her tent at the one time that she was doing her duty in camp and wishing to see his highness there too. Not only had he sold it, but sold the whole of the tent and what it contained for a much too low a price. While charging 40 for it, the bare tent itself had supposedly cost her 50 shillings.

When lain with Ague (a sickness?) she heard the news of the Duke of Marlborough's death. He was to her a colonel, general and a benefactor, so his death did really affect her. She took part in the funeral procession alongside her husband, but left the regiment and the camp to return to her house, once that was over. Due to her acquaintances she is said to have had many connections and benefactors, which in later years became more scarce either due to dying, or because they decided not to be as generous as they had at first been.

Petty coats with hoops are nasty things: As one of such gift she received from a lady, a hoop-pettycoat. She of course did not know how to manage it, and believed that wearing one demanded as much dextrity as an exercise with a musket did. She wore it however, with the intention of showing it off, walking down the Knave's acre. The footpath there however was quite narrow and so her hoop skirt struck against a post and that made the other side fly up. She had believed it was a rude fellow, who tried his luck with her and so struck with her left hand without looking. This cost her dear pain, as of course the blow struck something much more solid. She managed a second time to get her husband's discharge from the foot-guards due to the help of her friends. 

Chelsea-college and the final years:

She appeared at Charles street Wesminister. Here she had an order to appear before the board (order from the governors of Chelsea-college) at a certain time. She went and made her appearance. Later she moved to Chester (where her husband found a place for her) Three years later than that she moved to Chelsea, where she remained ever since. The Royal Hospital's admissions roll for November 1717 states that a 'fatt, jolly woman [who] received several wounds in the Service in ye habitt of a man' was admitted in recognition of her valiant behaviour. She got her husband into the college, and there he became a sergeant. With time her old age began to burden her greatly, and probably her old injuries had a grave effect on her as well, for she was barely able to walk for any amount of time. She is said to have lived off of the money she got from those of higher standing, which she was to see twice a week, in a coach.

She was then before her Death afflicted with a complication of distempers - Dropsy, scurvy, etc. Her husband also became ill and she would sit up with him at nights. During this she contracted a cold. The later proved fatal. It threw her into continual fever. Four days later she was dead.

Death: She died on 7th July and was interred in the burrying grounds belonging to Chelsea Hospital , with military honours.