When Princess Susana Caroline Matilda of Mecklenburg Strelitz the sister of queen Charlotte of England, visited New Bern and Wilmington she was an honored guest of lavish dinners and balls of the wealthy houses in Virginia. She claimed that she was exiled due to a scandal in the Royal family and people welcomed this royal princess warmly; some were thrilled to meet a royal while some were expecting for favors once her position is reestablished. Little did they knew that they were being scammed.
Sarah Wilson was born in 1754 in a village in Staffordshire and at the age of 16 she went to London to seek employment where she was recruited as a maid by Caroline Vernon, a waiting lady for Queen Charlotte. Taking advantage of her position, she stole one of the most precious dresses of the queen, a miniature portrait and a diamond necklace. Queen Charlottes habit of counting her valuables alarmed the queen of a theft and the next day Sarah was caught red handed when she was trying to steal more valuables. She was sentenced to death but later sent to colonies to serve her sentence. She was sent to Baltimore, Maryland where she was sold to William Duval; but she escaped to Virginia where she impersonated a Princess Susana.
However some had their own suspicions about her because they have never heard of queen having a younger sister. And even though the princess was supposed to be fluent in German due to her roots Susana always refused to speak in German. Meanwhile William Duvall who was looking for his runaway slave came across the news about Susana and realized it is Sarah. She was brought back to Duvall at gunpoint by one of his servants and even after her capture she never stopped planning for escape. Her moment arrived two years later when Duvall went to American war of independence. It is said that she fled to north where she met a William Talbot and got married and settled in New York. She had died on 23rd February 1780 in Berwick, Maine.
There are a handful amounts of sources stating different versions about Sarah Wilson. However the fact that she impersonated Queen Charlottes younger sister is common in each one. Have you heard of a different tale about her? Let me know in the comments below.
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