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1947-474, Print
HANNAH SNELL the Female Soldier.
1947-474, Print

HANNAH SNELL the Female Soldier.

Date1750
Engraver Benjamin Cole
After work by Louis Peter Boitard (d. 1758)
Publisher B. Dickinson
Subject Hannah Snell (1723 - 1792)
OriginEngland, London
MediumLine engraving on laid paper
DimensionsOH: 15 1/2" x OW: 12 1/2" (includes false margins); Plate H: 12" x W: 9 1/4"
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1947-474
DescriptionThe upper margin reads: "Drawn from the Life by her own Consent by L. P. Boitard."

The lower margin reads: "Boitard ad vivam delin./ B. cole sculpsit/ HANNAH SNELL the Female Soldier./ Her Affidavit Sworn before the R.t Hon.ble John Blanchford Esq.r Lord Mayor of the City of LONDON./ Hannah Snell, born in y.e City of Worcester, in the Year of our Lord One thousand seven Hundred & twenty-three, & who took upon her the Name/ of James Gray . . . King George as a soldier & sailor from the . . ."

Label TextHannah Snell (1723-1792) dressed and passed as a man to serve in the British army and navy using the name James Grey. Snell/Grey took part in the siege of Pondicherry (Puducherry) in India. After the story became public, Snell performed military exercises on stage and became a celebrity.

The print is cut-off at this point, but text in the lower margin continues. After "James Gray..." it should read: "Maketh Oath, and saith, That she this Deponent, served this present Majesty".

After "King George as a soldier and sailor from the..." it should read: "27 of Novem.[ber] 1745, to the 9th of this instant June. and enter'd herself, as a Marine in Capt. Graham's Company in Colonel Frazier's Regiment, and went on Board the Swallow, his Majesty's Sloop of War, to the East Indies. belonging to Admiral Boscawens Squadron. where this Deponent was present at the Siege of Pondicherry, and all the other Sieges during that Expedition, in which she receiv'd twelve wounds, some of which were dangerous, & was put into y.e Hospital for Cure of y.e same. & return'd into England in y.e Eltham Man of War, Capt. L Lyod Commander, without y.e least discovery of her sex. And this Deponent further maketh Oath, & saith, that she has deliver'd to Robert Walker, Printer, in y.e Little Old Baily, London, a full and true Account of the many surprizing Incidents & wonderful hardships she underwent, during the Time she was in his Majesty's Service as afore said, to be/ by him Printed and Publish'd. And this Deponent lastly saith, that she hath not given the least Hint of her surprizing Adventures to any other Person. nor will she this Deponent, give any the least account thereof to any Person whatsoever, to be Printed or Publish'd, save and except the above mention'd Robert Walker. Sworn before me this 27 of June 1750, at Goldsmiths-Hall, London, J Blanchford, Mayor Witness, Susanna Gray, Sister to the said Hannah Snell. T Edwards. Her Hannah + Snell. Mark. Price 6.d Printed for B Dickinson the Corner of Bell Savage Inn, on Ladgate Hill. According to Act of Parliament July 1750. Colour'd 1.s"