Hannah Snell

Hannah Snell (23 April 1723 – 8 February 1792) was a British woman who disguised herself as a man and became a soldier. Snell was mentioned in James Woodforde's diary entry of 21 May 1778 selling buttons, garters, and laces. Early life Hannah Snell was born in Worcester, England on 23 April 1723. She was the youngest daughter of her family, with five sisters and three brothers. Her father Samuel Snell was a hosier and dyer. Due to Snell's grandfather’s service in the military and the money that she inherited from him, her father and his second wife, Mary Williams were wealthy enough to live comfortably and provide adequate education for all their children. Despite this, Snell learned to read but never learned to write. Locals dubbed her the "young Amazon Snell" and she often played soldier as a child. Snell’s parents died when she was 17. She moved to London on December 25, 1740, to live with her older sister, Susanah in her house in Wapping. She married James Summs, a Dutch seaman, on 18 January 1744. Summs often sought the company of other women and grew to despise Snell. He used her possessions to pay for his luxurious lifestyle and solicit prostitutes. They quickly fell into debt and became impoverished. Summs abandoned Snell during her pregnancy with their daughter, Susanna, who died in infancy.