Sarah Wilson

Who is Sarah Wilson?

Sarah Wilson was an English impostor who took a role of nonexistent sister of Queen Charlotte. How much of the tale is true is unclear.

Sarah Wilson was born in Staffordshire and at the age of 16 moved to London. According to the usual tale, within a week she became a maidservant to Caroline Vernon, lady-in-waiting for Queen Charlotte, and was acquainted with the relations and rumours of the court.

Around 1771 Wilson was working in the "Queen's House". She began to steal the jewellery and clothing of the queen. She was apprehended and first condemned to death but eventually the sentence was commuted to penal transportation to the American colonies. On July 1771 Wilson arrived to Baltimore, Maryland and was sold to W. Devall as an indentured servant. A few days later she escaped.

According to the tale, Wilson still had some of the queen's belongings with her. With the queen's dress, she took the role of "Princess Susanna Caroline Matilda of Mecklenburg-Strelitz", fictitious sister of Queen Charlotte. She claimed that she had had a disagreement with her family and due to the scandal had moved to America.