Phoebe Hessel
1713–1821 (age 108)
Biography
Phoebe Hessel (1713–1821) defied convention by enlisting in the army under a man's name so she could follow her love and serve with courage, spending many years as a soldier and nursing comrades while her true story eventually became known.
She returned to civilian life in later decades, yet her extraordinary longevity, cheerfulness, and the tales of her service drew visitors to St Nicholas Churchyard, where she was laid to rest after more than a century of life.