Phoebe Hessell was one of the most remarkable women ever to have lived in Brighton - but how much of her story is true?

It’s the thought that must occur to many people delving into her life as a soldier and favourite of the Prince Regent.

Born in 1715, she fell in love, when only 15, with a soldier called Samuel Golding and was upset when his regiment was posted to the West Indies.

Determined to be with him, she dressed as a man and enlisted in the Army, also serving in the Caribbean.

She was there five years and served at least another 13, eventually taking part in the Battle of Fontenoy in 1714 in which she was injured.

Both she and Samuel were posted to Gibraltar where this time he was injured and taken home for treatment in Plymouth. At this point she confessed all to the authorities and was discharged. She looked after Golding who recovered and lived for another 20 years.

Later she married William Hessell, about whom little is known, and stayed with him until his death. By this time she was about 80 and was short of money.

She used what she had to buy a donkey and cart, selling fish in Brighton and nearby villages. When in Hove in 1793, she informed the police that robbers she had seen were at large and they were arrested.

Phoebe was taken into the workhouse but discharged herself aged 93 to sell fruit and sweets in the Old Steine. By this time she was something of a celebrity.

In 1814 a festival was held in Brighton to commemorate the fall of Napoleon and she was invited there as the oldest inhabitant. Six years later she was prominent in the celebrations marking the coronation of King George IV.

The King while Prince Regent had granted her the sum of half a guinea a week and this was supplemented by several aristocratic women in the town.

She was proud that the monarch, noting her deep voice, had referred to her as a jolly fellow and would tell anyone who cared to listen about her Army experiences.

Phoebe, who lived at Woburn Place near Carlton Hill in her later years, died in 1821 aged 108. She was buried in St Nicholas churchyard and money was raised for a tombstone giving details of her life.

It is still there today and she is close to a great contemporary, Martha Gunn, the dipper, who lived to be 88.

Phoebe had nine children by Golding but only one is known to have reached adulthood and he became a sailor.

No details are available of what else happened to him and whether she had any descendants who could still be living in Brighton.

Her story was accepted by some during her life as being true but I have my doubts that she fooled the Army for so long and think it is unlikely she reached such a great age.

But she has been dead for the best part of 200 years and no one now will ever know the truth.