Nancy J. Figiel, Director of Public Affairs
Candlelight Tour this year involves a mysterious guest. Snippets of conversation about Princess Sophia and her visit to the Governor’s Palace this holiday are overheard throughout the Palace. Many ladies in attendance there are spellbound with her exquisite ivory silk gown, accented with pink and seafoam hues, and trimmed with golden embroidered lace and pearls. A dress as fine as this is not often seen in New Bern! The Princess is certainly receiving the attention of Governor Martin and Mrs. Martin. Everyone in the Palace is quite enthralled by her presence. Perhaps during your tour, you might make your acquaintance with Princess Sophia?
Those who have made the Princess’s acquaintance, have been puzzled that though she is from Mecklenburg, the sister of Queen Charlotte, she cares not to speak in her native tongue. Even refuses to, if engaged. She says that while in the colonies, she prefers to speak English as we do. More strangely, she bears no hint of a German accent. She has travelled the colonies extensively, dependent on the kindness of strangers, who are most eager to share their home with royalty. It has also been rumored that she is generous in bestowing titles and lands to her hosts in return for their warm and gracious hospitality. And yet, though delighted to have met her acquaintance, many are left with dubious thoughts and the Palace is buzzing with whispers about her.
Candlelight’s Princess Sophia was indeed an imposter. Princess Sophia Carolina Augusta, the estranged younger sister of Queen Charlotte, was just one of Princess Sophia’s many aliases. She was a modern day, Anna Delvey. Her birth name was Sarah Wilson, most likely born in London around 1745. At an early age she worked as a lower kitchen servant, but quickly learned how to put on the airs of royalty and take on new personas. Rumor has it that while working as one of Queen Charlotte’s ladies-in-waiting, she was caught stealing some of the queen’s furniture and clothes, put on trial, and sentenced to be transported to the colonies where her services would be sold to the highest bidder.
On arrival to the colonies, her services were purchased by William Duvall of Maryland. Sarah soon escaped. As Princess Sophia, she was welcomed into the homes of wealthy colonists eager for a visit from royalty, especially one with relations to their Queen. Princess Sophia did visit the Governor’s Palace in 1771. This visit is recorded in The History of North Carolina from the Earliest Period by Francois Xavier Martin, who stated that the Princess was receiving “the marked attention of Governor Martin and his lady,”
However, like her modern-day counterpart, Anna Delvey, or Anna Sorokin, while visiting un- suspecting hosts in Charleston, news of her guise was discovered. It was reported that William Duvall sent agents there to capture and return her to his service. But Princess Sophia escaped a lowly fate again, travelling for a time in the northern colonies, with a new persona, graciously accepting invitations among society who welcomed royalty into their homes.
What became of Sarah Wilson is unknown, though it is rumored that she settled down, married, and raised children. Perhaps Anna Delvey will do the same.