Christian Davies

Christian Davies (1667 – 7 July 1739), born Christian Cavanagh, also known as Kit Cavanagh or Mother Ross, was an Irishwoman who joined the English Army in 1693 disguised as a man. She fought with the infantry in Flanders during the Nine Years' War until 1697, then with the Scottish Army in the 4th Dragoons, later the 2nd Royal North British Dragoons and finally with the Scots Greys in the War of the Spanish Succession from 1701 to 1706. The author Daniel Defoe met her in old age when she was a Chelsea Pensioner and turned her story into a book entitled The Life and Adventures of Mrs. Christian Davies.

Early life Christian "Kit" Cavanagh was born in 1667 in Dublin, Ireland. Throughout her life, she would use the surnames Welsh, Welch, Ross, Jones, and Davies. She was the daughter of a local brewer. Although her parents were Protestants, they supported King James II during his campaign in Ireland. Her father served with the Jacobite army, dying as a result of wounds at the Battle of Aughrim. Her family's property was confiscated as a result of their support for the Jacobite cause.

As a teenager, she became involved with a relative of her mother's. Unable to care for her—some accounts have her fleeing her mother—Kit Cavanagh went to live with her aunt who ran a public house in Dublin. They had two children, and she was pregnant with a third when, suddenly, Richard disappeared in 1691. while others have him being pressed into the army. In either event, he apparently attempted to write to her to inform her of his situation. Eventually, one of the letters made it to her, telling Cavanagh that he was in the Army serving in Holland. She was so successful at passing herself off as a man that a prostitute claimed she was the father of her child. Rather than give proof that this was impossible, Cavanagh paid child support to the woman. For a woman who had been successful in business, she was alleged to be just as successful a marauder.

Fighting with the Scots Greys, she was wounded at the Battle of Schellenberg.

Although accounts list her as being a faithful wife, her husband's reputation is the opposite. Even after being reunited with his wife, Richard Welsh continued to see other women. When Cavanagh discovered one of his mistresses was still following the regiment, Cavanagh attacked the woman, cutting off her nose. However, at the Battle of Malplaquet, her husband died. Eventually, she was admitted to the Royal Hospital Chelsea as one of its pensioners.

Mrs Davies was buried, at her request, with full military honours with other military pensioners at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.