AI-generated image of a woman in men's clothes from the period, Helen Fielding would have looked a lot "rougher"
Most people think that transsexualism is very much a recent phenomenon, but the historical record proves otherwise. One of my favourite books, "Collection of Anecdotes and Facts Illustrative of Scotland and Scotsman" by James Mitchell of the University of Aberdeen, published in 1825, has the following interesting account. (Note, I have inserted some explanatory notes, as they seem required for a modern audience, and also divided the text into paragraphs.)
A RUSTIC D'EON
(NOTE: Refers to the Chevalier d'Éon, a famous French transsexual)
The following is a detailed account of a female who was detected in man's dress, acting as a plasterer. She belonged originally to SALTCOATS, is now about 27 years of age, and for better than four years she has, off her own free choice, worn the attire and discharged the laborious duties of one of the male sex. Her real name is Helen Oliver; but she has assumed the name of her brother John.
About six years ago, while she was maid-servant in a farmhouse in WEST KILBRIDE, a particular intimacy took place between her and a person in a neighbouring house, who officiated as ploughman. Being frequently seen walking together in quiet and sequestered places, they were regarded as lovers: ultimately, however, this ploughman turned out to be also a female; and it is believed by Helen's relatives and acquaintances, that it was the arguments of this personage which induced her to abandon the female dress and duties.
Upon Sunday the 4th of January, 1818, while in her parents house at Saltcoats, she requested her mother to give her her wee cutty pipe, and she would give her two new ones in exchange. (NOTE: somehow symbolic of her decision to identify as a man) To this unusual demand, the mother after some questions, consented; and Helen immediately afterwards began to write a letter, which, in answer to an inquiry from her parent, she said was to inform the people in GREENOCK, to whom she was hired as a servant, that she would not be with them for some time, for several reasons she then alleged. (NOTE: a resignation letter)
Early on the following morning, Helen helped herself to a complete suit of her brother's clothes, disappeared without giving the least intimation of her future prospects, or where she intended to fix her residence. Dressed in her new attire, she reached the house of a cousin in GLASGOW, on the same day. Her relative was not sufficiently intimate with the person of the fair imposter to detect the fraud. Never doubting in the least that she was "the real John Oliver," among other inquiries for absent relatives, "sister Helen" was not forgotten.
A plasterer stopped (lodged) at the time in her cousin's house and she resolved to learn that business. Accordingly she went for trial to a person in the Calton; but having fallen out with her master she left the town. She then went to PAISELY, where she wrought (worked) for about three months, and she was next employed for about half a year in JOHNSTONE. There, either for amusement, or to prevent suspicion and ensure concealment, she courted a young woman, and absolutely carried the joke so far as to induce the girl to leave her service (job) to be married.
Travelling one night between Johnstone and Paisley, she was accosted by a lad from Salcoats, who was intimate with her person, parents, and history; and in consequence she removed to KILMARNOCK, where she remained six months. Besides the places already mentioned, she has been in LANARK and EDINBURGH, working always at the plastering, except a short time she was employed by a Glasgow flesher about the Bell-street market. A variety of circumstances have frequently impelled this rustic D' Eon to change not only her master and house of residence, but also the town in which she was comfortably employed, particularly as she was often, or rather almost, always obliged to board or share her lodgings with some neighbour workman, and though for obvious reasons she seldom detailed more of her previous history than mentioned the towns she had visited and the masters she had served, yet some sagacious (intelligent) females have been known to declare that "Johnie must have been either a sodger (soldier) or a sailor, because "when he likes himsel' he can brawly cout his breeks, darn his stockings, mak' his ain meat, and wash his ain claise" (...he can beautifully repair his trousers, darn his stockings, cook his own meals, and wash his own clothes).
At the beginning of next February (1819) Helen applied for employment to a master plasterer in Hutchesonsontown. She said she was 17 years of age and stated that she and a sister were left orphans at an early age; urged her forlorn condition and that having already had some practise, she was very anxious to be bound an apprentice, that she might obtain an ample knowledge of the business. Eventually she was employed, and though she had the appearance of a little man, she was in reality a tall woman, being about 5 feet 4 inches high. By no means shy (afraid) of a lift, times without number she has carried the heavy hod full of lime for the Irish labourer in attendance.
Steady, diligent, and quiet, she gave her master every satisfaction, and he, considering her rather a delicate boy, feelingly kept her at a light ornamental work, and paid her seven shillings per week. Some time since a workman was employed by the same master to whom Helen was intimately known. The master having learned the facts of the case, placed her apart at work from the men, and took a favourable opportunity to speak with her. She indignantly denied her metamorphosis, offered to produce letters from her sister, declared that she was a Freemason, and besides had been a flesher, a drummer in the Greenock volunteers, and made a number of statements with a view to escape detection.
An Irishman, with characteristic confidence, sprang upon the heroine, hugged her like a brother bruin (bear), and cried in his genuine Doric (dialect), "Johny, they tell me you're a woman, and dang it, I mane (mean) to know, for I love a pretty girl." The agile female extricated herself in an instant, and with a powerful kick drove him from her; at the same time exclaiming with an oath, she would soon convince him she was not a woman.
Ultimately, however, the truth was wrung from her, and she then consequently left the town. She writes a good hand, and previous to her departure, she addressed a card to her master, in which she bade him farewell, and requested him not to make much talk about "H. Oliver."
At the beginning of next February (1819) Helen applied for employment to a master plasterer in Hutchesonsontown. She said she was 17 years of age and stated that she and a sister were left orphans at an early age; urged her forlorn condition and that having already had some practise, she was very anxious to be bound an apprentice, that she might obtain an ample knowledge of the business. Eventually she was employed, and though she had the appearance of a little man, she was in reality a tall woman, being about 5 feet 4 inches high. By no means shy (afraid) of a lift, times without number she has carried the heavy hod full of lime for the Irish labourer in attendance.
Steady, diligent, and quiet, she gave her master every satisfaction, and he, considering her rather a delicate boy, feelingly kept her at a light ornamental work, and paid her seven shillings per week. Some time since a workman was employed by the same master to whom Helen was intimately known. The master having learned the facts of the case, placed her apart at work from the men, and took a favourable opportunity to speak with her. She indignantly denied her metamorphosis, offered to produce letters from her sister, declared that she was a Freemason, and besides had been a flesher, a drummer in the Greenock volunteers, and made a number of statements with a view to escape detection.
An Irishman, with characteristic confidence, sprang upon the heroine, hugged her like a brother bruin (bear), and cried in his genuine Doric (dialect), "Johny, they tell me you're a woman, and dang it, I mane (mean) to know, for I love a pretty girl." The agile female extricated herself in an instant, and with a powerful kick drove him from her; at the same time exclaiming with an oath, she would soon convince him she was not a woman.
Ultimately, however, the truth was wrung from her, and she then consequently left the town. She writes a good hand, and previous to her departure, she addressed a card to her master, in which she bade him farewell, and requested him not to make much talk about "H. Oliver."
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