Brewer's: Bearded Women:

Bartel Grætjë, of Stuttgard, born 1562.

The Duke of Saxony had the portrait taken of a poor Swiss woman, remarkable for her large bushy beard. In 1726 a female dancer appeared at Venice, with a large bushy beard.

Charles XII. had in his army a woman whose beard was a yard and a half long. She was taken prisoner at the battle of Pultowa, and presented to the Czar, 1724.

Mlle. Bois de Chêne, born at Geneva in 1834, was exhibited in London in 1852-3; she had a profuse head of hair, a strong black beard, large whiskers, and thick hair on her arms and back.

Julia Pastrana was exhibited in London in 1857; died, 1862, at Moscow; was embalmed by Professor Suckaloff; and the embalmed body was exhibited at 191, Piccadilly. She was found among the Digger Indians of Mexico.

Margaret of Holland had a long, stiff beard.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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