Hannah Starling
From Sawiki
Known as a notorious drunkard and an extremely violent woman, Hannah Foulger lived for many years in Hull and Grimsby. No stranger to jail, she was frequently arrested for drunkardness and violence. Fearing the threat of a long jail sentence she headed for Lincolnshire where she found work picking potatoes.
Lodging with a fellow worker, Hannah set about reforming her life. She became housekeeper to widower George Starling who, like herself had a chequered past. They later married and settled down together. After just one year however Hannah was tempted to taste liquor. The old craving gripped her and she dragged her husband down with her.
George lost his job and they lost their home. As vagrants they wandered from village to village. After some months they arrived in Spalding where they settled in a back street room. One night in a drunken row Hannah struck George over the head with a plank. Fearing she had killed him, she ran straight to the police station to confess.
On the way she heard the singing of a Salvation Army lassie who persuaded her to return home where they found George very much alive. Hannah soon attended an Army meeting where she knelt at the Mercy Seat and found the Lord.
She became a soldier, selling War Crys in the public houses she once frequented. Adopting the name Hallelujah Nancy she traveled the Eastern Counties telling the story of her miraculous conversion.
The Starlings moved to Sheffield, but it was to Spalding, the town of her conversion, that Hannah returned when her life was nearing its end. It was there that she was laid to rest under the Army Flag. The funeral service was led by Lt.Col. Cheadle assisted by Staff Captain Pimm.
Salvation 14:49, 30 January 2007 (GMT)
