Fanny Pearson, Countess 'Billy' de la Panouse

Full story of Fanny Pearson's life can be read in an article by R Iacccson in Rhodesiana v 14 - http://www.rhodesia.nl/rhodesiana/volume14.pdf

Fanny Pearson, later the Countess 'Billy' de la Panouse, disguised herself as a boy and went to Rhodesia in 1890 before women were permitted to do so by the British South Africa Company.

The first official marriage ceremony in Zimbabwe took place on Avondale farm in 1894 when Fanny Pearson was married to the Count de la Panouse (becoming known as Countess Billie) by Lt Col. Marshall Hole, the Chief Magistrate of Salisbury. Copy attached

Countess Billie managed the dairy farm and at the time supplied Salisbury with 100 bottles of milk a day and 100 pounds of butter a week (wikipedia). 'Billy' was a courageous and charming lady and had a very narrow escape from being murdered in the Mashona rebellion in '96; see pp. 117-118 and 142-143 “The World's View,” by Nora S. Kane. After some years the Viscomtess and her husband returned to Paris; see pp. 41-46 "Experiences of Rhodesia's Pioneer Women,” by Jeannie M. Boggie. "Billy was really a splendid little heroine and deservedly popular," - letter from Mr Marshall Hole to Mrs Boggie dated 14/8/1932.