Christina Schneider Hench (Character Details)

Brief Character Description

Christina Schneider Hench was a German immigrant and local farm owner who lived near Yellow Springs with her husband, Johannes Hench. During the Revolutionary War, Christina opened her home to soldiers and became part of the informal network of civilian women who cared for sick and wounded troops in the Yellow Springs community. She worked alongside Abigail Hartman Rice, nursing soldiers at Washington Hall during the difficult winter of 1777–1778. Christina was one of the older women involved in caring for soldiers, bringing decades of experience managing a household and farm to the work. For our purposes, Christina should be portrayed as a woman in her late sixties. An actress in her fifties, sixties, or early seventies would be appropriate for the role.

Character Background in the Summer of 1778

By the summer of 1778, Christina Schneider Hench was an older German immigrant woman who had spent most of her adult life farming and raising a family near Yellow Springs. Born in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, sometime between 1713 and 1720, Christina married Johannes Christian Hench in Germany in 1749. The couple later settled near Yellow Springs, where they established a farm and raised their children.

Christina became involved in caring for Revolutionary War soldiers as the military hospitals developed around Yellow Springs. Before Washington Hall officially opened, a Hessian soldier passing through the area recorded the presence of “rebel hospitals” in 1776. These early hospitals operated from local barns and private homes, making nearby families an important part of the community’s medical network.

Christina’s family also had strong connections to the Revolutionary War community. Her son, Lieutenant John Hench, was born in 1750 and served during the Revolution. He later married Margaret Rice, the daughter of Abigail Hartman Rice. This marriage connected the Hench and Rice families even more closely, linking their families through both wartime service and the next generation.

The Hench farm also provided shelter for soldiers following the retreat from the Battle of Brandywine. Christina’s story therefore represents the broader role that local families played in supporting the Continental Army. Much of this civilian work was informal and unpaid. While later records and family histories identify Christina as a nurse who cared for soldiers at Yellow Springs, surviving documentation does not include the type of payment records required to formally document her service through organizations such as the DAR.

During the winter of 1777–1778, Christina nursed sick and wounded soldiers at Washington Hall alongside Abigail Hartman Rice. As an older woman with decades of experience caring for her own household, she brought practical knowledge to the difficult work of caring for men suffering from disease, wounds, and the effects of military service. Her work was part of a larger effort by local families to sustain the hospital when military supply lines were strained.

Character Physical Description

Christina was a German woman in her late sixties during the summer of 1778. Because we do not have a known portrait of Christina, the image above is a photo mock-up based on what we know about her age, ancestry, and circumstances.

Christina should appear noticeably older than Abigail Hartman Rice while still looking capable of managing a farm and performing physically demanding household work. She would have spent decades working outdoors, raising children, preparing food, maintaining a household, and caring for family members. Her appearance should therefore suggest an experienced farm woman rather than a wealthy or sedentary older woman.

Christina shared a similar German immigrant background with Abigail, so her overall appearance and clothing should be comparable. However, her age should be clear. Gray or graying hair, a more weathered appearance, and the natural signs of age are appropriate. An exact match to her imagined hair or eye color is not essential.

Costume Details

• Plain linen shift (underdress) worn beneath the outer clothing.
• Simple linen or lightweight wool gown in a muted color, such as brown, blue, gray, green, or natural linen.
• Plain petticoat (skirt) suitable for everyday farm work.
• Linen or wool bedgown (short jacket) worn over the gown when outdoors or receiving visitors.
• Full linen apron for cooking, nursing, gardening, and other daily chores.
• Hair pulled back neatly and covered with a plain white or off-white linen cap or a simple linen kerchief.
• Gray or graying hair is appropriate for portraying Christina at her age.
• No makeup and little to no jewelry, aside from a simple wedding band if desired.
• Plain knitted wool or linen stockings.
• Sturdy leather shoes with low heels and simple buckles or ties.
  • TLDR: Christina’s clothing should closely resemble Abigail’s because both women were German immigrant farm wives from the same local community. However, Christina should appear as an older, more experienced woman. Her clothing should be clean but well worn and practical, reflecting decades of farm work, household responsibilities, and caring for others. Avoid bright colors, fine silks, lace, elaborate embroidery, or fashionable accessories associated with wealth or the upper class. Overall, Christina should look like a hardworking older farm woman who has spent her life caring for her family, managing a household, and supporting her community.

We can assist with costuming depending on sizing. Regardless of sizing, we have accessories available for Christina.

Interested in acting as Christina in our Town Tours and Village Walks Event in 2026?

Please click through to this form, select Christina from the dropdown menu, and fill out the rest of the form! We will be in contact with you shortly!

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