She performed for companies including the Barnum & Bailey Circus alongside Lavinia Warren and Charles Stratton (General Tom Thumb) between 1859 and 1889 and was often advertised as the fattest woman in America.

[6] Though wages for Fat Lady performers toward the end of the nineteenth century were often as low as $5 a week, Battersby and her husband were supposedly worth $10,000 during the height of their popularity.

[8] As part of her nationwide touring, Battersby reportedly participated in a "Fat Ladies' Convention" in October of 1886 and was frequently advertised as the fattest woman in America.

[10] She visited renowned Civil War photographer Mathew Brady's studio around 1865 and had a variety of portraits made both alone and with other Barnum & Bailey performers (see images).

[14] Some scholars regard this marriage as suspect, as it was a common advertising tactic to "marry" two performers who either looked very different or were exactly the same (like the short-statured Lavinia and Charles Stratton).

Due to her travels with circus companies and to dime museums for work, her children were born in various states including Illinois and Kentucky.

[20] John was reported to have been in a wagon accident in 1873 that rendered him unable to walk, after which he ran a blacksmithing business in Frankford, PA, and Hannah continued to travel for work.