Martha Hatfield (or "Hatfeild") (also known as The Wise Virgin) (born 27 September 1640)[1] was an English Puritan prophet.
Hatfield was born in Leighton, North Yorkshire, England in the 17th century, daughter of Anthony Hatfield (1598-1655/6; the family name is more commonly encountered as "Hatfeild"), of Laughton-en-le-Morthen, near Rotherham, and Faith (d. 1659), daughter of George Westby, of Gilthwaite, Rotherham.
The Hatfield family were Yorkshire gentry, originally of Ecclesfield, coming to own the manor of Thorp Arch in the eighteenth century through marriage with the Gossip family of that place.
When she recovered she began "rambling" about religious subjects and started quoting scriptures.
[2] In 1653, her uncle,[3] James Fisher, who founded the first Presbyterian church in Sheffield, England, wrote a book about Hatfield and her prophetic dialogue called The Wise Virgin.