Betsy Who ?
Once upon a time, in Saltcoats, a tiny coastal town on the west coast of Scotland, a child was born, they named her Elizabeth; but called her Betsy. Now Betsy's father was a Sea Captain and sailed a huge ship laden with its cargo of timber, across the stormy Irish Sea.
As Betsy grew, her father would take her to the sea and Oh, how she loved to sail those waters. The sea captivated her, and Betsy would quietly watch her father as he kept a keen eye on the prevailing winds and, now and then, instruct the crew to change course.
Betsy's young mind was eager to learn all she could about sailing such a huge ship and she was a dreamer…..
One day, she would command such a ship.
But sadly, young Betsy entered this world at a time when it was considered that women were neither capable, nor desirable on board ship, indeed women were looked upon as 'Jonahs'; their presence on board almost certain to court doom.
Betsy went to work for her father in his company yet still she yearned for the sea. When tragedy struck the family following the death of her brother, her father agreed to allow Betsy to take his place on board ship. Betsy's father retired due to ill health and Betsy became the first female Captain of a British ship. Such was Betsy's reputation that her name was carried far from Scottish shores to the States of America.
In these days of feminine equality it is easy to accept the notion of women in a male orientated world but it should be remembered that Betsy achieved her dream almost a century before the onset of the Suffragette movement for it wasn't until 1918 that women were granted the right to vote.
Emily Pankhurst is remembered for her political campaigning to secure the vote for women, and rightly so…..
But what of Betsy Miller?
Betsy Who?
Linda Harnett©2008
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, ED WALKER & LINDA HARNETT