Betsy Miller

PLEASE VISIT THE OFFICIAL BETSY MILLER WEBSITE AT:
Copy this code to your website to display this banner!

BETSY MILLER CD..... OUT NOW !!! (With sincere thanks to LEE TUMBRIDGE, for technical support at the printing stage.)
TO PURCHASE CD VIA PAYPAL, CLICK BUTTON PRICE INCLUDES POSTAGE & PACKAGE
BETSY MILLER.SALTCOATS' QUEEN OF THE SEA.1792 - 1864.
Betsy Miller achieved the unique distinction of being the first woman ever to be registered as a ships captain and named as such, in the House of Commons and House of Lords.......
Betsy was the eldest daughter born to Captain William Miller and his wife, Mary, who lived in Saltcoats, a small coastal town on the beautiful west coast of Scotland. Captain Miller ran a shipping company carrying cargo across the waters to Ireland. As a young child, Betsy would accompany her father on his journeys. Betsy was totally captivated by the sea and dreamed of being master of her own ship one day, following in the footsteps of her father.
However, in those early days it was unthinkable that a woman would work on board a sailing vessel let alone be ‘Master of the Ship’. Yet, how young Betsy would dream …........
When Betsy reached adulthood she worked for her father in his company, whilst her brother Hugh was groomed to take over the company and run the ship. Tragedy hit the Miller household when Hugh was drowned in an accident at nearby Ardrossan harbour, and Captain Miller, her father, suffered an illness which left him an invalid. The Miller family had incurred colossal debts and Betsy, by then 46, stepped into the realms of history and set about reinstating her family name and making her fortune.
Betsy gained a reputation as a fine ‘seawoman’ who was capable of handling the Brig Clytus in the stormiest conditions. Very much a lady, and a gentile one at that, Betsy was a stickler for being properly dressed for all occasions and took great pride in her appearance, her delicate lace caps always pristine, her dress impeccable. Her youngest sister, Hannah accompanied Betsy acting as her chaperon.
Betsy’s fourteen man crew had great respect for the ‘skipper’, for Betsy would sail when other experienced Captains would not. Betsy was a woman of guile and humour and her crew loved her for it. She was a shrewd business woman and traded in coal and limestone between her home port of Saltcoats and the major ports in Ireland.
Captain Betsy Miller retired when she was seventy to the family home in Saltcoats and died two years later leaving her youngest sister Hannah, to continue where she left off.
This site is dedicated to the memory of Captain Betsy Miller, Master of the Brig Clytus and Saltcoats’ Queen of the Sea. Its’ inception is that of Saltcoats musician, ED WALKER who has composed and performed this wonderful music in Betsy’s honour. The poetic offerings, as such, are by the author. We hope that in visiting this site you will be touched by the spirit of Betsy, an extraordinary woman and a legend in her time......
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
ED WALKER & LINDA HARNETT ©2008