Glasgow And Ships Of The Clyde

Captain Betsy Miller - Centenary Of Her Death

From: Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald dated Friday 15th May 1964

CAPTAIN BETSY MILLER - CENTENARY OF HER DEATH

One hundred years ago this week, on the 12th May, 1864, there died at her home in Quay Street, Saltcoats, Miss Betsy Miller, at the age of 71 years.

Just as ?The Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald? of these days decreed that her demise ?ought not to pass unnoticed by a local journal?, so it is fitting that the centenary of her death should also be recorded, for Miss Miller was better known as Captain Betsy Miller of the brig ?CLYTUS?.

Betsy Miller has good claim to the title of Saltcoats? most notable citizen. While still a young girl misfortune struck the Miller family. Her brother was drowned, her father died and the family fortunes dwindled. About all that was left to the family was the old brig ?CLYTUS?, a survivor of the Napoleonic wars, and Betsy?s determination.

TOOK COMMAND

She had sailed with her father as a ship?s husband but now she took command of the brig and set about paying off the family?s debts.

Her determination and heroism met with success; she paid off debts amounting to ?700, brought up two younger sisters and made enough to spend her latter days in comfort in her own house in Quay Street.

During her 30 years at sea, Captain Betty navigated the ?CLYTUS? between Saltcoats and the coast of Ireland in all kinds of weather; transacted all the business connected with freight, cargo and ship?s stores; engaged and controlled the crew. What kind of woman was Betsy Miller? Certainly she was no female pirate, swash buckling her way across the deck of her ship. One sailor who sailed with her described her as ?weel favor?t, neither wee nor tall, and wi? as much sense o? humour as made life aboard gang pleasantly?.

Like all women, Betsy must have longed for a ?place of her own?, and in this she was fortunate on board the ?CLYTUS?. The ship had a poop, which she converted into her own living quarters. From here, although cut off from the crew and cargo, she could still keep an eye on her ship.

She was mentioned in the House of Lords by the Earl of Eglinton during a debate on merchant shipping and generally became known throughout the world.

Today there is little left of the Saltcoats of Betsy Miller and the ?CLYTUS?. Gone is the busy harbour and the boat yards she knew. Gone even is her own home which for so long bore above the entrance painted on the wall, a picture of the proud ?CLYTUS?, breasting the waves.

?CLYTUS HOUSE?

When her house was demolished some ten years ago to make way for a block of flats the then owner prevailed upon the Town Council to mark her home and this had been done by naming one of the blocks of flats Clytus House.

In paying tribute on this, the centenary of her death, we cannot do better than quote the words of our report of 100 years ago: ?Where other women would have succumbed to the necessity and sunk into penury; their father?s name dishonoured by leaving obligations undercharged and orphan sisters cast upon the parish or the charity of friends, she boldly grappled with her difficulties, adopted a vocation suited only for the sterner sex and redeemed honour, secured a competence, performed a noble, sisterly duty and, in her humble sphere, gained a name honourably mentioned both in her own country and in the Sates of America?.

Scribe Tango