The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1962-02-09
Fridays
Child
By LAWRENCE MADDRY


AS . newcomer to these parts.
~ have become SO accustomed to q
lot Of good natured joshing that
I'm inclined to view any simple
statement as an attempt to spool
stranger. AS a result, / am, as
no reporter should, probably deal
ing more IN the realm Of fantasy
than fact. | get told SO much fiction
that I've begun to prefer lies to the
truth end feel more at home among
them. There is a story, however,
that seems to be fairly well cir
culated, which would appear to sup
port . stamp of authenticity.
II 10 the Legend Of Betsy Dowdy.
II it Is true, and / really believe
that It is, then Paul Revere must
be considered in a new light and
relegated 20 the position of minor
here in contrast with the courage
ions Curritucker Of the Outer
Banks.
Betsy is undoubtedly familiar to
most Of you readers, but to me she
is q new and intriguing curiosity,
whose heroism strikes a responsive
chord in the heart of this congeni-
tai coward. first learned of her
exploits while reading the past is
sue OF 'sThe State" magazine which
contained a survey of Currituck
County.
According to the legend, Betsy
was the young daughter Of q Ban
ker fisherman, Joe Dowdy, who liv-
ed during the Revolutionary War
period. Joe is also reported to have
been . God-fearing man who was
concerned for the lives of sailors
who were lost at sea; but prayed
that If there had to be a wreck,
God could do no finer work than to
place It at Currituch Beach.
Late one evening, in ITS, when
Betsy should have been in bed or
counting, she overheard her elders
talking Of British theats to invade
the Banks. They were very con-
cerned and mentioned how badly
the aid of General William Skinner
and the Perquimons militia was
needed. Being about as head strong
as most Of the girls in these parts,
she slipped out of the house, and,
without 50 much as an "adios," hur-
ried toward the darkness of the
stable.
Once there, she jumped onto her
favorite Banker pony and started
out at full gallop for Perquimons.
She is said to have covered the full
fifty miles by dawn as she forded
her pony across the shoals at Cur
rituck Sound, opposite Church's
Island, and galloped on towards
Camden. The twinkling stars were
her only light over Lambs old ferry
into Pasquotank, as she passed by
the ssnarrows' (now Elizabeth
City, 30 Hartsford's ford, up the
highlands of Perq,iimans and on to
Yoepim Greek and General William
SINNERS home before daybreak.
The general listened to her story
and made immediate plans for NOV
ing his militia towards Great
Bridge. Betsy is said to have re-
turned to Currituck at her leisure
and was greeted near the sea girt
shore with the cry of "Tihey are
beatenl The British have been beat
en- at Great Bridge ! I"
Since then, her heroic ride was
repeated in patriotic homes, by
campfEres and wherever courage
and initive are mentioned, accord
ing TO Creesy's Grandfather's Tales.
The tale has had a more recent
airing with the publication of Betsy
Dowdy's Ride by Nell Wise Wech-
ter.
Was there really a Betsy Dowdy ?
No one knows. Mrs. Wechter is said