Betty Mouat

Betty Mouat from a newspaper account of the time.

There is a small exhibition in the building where you wait for the Mousa Ferry and among the interesting objects on display is a short account of Betty Mouat's amazing adventure.

Setting out on a more or less routine trip to Lerwick to sell her knitting, disaster struck when part of the rigging collapsed, knocking the captain and his mate overboard. The mate managed to haul himself back on board and promptly called the ship's boy and together they launched the small boat to go and look for the captain. They couldn't find him - and then realised that the ship with Betty Mouat on board was heading for the horizon - and she didn't know the first thing about sailing!

Someone who had known Betty during his childhood gives an interesting insight into her character.

Father was struck by her deep faith. She told him that she kept on praying for God's help and singing hymns, repeating Jesus Lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly, while the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high. She was then 61, having been born in 1825.
John B. Logan, A Shetland Boyhood p. 86

It is not clear whether she was 61 when the Rev Logan knew her or when she endured this misadvanture.