Series 2 Episode 3 – The Turbulent Lives of Andrew & Betsy Doyle
Photo Credit: Title: A soldier’s wife at Fort Niagara / engd. by T. Walker, 1860. [Old Fort Niagara, Library of Congress]
This week Kate (Catharine) Emerson, Niagara County NY Historian, talks to us about the Turbulent Lives of Andrew and Betsy Doyle. Kate recently carried out detailed historical research on primary sources, proving that Betsy (Fannie) was indeed a heroine in the War of 1812 and not a myth or legend as suggested by many who learned of her story.
Betsy (a.k.a. Fannie or Mary) Doyle was born in 1790 in New York State and her husband Andrew in 1788 but as a British Subject in St Davids Ontario. Andrew enlisted as Private in 1st Regiment of US Artillery on Feb 2, 1810 and was stationed at Old Fort Niagara in Youngstown, NY when the War of 1812 broke out. In October 1812, Andrew took part in the invasion of Canada at the Battle of Queenston Heights and he was one of many soldiers captured by the British. When British officers learned that Andrew had been born in Canada, he was treated as a traitor rather than a Prisoner of War and threatened with execution. He was then sent to England and incarcerated in the infamous Dartmoor Prison.
Betsy knew of her husband’s capture but would not see him again. In November, when Fort Niagara and the British Fort George across the river fought in a fierce daylong bombardment, Betsy Doyle spent the day carrying red-hot cannonballs, called hotshot, to an artillery piece on the third floor of the French Castle. And the year following in December, Betsy donned the accoutrements of a soldier and stood a turn at guard duty to embarrass the other timid militiamen. When British forces attacked the Fort in the pre-dawn hours of December 19, Betsy fled with four children in tow, making her way to the U.S. Army Camp at Greenbush, near Albany, New York.
When the War of 1812 ended and prisoners were released, Andrew Doyle returned to the United States but never located Betsy.
Today, Betsy is honoured by a historical marker and two plaques on the third floor of the French Castle, very near the spot where she handed hotshot off to gunners on that turbulent day in November 1812.
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Catharine (Kate) Emerson serves as the official Niagara County Historian in Lockport, NY, USA. She is responsible for preserving and promoting the rich local history of the Niagara County Region. Her role and activities include the handling of historical and genealogical research, public talks on local historical topics, participation in local heritage events and appearing on Podcasts!
She was educated at Boston University from where she holds an MA in American History.