Betsey took mighty long steps

My mother's great-grandmother was Marth Lenora Brent (1825-1908, Mississippi) whose family came out of Fairfield County, South Carolina circa 1810 to settle Mississippi.  Brent's grandfather, John Brent, born in Fairfield (1755-1822), married my 4th great grandmother Nancy Ann Neely (1758-1821, South Carolina).  

I was searching on the Neely family in South Carolina and came across this entertaining vignette in which she is a mere cameo.  The story is in Caldwell Family by George E. Phelps, which I came across very indirectly.

William Caldwell and Rebecca, his wife, were immigrants from Ireland. They first located themselves in Pennsylvania, thence the tide of emigration setting southwardly, carried them to Virginia, where they arrived about 1749.

I am informed that the ancestors of Mr. Caldwell were of French origin; that they were Huguenots, who fled from France in 1685, at the revocation of the edict of Nantes; part settled in Scotland, another part in Ireland.

William Caldwell died in Virginia, leaving nine children - four sons and five daughters, John, William, James and David, Margret, Martha, Eleanor, Elisabeth, Rebecca and Sarah.

In 1770, the widow, Mrs. Rebecca Caldwell, and her numerous family, removed to and settled on Mill Creek, in Newberry Dist.

Mrs. Rebecca Caldwell and her daughter Elizabeth, participated in the Revolutionary cause in the following incident in the year 1781 or 1782, (probably the latter) a lad, James Creswell, afterwards Colonel Creswell, remarkable for his active hostility to the Tories, was at Mrs. Caldwell's (Rebecca). A negro gave the alarm that Tories were approaching; in an instant the old lady directed her daughter Betsey (Elizabeth) to hide herself, and Creswell to dress himself in clothes of her daughter, which she furnished. This being done, as the Tories were approaching the house, she ordered her own horse and that of her daughter Betsey's to be saddled, as she was compelled to visit Mrs. Neely. No sooner said than done; Sambo had the horses at the door. The old lady called '’Betsey come along." said she, "I am in a hurry." Out walked Creswell in Betsey's toggery, her bonnet slouched over his face covered his features; he and the old lady mounted in the presence of the Tories, and away they went to visit Mrs. Neely, while the Tories set about searching for Jimmy Creswell; but they searched in vain; they found the true Betsey, and then became aware that Creswell had escaped; they soothed themselves by sweeping pretty much all Mrs. Caldwell's household goods.

One of them swore he thought Betsey took mighty long steps, as she went to her horse.

Mrs. Rebecca Caldwell died on Mill Creek in 1807, at the age of 99 years. 

While my intent was to find information on Ms. Neely, this illustrates what happens unexpectedly frequently.  Go back a few generations and there are all sorts of connections among families.  I have 5th great grandfather James Caldwell (1724-1804, Virginia).  Mrs. Rebecca Caldwell was incidental to my search for Mrs. Neely but I suspect I'll find her to be a distant cousin.