I've just read "The Rival Brothers" and it's awesome! Clarey is indeed there in the glorious form of Clara Wildon who energetically fends off unwanted advances with variously dagger and pistol.

It seems to be part of an anthology of romantic pirate encounters. There are several stories in the collection that make Jack Sparrow look like amateur.

The publication is dated 1846 in Boston, so I am thinking that Alonzo Lewis the poet may have been inspired and adapted the story to epic poetry, then passed on down the family set to an easy tune of the time.

Any idea from whence dates the "Betsy from Pike" melody?

Thanks again for all your help
J