Anne Bonny and Mary Read Women Pirates! Anne Bonny and Mary Read

Famous Women Pirates Anne Bonny Mary Read

** Note – Remember that there are many different accounts of these two pirate women’s lives. Most of what is known of Bonny’s life comes from the volume A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pyrates (1724), written by a Capt. Charles Johnson. Nobody REALLY knows exactly what the lives of these two remarkable women were like! Most of the information is considered to be highly speculative.

Anne Bonny – Early Life Born around 1700 in Ireland to a lawyer, William, and his servant, Mary Real name - Anna Cormac Her family travelled to America and became very wealthy Supposedly had red hair and was considered a “good catch.” Had a fiery temper – reportedly stabbed a servant girl with a table knife! Married a poor sailor / pirate named James Bonny

Anne Bonny – Pirating! While in the Bahamas, she met a well-known pirate, Jack “Calico Jack” Rackham and fell in love. Anne and Calico Jack ran away to be pirates together along the coast of Jamaica. Their crew included Mary Read. Women aboard a ship were considered to be bad luck, so it is unusual that this was allowed. Many sources say that she disguised herself as a man, but she probably did not hide her gender from her crew. She did pretend to be a man while pillaging and fighting.

Anne Bonny – Captured! In 1720, Calico Jack, Anne, Mary, and the rest of the crew were captured. The men were hanged, but Mary and Anne claimed to be pregnant, and were pardoned until a later date. There are no records of Anne’s execution, but there are plenty of rumors! Some say her wealthy father helped her escape Some say her first husband reclaimed her Some say she ran away and became a pirate again Some say she owned a tavern or lived in Louisiana with Mary

Mary Read – Early Life Born in England around 1691 Her mother dressed her as a boy to pass her off as her older brother who had died, in order to continue getting money from Mary’s grandmother. She found work as a footboy, and then a sailor on a ship – still dressed as a boy! She fought with the British Army (STILL as a boy…) but fell in love. She and her husband owned an inn, and were happy until her husband died.

Mary Read – Becoming a Pirate! Mary boarded a ship for the West Indies. Her ship was taken over, and she was forced to become a pirate. She briefly was a privateer, but in 1720, she ended up joining Calico Jack and Anne Bonny. Since she was still disguised as a man, nobody knew that she was a woman until she told Anne. The two females became close friends. Calico Jack became jealous, so Mary revealed her true identity.

Mary Read- Capture! When their boat was captured, Mary and Anne both fought hard and valiantly. Supposedly, the men hardly fought at all! Mary also avoided hanging by saying she was pregnant. Sadly, Mary died in prison, although some say that she escaped and went to live happily with Anne in Louisiana.