Mary Read & Anne Bonny - Notorious female pirates.

 
In the early 1700’s New Providence became a Pirate Republic for  notorious pirates sailing the Caribbean to attack ships laden with treasure from the New World. Pirates chose The Bahamas because the islands were situated near major shipping routes, had many reefs, protected harbours and small cays. There was no structured government and the city of Nassau became a popular pirate port for buying and selling as well as wild partying. Among the pirates who frequented Nassau and hid out on the small cays were the notorious female pirates, Anne Bonny and Mary Read. These women may be considered to have lived ahead of their time and defied convention by living  as liberated women in a man’s world.  

Mary Read was born in Plymouth, England and disguised herself as a boy from an early age. She became a foot boy to a wealthy, French woman, but ran away and eventually joined the military. She fell in love and was married, but her husband died. Disguised as a man, Mary/ Mark sailed on a ship to the West Indies. The ship was attacked by a pirate ship captained by John Rackham. Mary/ Mark joined Rackham’s crew and fought more bravely than the men. It was on the ship that she met Anne Bonny and a lasting friendship was formed.

Anne Bonny was born in Ireland, the illegitimate child of a maid and her employer. They moved to America and at the age of 16 Anne married a sea captain named James Bonny. Her father disowned her, so the couple left America for Nassau. In Nassau she became bored with her husband and chose life as a pirate and the mistress of Captain John Rackham. They attacked ships and those who were not killed were taken a prisoners. Mary Read was taken as prisoner after an attack.

Mary Read and Anne Bonny sailed on the ships disguised as men. They were eventually captured off Jamaica and sentenced to death. It is said that on the morning of John Rackham’s execution Anne visited him and told him, “if you had fought like a man, you would not be hanged like a dog.” The women escaped execution because they were pregnant. Mary Read died of a fever while in prison. Anne Bonny disappeared from recorded history.