Dive into the tempestuous world of piracy with "Who Did What Now" as Katie Charlwood unveils the untold stories of Anne Bonny and Mary Read, two formidable women who defied the norms of the 18th century to become key figures in the Golden Age of Piracy. In a time when the sea was thought to belong to men, Charlwood expertly navigates through history to bring us the tales of these female pirates, their tumultuous lives, and their complicated relationships with the infamous Calico Jack Rackham.
From Anne Bonny's escape from scandal in Ireland to Mary Read's ventures disguised as a man in military service, the episode stitches together a narrative that covers their partnership in crime, their exploits of rebellion and thievery under Calico Jack's command, and their final valiant stand against the law. Discover the fate that befell these audacious women after their capture—their trials, imprisonment, and the shrouded mystery surrounding their ends. Join Charlwood in exploring the swashbuckling saga that is Anne Bonny and Mary Read, whose legacies are carved into pirate lore.
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Katie Charlwood highlights the lives of Anne Bonny and Mary Read, shedding light on their adventures, partnerships, and ultimate fate during the Golden Age of Piracy.
Anne Bonny was born in County Cork, Ireland, as the daughter of a lawyer and his maid. To escape the scandal, she was disguised as a boy and later presented as her father's legitimate daughter in South Carolina. Dissatisfied with her marriage to John Bonny, Anne fell for the pirate Calico Jack and joined his crew, alongside Mary Read, while continuing to pose as a man.
Mary Read, also disguised as a man since childhood, capitalized on this lifestyle to engage in military service. Her path to piracy started when she was captured by pirates and eventually joined Calico Jack's crew, where she confessed her true identity to Anne Bonny. Read was later granted a royal pardon and served as a privateer.
Calico Jack Rackham, the infamous pirate captain and privateer, played a significant role in the lives of Anne Bonny and Mary Read. His relationship with Anne Bonny progressed from an affair to an unsuccessful attempt to secure a divorce from her husband, leading to their eventual marriage.
Anne Bonny and Mary Read, serving under Calico Jack's command, were part of successful raids, securing substantial loot. Their final capture came at the hands of Captain Barnett, who seized them in Jamaica after his crew was found largely incapacitated by alcohol. Both Bonny and Read fought bravely, refusing to surrender.
The trial led to most of the pirate crew, including Calico Jack, being sentenced to death and executed. Anne Bonny and Mary Read were granted temporary reprieve due to their pregnancies. Mary Read died in prison, likely from typhus or childbirth complications, while Anne Bonny's ultimate fate remains a mystery, with possibilities ranging from release and return to South Carolina, death on the island, or a long life reaching her 80s.
1-Page Summary
Katie Charlwood brings the story of Anne Bonny and Mary Read, two of the few well-documented female pirates from the Golden Age of Piracy, to light, detailing their exploits and eventual downfall.
Anne Bonny’s life began in County Cork, Ireland, circa 1698 to 1700. She was the offspring an affair between her father, William Cormack, a reputable lawyer, and his maid, Mary Brennan. Dealing with the scandal of the affair, Anne was dressed as a boy and called Andy to mask her true identity. Following the family's relocation to South Carolina for a fresh start, her father rose to prominence again and the family was accepted into society, with Anne presented as William Cormack's legitimate daughter.
Dissatisfied with her arranged marriage to the uninspired sailor John Bonny, Anne sought adventure and found it in the tales of the sea. When Anne's life with John, who turned into a pirate bounty hunter in Nassau, fell short of her desires, she frequented taverns and eventually met Calico Jack. Deciding to leave her unfulfilling life and husband behind, Anne was involved in an affair with Calico Jack and became his wife.
Dressed as men, Anne Bonny and Mary Read joined Calico Jack's pirate crew. Only the three of them knew their true identities as women at the outset.
From a young age, Mary Read was disguised as a boy by her mother to hide her illegitimacy and secure financial support. She lived this way into her teenage years and went on to adopt this disguise again for military service, which laid the groundwork for her eventual turn to piracy.
Mary Read's entanglement with piracy began when her ship was boarded by pirates. She later received a royal pardon and worked as a privateer, a sanctioned pirate, before joining the ranks of Calico Jack's crew where she revealed her gender to Anne Bonny.
Calico Jack, known as a privateer and captain, led the ship that Anne Bonny joined as a member of his pirate crew.
Calico Jack and Anne Bonny's love affair led him to attempt to buy her husband's agreement for a divorce, an effort that was ultimately futile. Their relationship was solidified with their eventual marriage.
The trio, along with their crew, led a campaign of raiding ships around Jamaica, one of which netted them goods equivalent to about £170,000 i ...
Key Female Pirates of the Golden Age of Piracy
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