Podcasts > Who Did What Now > 98. Anne Bonny and Mary Read - Here Be Pirates

98. Anne Bonny and Mary Read - Here Be Pirates

By Katie Charlwood

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.

98. Anne Bonny and Mary Read - Here Be Pirates

This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Mar 5, 2024 episode of the Who Did What Now

Sign up for Shortform to access the whole episode summary along with additional materials like counterarguments and context.

98. Anne Bonny and Mary Read - Here Be Pirates

1-Page Summary

Key Female Pirates of the Golden Age of Piracy

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

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

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

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.

Calico Jack's Crew Raids Ships

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.

Trial and Imprisonment

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

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Privateers were privately owned ships authorized by a government to engage in warfare at sea during times of conflict. They were granted commissions, known as letters of marque, which allowed them to attack and capture enemy vessels as a form of legalized piracy. Privateering was a way for governments to supplement their naval power and raise funds for war efforts by sharing the profits from captured ships. Participants in privateering could potentially earn more money than they would in traditional maritime occupations.
  • A royal pardon is a government's decision to forgive or reduce the legal consequences of a criminal conviction. It can be granted before or after a conviction, typically when someone has shown they deserve leniency. Pardons are often seen as a way to correct injustices or show mercy in exceptional cases. The granting of a pardon can vary by jurisdiction and may carry different implications for the individual receiving it.
  • Typhus is a group of infectious diseases caused by specific bacterial infections. It includes epidemic typhus, scrub typhus, and murine typhus, each spread by different vectors like body lice, chiggers, and fleas. Symptoms typically include fever, headache, and a rash, with treatment involving antibiotics like doxycycline. Typhus has been known since at least 1528 and occurs in various regions globally, with prevention focused on reducing exposure to the organisms that transmit the disease.

Get access to the context and additional materials

So you can understand the full picture and form your own opinion.
Get access for free
98. Anne Bonny and Mary Read - Here Be Pirates

Key Female Pirates of the Golden Age of Piracy

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

Early life in Ireland and South Carolina

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.

Unhappy marriage and affair with Calico Jack

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.

Becomes a member of Calico Jack's pirate crew along with Mary Read

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.

Mary Read

Disguised as a man from a young age

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.

Joins pirate crew and gains royal pardon

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 Rackham

Captain of pirate ship Anne Bonny serves on

Calico Jack, known as a privateer and captain, led the ship that Anne Bonny joined as a member of his pirate crew.

Has affair and later marries Anne

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.

Calico Jack's Crew Raids Ships

Bonny, Read, and Rackham gain substantial plunder

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 ...

Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary

Registered users get access to the Full Podcast Summary and Additional Materials. It’s easy and free!
Start your free trial today

Key Female Pirates of the Golden Age of Piracy

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Privateers were privately owned ships authorized by a government during wartime to attack and capture enemy vessels. They operated similarly to pirates but had legal permission known as a letter of marque. Privateers played a significant role in naval warfare and were incentivized by the promise of financial gain through capturing enemy ships and cargo. Their actions were considered legal under the authority of the issuing government.
  • "Illegitimacy" is a term used to describe the status of being born to parents who are not legally married to each other. In historical contexts, children born out of wedlock were often considered illegitimate, which could impact their social standing and legal rights. This term reflects societal norms and legal frameworks regarding marriage and legitimacy.
  • During their piracy campaign, Anne Bonny, Mary Read, and Calico Jack Rackham raided ships around Jamaica, amassing significant wealth. They were eventually captured by Captain Barnett on the orders of the Governor of Jamaica in October 1720 at Bloody Bay. Most of their crew was incapacitated during the capture due to intoxication, but Bonny and Read fought bravely before being apprehended.
  • "Jail fever" was a historical term used to describe outbreaks of infectious diseases, often typhus, within crowded and unsanitary prison conditions. It was characterized by symptoms like high fever, headache, and rash. In the context of the story, Mary Read's illne ...

Counterarguments

...

Get access to the context and additional materials

So you can understand the full picture and form your own opinion.
Get access for free

Create Summaries for anything on the web

Download the Shortform Chrome extension for your browser

Shortform Extension CTA