Notorious Women: Lessons Learned from a Pirate. Anne Bonney and Mary Read

I love to learn about unconventional women and how they made their mark in their day. We’ve all heard about the notorious ones like Cleopatra and Joan of Arc. But the more I’ve been reading lately, the more I’ve realized that I’ve been missing out on some of the underappreciated ones and that I’ve been misinformed (as have most of us) about the better known ones. In order to showcase some women that I find interesting and fairly badass, I’m going to share some of what I’ve learned. And with that, I only have one thing to say. “Ahoy Mate”! (Yes, I know it’s corny, but how often do YOU get to talk like a pirate?!)

I’m starting this first Notorious Women blog off with a pair of friends and kindred spirits: Female Pirates!! Anne Bonney and Mary Read.

I had never even HEARD of any female pirates so when I stumbled upon their story, I was excited to dig in. Here I thought I always wanted to be a writer, or occasionally an astronaut, but a PIRATE?! I never even knew that was an option. I’m rethinking my vocation now.

Anne Bonney hailed from County Cork, Ireland, as the illegitimate daughter of a lawyer and his maid. The lawyers wife didn’t take kindly to hubby impregnating the maid (imagine that!) so she apparently scared him so badly that he left Ireland altogether and came to America, specifically South Carolina.  The family settled there without scandal, at least without scandal until Anne was old enough to create it by herself. She had a wicked temper and small town life bored her. She decided to create some fun and ran off with a novice pirate, James Bonney. The two promptly took off for New Providence (Nassau) in the Bahamas.  But Anne was a woman who needed to respect her husband, not think he was a wuss. This is where James dropped the ball. He turned informant and sold out quite a few of the better known pirates when a bond was put on their head. She was disgusted, and turned her sights on someone with more swagger. Enter her own personal Captain Jack. He was also known as Calico Jack, due to his flamboyant fashion. I wonder if this is where someone got the idea for Captain Jack of Pirates fame? Anne took up on Jack’s ship with some resistance by the crew, many of whom thought it was bad luck to have a woman on board. It’s rumored that one loudmouth pushed the issue a bit too far and she stabbed him through the heart. I assume no one said too much about it after that.

Anne took a break from piracy to have Jack’s baby, and when she returned to the ship, she found another woman on board. She instantly took to her, so much so that there are rumors that they were lovers. But who knows. Mary Read was the new addition, and the two proved that together they would be many people’s worst nightmare. But they were having fun!

Mary herself was the daughter of a seafarer, though no one is too sure if he was a pirate or a sailor. She had a rough upbringing and decided as she got older that life disguised as a male was easier.  You weren’t subject to the laws of society or dependant on another for every aspect of your life. Her life in costume took her from being a footboy, working on a man-o-war and finally to the Army. While in the Army, she fell for her future husband and the two left the Army and opened an Inn. Sadly, her happiness was short lived and he passed away leaving her on her own, yet again. She returned to the life she knew best, one of independence. She signed up on a ship that was soon overthrown by Captain Jack, forcing all aboard to become pirates. Mary was in heaven. Fun fact...Captain Jack's ship was the first to don the Skull and Crossbones that became a long standing symbol of the pirate life.



Together, the two women dressed as ladies when they weren’t fighting but the second a fight broke out, they were in men’s clothing, wielding a gun and a knife. And they were fierce. They not only chose to fight like men against other ships, but they behaved like men on board as well. If their shipmates crossed them, they fought duels with them and won.

Some things haven’t changed since 1715 when they were alive. One thing being that some men still found a degree of discomfort in strong women and took the opportunity to have their women do their dirty work. Both Anne and Mary eventually found themselves defending their men before long.

Mary had fallen in love again, with a crewman, and when he found himself in between a rock and a hard place (that hard place being a duel), Mary herself challenged the man to a dual and killed him before her lover would ever fight him, as she knew he’d lose.

Captain Jack’s ship was attacked by the Navy while anchored in 1720. The crew, with the exception of Anne and Mary, were partying to celebrate a recent ship they had taken over. And by partying, I mean drunk as skunks. This left the two women to defend a ship full of men, who had all turned yellow and retreated down to the lower level of the ship.  Mary was so ticked off that they were such spineless jerks, she herself opened fire on them (including on her husband, Captain Jack) killing one man, injuring many others.

They were all taken to stand trial, and all were sentenced to hang with the exception of Mary and Anne, as they were both pregnant. This was the end of the line for our pirates. But not before Anne had the last laugh while visiting Captain Jack for the last time before he was hanged. He had requested a visit with her as his last wish; I assume hoping for a sympathetic ear and comfort. Instead, she told him exactly what she thought of him and his cowardice, stating “I’m sorry to see you here, but had you fought like a man, you need not have been hanged like a dog.”  So much for sympathy.



Mary died in prison of a fever or perhaps childbirth, no one knows for sure. Anne’s fate is murkier. Some speculate that her wealthy father paid someone off and bought her freedom. Some say she retired quietly to a Caribbean island to raise her and Jack’s second baby.

Despite their methods, these hellcats made their mark on the world. Their trial was sensational, with all of the details to interest every audience. They didn’t mind. They were both of the mindset that they would rather live their lives adventurously and by their own rules than to live one of dependence and boredom.  And who could blame them? They did end up being the only women depicted in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney, after all. Talk about legacy.

These two women were fast friends who worked, fought, and loved side by side. They were a seafaring Thelma and Louise. Their tactics notwithstanding, they lived unapologetically and on their own terms and never let others walk all over them, whether that person was a shipmate or lover.

Don’t you think we could use more of that these days, fewer people who are content to live by society’s every rule and don’t ever live authentically because of it?  And luckily, it doesn’t require wearing a bandana and wielding a machete. Though that does seem fun when dealing with certain people!  You can start by telling some select people to walk the plank. (Corny strikes again!)

How’s that for a New Year’s resolution? In case you don’t have one, it’s not too late. How cool would that be when someone asks what your resolution this year is?

I resolve to be more of a pirate.