Pirates - Anne Bonny

Welcome to our podcast on the infamous pirate Anne Bonny, one of the most notorious and enigmatic figures of the Golden Age of Piracy. Today, we'll delve into the life, legends, and legacy of a woman who defied societal norms and became one of the most feared pirates of her time. Our story begins in Kinsale County Cork, Ireland, around the year 1698. Anne Bonny was born into a world of scandal and secrecy. Her father, William Cormac, was a respected lawyer who had an affair with the family's maid, Mary Brennan. When Mary became pregnant with Anne, William's wife discovered the infidelity and left him. To avoid further scandal, William made a decision that would shape Anne's early life. He dressed the young Anne as a boy and introduced her as the child of a relative entrusted to his care. This early experience of living as a boy would later prove crucial in Anne's pirating career. As Anne grew older, the truth of her parentage became impossible to hide. William, Mary, and young Anne emigrated to Charles Town (now Charleston) South Carolina, to escape the gossip and start a new life. In the American colonies, William became a successful planter and merchant, providing Anne with a comfortable upbringing. However, Anne's rebellious nature soon began to assert itself. She was known for her "fierce and courageous temper," and rumors swirled about her carousing in local taverns and engaging in affairs with fishermen and drunks. These escapades damaged her father's business reputation, straining their relationship. The final break with her father came in 1718 when, at the age of 20, Anne married a poor sailor named James Bonny. Disapproving of the match, William disowned his daughter. This rejection set Anne on a path that would lead her to infamy on the high seas. Anne and James Bonny set sail for New Providence (now Nassau) in the Bahamas, a notorious pirate haven. It was here that Anne's life would take a dramatic turn. While James took up work as an informant for Governor Woods Rogers, turning in pirates for bounties, Anne found herself drawn to the freewheeling pirate lifestyle. In New Providence, Anne met and fell in love with John "Calico Jack" Rackham, a charismatic pirate captain. Rackham offered to buy Anne from her husband a common practice at the time, but James refused. Undeterred, Anne and Rackham decided to elope, stealing a ship and embarking on a pirating career together. It's important to note the rarity of female pirates during this era. The maritime world was overwhelmingly male-dominated, and superstition held that women on ships were bad luck. However, Anne Bonny, along with her later companion Mary Read, would challenge these notions and prove themselves as capable and fierce as any male pirate. Anne's time with Rackham's crew was marked by daring raids and fierce battles. Witnesses would later testify that Anne and Mary Read were among the fiercest members of the crew, "cursing and swearing much and ready and willing to do anything on board". One of the most intriguing aspects of Anne's story is her relationship with Mary Read. Mary, like Anne, had spent much of her life disguised as a man. She had served in the British military and joined Rackham's crew while still presenting as male. According to Captain Charles Johnson's "A General History of the Pyrates," Anne, dressed in female attire, attempted to seduce the handsome new recruit (Mary, still disguised as a man). Mary, fearing repercussions from Rackham, revealed her true identity to Anne. This revelation forged a strong bond between the two women. The nature of Anne and Mary's relationship has been the subject of much speculation. Some historians suggest they may have been lovers, while others describe them as close friends and confidantes. Regardless of the exact nature of their relationship, it's clear that Anne and Mary shared a deep connection and mutual respect. The tactics employed by Rackham's crew, including Anne and Mary, were typical of Caribbean pirates of the time. They often used smaller, faster ships to outmaneuver larger vessels, employed deception by flying false flags, and relied on the fear their reputation inspired to encourage quick surrenders. Anne and Mary's presence on the ship likely added to this fearsome reputation, as female pirates were so rare as to seem almost mythical. However, Anne Bonny's pirating career was relatively short-lived. In October 1720, Rackham's ship was captured off the coast of Jamaica by a heavily armed privateer commanded by Captain Jonathan Barnet. According to legend, when Barnet's ship attacked, Anne and Mary were the only two crew members to put up a fight, berating their male companions for cowardice. The capture of Rackham's crew led to one of the most famous piracy trials of the era. On November 16, 1720, Rackham and ten male crew members were tried, convicted, and sentenced to death. They were hanged a few days later. Anne and Mary's trial took place on November 28, 1720. Like their male counterparts, they were convicted of piracy and sentenced to death. However, in a dramatic turn of events, both women "pled their bellies" - claiming to be pregnant. This plea for mercy was a common tactic for condemned women of the time, as English law forbade the execution of pregnant women. The court ordered that Anne and Mary be examined by a jury of matrons, who confirmed their pregnancies. As a result, their executions were stayed. This reprieve would prove permanent for Anne, though the reasons why remain shrouded in mystery. Mary Read's fate is better documented. She fell ill with a fever, likely typhoid, while in prison and died on April 28, 1721. She was buried in St. Catherine's Church in Jamaica. Anne Bonny's ultimate fate, however, is less certain. Some accounts suggest that her wealthy father used his influence to secure her release from prison. Others claim she may have bribed her way out. What is known is that there is no record of her execution. One intriguing theory, supported by some historical records, suggests that Anne returned to Charles Town South Carolina. According to this account, she gave birth to Rackham's second child, married a local man named Joseph Burleigh, had eight more children, and lived to the ripe old age of 84. She is said to have been buried in Charleston on April 25, 1782. However, it's important to note that this account of Anne's later life is disputed by some historians. The lack of concrete evidence about her fate has allowed her legend to grow, with various stories and theories emerging over the centuries. The story of Anne Bonny has captivated the public imagination for three centuries. Her brief but dramatic career as a pirate, her defiance of gender norms, and the mystery surrounding her fate have made her an enduring figure in popular culture. Anne Bonny has been featured in numerous books, films, and television shows. She's often portrayed as a fierce, independent woman who chose a life of adventure over the constraints of 18th-century society. Her story has been adapted and reimagined countless times, from historical novels to fantasy pirate tales. In recent years, there's been a renewed interest in Anne Bonny's story, particularly in light of discussions about gender roles and women's empowerment. Her life serves as a reminder that women have always pushed boundaries and defied expectations, even in the most male-dominated fields. As we conclude our exploration of Anne Bonny's life, it's worth reflecting on why her story continues to captivate us three centuries later. Perhaps it's the allure of the pirate life, with its promise of freedom and adventure. Maybe it's Anne's defiance of societal norms and her refusal to be constrained by the expectations placed on women of her time. Or perhaps it's simply the enduring power of a well-crafted legend, full of dramatic twists and unanswered questions. Whatever the reason, Anne Bonny remains a figure of fascination, her story a blend of historical fact and colorful myth. From her scandalous birth to her dramatic capture, from her fierce battles to the mystery of her fate, Anne Bonny embodies the pirate archetype in our collective imagination. As we reflex on the legend of Anne Bonny, we're left with a complex portrait of a woman who was at once a criminal, a rebel, and a symbol of her times. Her story reminds us of a period when the lines between law and crime, between nations and individuals, were often blurred, and when a single determined individual could capture the imagination of an entire age. In the end, Anne Bonny, the woman behind the legend, remains something of an enigma. But her impact on history and popular culture is undeniable.