Anne Bonny, a famous and mysterious pirate of the Caribbean, was born in the late 17th century to a respected solicitor and a maid. Legends of her childhood are speculative, but she married James Bonny against her father’s will and later left him for Calico Jack Rackham. Anne and Mary Read, another female pirate, helped Calico achieve considerable success in piracy until they were attacked by a pirate hunter. At their trial, both Anne and Mary claimed to be pregnant, but Mary died in prison while Anne’s fate remains a mystery.
Anne Bonny is one of the most famous and mysterious pirates of the Caribbean. Her fiery Irish roots often lead to her tales of her temper, her violence, and her wild demeanor. Historically very little is known about this great figure of the Golden Age of Sailing, and the mystery of her fate continues to baffle historians and fans around the world.
Anne’s exact date of birth is unknown, although she is believed to have been born in the late 17th century. Her father, William Cormac, was a respected solicitor based in County Cork, Ireland. Anne’s mother, however, was not the lawyer’s wife but rather a maid in her house. Rather than abandon his newborn daughter and his mother’s child, Cormac fled with them to the fields of South Carolina, where he bought a large plantation and became quite wealthy.
Legends of Anne Bonny as a child are speculative. A famous tale says that she stabbed a family maid to death in a rage, but this is purely conjecture. Anne showed some impetuosity, however, by marrying James Bonny, a poor and somewhat unkempt sailor. Accounts suggest that Cormac was against the marriage and disowned his daughter for marrying against his will. A second unconfirmed legend suggests that Anne burned down the plantation as revenge before escaping to the Caribbean with James.
For uncertain reasons, Anne and James’ marriage soon soured, shortly after their move to New Providence in the Bahamas. Anne Bonny formed a close friendship with a man named Pierre, a well-placed social leader who provided Anne with information and introduced her to local men. When the English government of New Providence announced a pirate amnesty allowing ex-pirates to work as privateers, Anne Bonny met Calico Jack Rackham, a colorful and moderately successful pirate.
Anne and Jack begin an indiscreet affair, discovered by James Bonny. When she was sentenced to caning for adultery, Anne Bonny left town instead, taking passage on Calico Jack’s ship and starting her life as a pirate. Accounts vary as to whether Anne disguised herself as a man for their initial voyage, but most experts believe that as Jack’s lover she had no need for it, and under her protection she worked freely as a female pirate .
Many of the legends surrounding Anne Bonny involve her friendship with Mary Read, another female pirate. Mary had passed as a male soldier for most of her difficult life, and was disguised as a male pirate on Calico Jack’s ship when she Anne boarded her. Some stories suggest that Anne was attracted to the handsome “male” pirate, while others believe that she immediately recognized Mary as a woman and befriended her. After Mary’s gender was discovered, she and Anne formed a close friendship and steered Calico’s ship in concert with him.
With the help of the two women, Calico Jack achieved considerable success in piracy, unfortunately attracting the attention of Jonathan Barnet, a well-known pirate hunter. In 1720, Barnet attacked the ship while Calico and most of the crew lay passed out and drunk in the hold. Mary and Anne were the only two awake and fought bravely and almost successfully against the invading ship. Unable to wake any of the men, however, the women were taken, along with the rest of the crew.
At their trial in Jamaica, both Anne Bonny and Mary Read ask to be spared from hanging because they were pregnant. Their executions were stayed, but Mary succumbed to a fever in prison and died a few months later. Anne’s end is much more mysterious. Although records exist of the hanging of Calico Jack and his crew, Anne’s name is not mentioned. Experts believe she was ransomed, either by her estranged husband or father. No scholar is sure exactly where Anne Bonny disappeared, but her fierce and adventurous youth and her future life in her shadow made her a dashing legendary pirate.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
