Anne Bonny

Anne Bonny was a famous pirate.

She lived a long time ago. She sailed on ships in the sea.

Anne joined a crew with a man named Rackham. She also sailed with a woman named Mary Read. They stole a ship called the William.

They went to many places in the sea. The crew attacked other ships. One day, men caught the pirates.

Anne and Mary went to jail. They were both pregnant. This helped them stay alive for a while.

We do not know exactly what happened to Anne next. We only know she was not killed. She was a very well known pirate.

Anne Bonny was a famous pirate.

We do not know much about her early life. A book from 1724 says she was born in Ireland. It says she moved to Carolina and married a sailor. Many people think these stories might not be true.

In 1720, Anne went to the Bahamas. She joined a pirate crew led by John Rackham.

She sailed with another woman named Mary Read. The crew stole a ship called the William. They spent two months attacking merchant ships in the West Indies. Anne helped the crew by handing out gunpowder.

In October 1720, a man named Jonathan Barnet caught the pirates. The crew was taken to Jamaica for a trial. Rackham and the men were sentenced to die. Anne and Mary were also found guilty. However, they were both pregnant. This meant they were not killed right away.

Mary died in jail in 1721. We do not know when Anne was freed. We only know she was not executed.

Anne Bonny was a famous pirate from the Golden Age of Piracy. Most of what we know comes from a 1724 book by Captain Charles Johnson. This book is called "A General History of the Pyrates." Many historians think the book might not be entirely true. We do not have many real records about her early years. Because of this, her life remains a great mystery to many people. She is still one of the most recognized pirates in history.

Some stories say Anne was born in Ireland near a town called Cork.

According to Johnson, her mother was a servant named Mary. Her father was an attorney who later moved to the Province of Carolina. He reportedly became a successful merchant and owned a large plantation. The story says Anne married a sailor named James Bonny. After they married, her father was very angry and kicked her out. They then moved to Nassau on New Providence Island to live.

In the summer of 1720, Anne joined a pirate crew.

She sailed under a leader named John Rackham. Anne was not alone as a woman on this ship. She worked alongside another female pirate named Mary Read. On 22 August 1720, they stole a sloop named the William. This ship belonged to a man named John Ham. The crew spent two months attacking merchant ships in the West Indies.

During her time at sea, Anne had a specific job. She was often called a "powder monkey." This meant she helped the crew by handing out gunpowder. A woman named Dorothy Thomas described how the female pirates looked. She said they wore men's jackets and long trousers. They also carried pistols and machetes during their adventures. This shows how they lived much like the men on board.

In October 1720, a man named Jonathan Barnet captured the pirates.

The crew was taken to Jamaica to face a trial. John Rackham and the men were sentenced to be executed. Anne and Mary were also found guilty of piracy. However, they both claimed they were pregnant to ask for mercy. This meant their executions were stayed. Mary died in jail in April 1721. Anne was likely let go at some point and lived until 1733.

Anne Bonny was a prominent figure during the Golden Age of Piracy. She is recognized as one of the most famous female pirates in history. Most of our information comes from a 1724 book. This book is titled "A General History of the Pyrates" by Captain Charles Johnson. However, many historians consider Johnson's accounts to be highly unreliable. There is very little primary evidence to confirm his specific claims. We do not have her own trial transcripts regarding her age or nationality. This lack of documentation makes her actual life a mystery. We only know she was a pirate who served under John Rackham.

According to Johnson, Bonny's early life began in the Kingdom of Ireland. He claimed she was the illegitimate daughter of an attorney and a servant named Mary. The story describes a complicated family situation involving a scandal with silver spoons.

After these events, the family reportedly moved to the Province of Carolina. There, the attorney supposedly became a successful merchant and plantation owner. Bonny eventually married a sailor named James Bonny. This marriage reportedly angered her father, who then cast her out. The couple moved to Nassau on New Providence Island. Nassau was a well-known sanctuary for pirates during this era.

In the summer of 1720, Bonny joined a pirate crew.

She served under the pirate leader John Rackham. She was not the only woman on the crew. She worked alongside another female pirate named Mary Read. On 22 August 1720, the group stole a sloop named the William. The ship had belonged to a man named John Ham. The crew then spent two months attacking merchant ships in the West Indies. This period of piracy involved many different sailors and different types of vessels.

During her time at sea, Bonny performed specific duties. She was often referred to as a "powder monkey." This was a role where she helped the crew by handing out gunpowder. A victim named Dorothy Thomas provided details about the women's appearance. Thomas noted that they wore men's jackets and long trousers. They also carried handkerchiefs tied around their heads. Each woman carried a machete and a pistol. These details show how they integrated into the male-dominated pirate life.

Events changed quickly in October 1720. A former privateer named Jonathan Barnet discovered the pirates near Negril Point. He commanded a sloop and engaged in a brief naval fight. The pirates surrendered after the engagement began. The crew was taken to Jamaica to face legal consequences.

They were tried for the crime of piracy in several groups. John Rackham was tried on 16 November 1720. He was found guilty and executed two days later at Port Royal. The legal process was swift and the outcomes were certain.

Anne Bonny and Mary Read were tried in Spanish Town on 28 November 1720. Governor Nicholas Lawes presided over the trial. The court called four witnesses before reaching a verdict. Both women were found guilty and sentenced to be hanged. However, both Bonny and Read "pleaded their bellies." This was a legal term used to claim they were pregnant. They requested mercy based on their condition. A jury of matrons likely granted a stay of execution. This meant they would not be executed until after they gave birth.

The fates of the two women differed after their imprisonment. Mary Read died in jail around mid-April 1721. A burial registry in Saint Catherine Parish lists her as "Mary Read, Pirate." The exact cause of her death is unknown. Anne Bonny's fate is much harder to track. There is no official record of her release from prison. Some people have speculated she was freed by her family. Others have claimed she lived much longer, but these claims lack proof. A burial register from December 1733 exists in Saint Catherine's Parish. This suggests she may have died around that time.