The Truth about Women Pirates

By Laura

Focus Question My focus question is: What is the role of women having to do with Carribean Pirates? Was it significant or insignificant? I believe that the role of being a woman pirate was significant. I believe this because, if one was to look at women pirates of the past, they would see that if there weren't woman pirates in earlier times, the pirate life would seem much different. The books of history would be rewritten and the past of pirates would be much more dull. Many woman pirates had significant roles in history because they created their roles. What I mean by this is that woman pirates had to prove themselves. They had to prove that they were brave, majestic, and worthy of being on the ship. Woman pirates could "prove themselves" by winning a battle with a man, fighting and winning over a ship, or anything else that would catch the attention of men. An example of this is Mary Read's battle with a bigger, stronger man pirate. She battled him with her wit and stunning jousting skills. Obviously, Mary Read won the joust. Having woman pirates didn't only make history more adventurous and interesting, but it also, in a way, improves the lives of some people. A few people who's lives were improved by women pirates are: "Calico Jack" (Captain Jack Rackham), Mary Read's first husband, and Mary Read's second husband. Their lives were improved because they had a life with theirwives, which most likely made it more interesting. It would not be as interesting if the men had spent their lives alone. (An example of something that was more mind boggling: Mary Read a famous woman pirate made life on the ship of calico Jack much more interesting. She fought her soon-to-be- husband's enemy for him. I mean, if she hadn't of been there, one man probably would have died a bloody death instead of a women fighting an eye- catching battle with a man, winning the battle, and practically cutting off the man's head. My personal opinion of this is the side with Mary Read because it intrigues me more than the other side of the story. A man who's life was effected by a woman pirate.

In conclusion, I believe that the role of women was very important having to do with Carribean Pirates, because they improved people's lives, made history more adventurous, and interesting. Woman pirates forever changed the past of pirates.

Fact

Swords clash, someone drops to the ground, dead. The cry of victory rings throughout the ship. The pirates sing dance and praise a ..... woman? Yes, a woman! Woman pirates were scarce, but powerful. Some were stronger and tougher than men. Living with men meant that they had to learn a different life, and prove their bravery. A Woman dressed in man pirate clothes. Women Pirates would not be let on ships with other men pirates if they didn't have a reason . One way to be let on the ship was: women pirates such as ,Anne Bonny and Mary Read, dressed in clothes of the man pirate. Pants, black hats, and baggy, ripped shirts would dress their bodies. Another way to get on the pirate ship was to sneak on. This was risky business, but sometimes the only option.

Famous Women Pirates

Since women pirates were scarce, not many are known some include Anne Bonny, Mary Read, Ann Mills, O'Malley, and Alwinda. I will talk about Anne Bonny, and Mary Read for they are the best known of the four.

Anne Bonny

Anne Bonny was a fearless woman born in Country Cork, Ireland. She and her father immigrated to North Carolina, soon after. The family immediately became rich after Anne's father started a plantation. Anne was tired with this life and wanted a life of mystery. piracy was what she was married into, after she left the plantation. Anne Bonny married a pirate named James Bonny. The two newly weds moved to the Bahamas. James worked there as a "stool pigeon to Woodes Rogers, turning in any sailor he didn't like as a pirate for a handsome reward." (Quote from the web-site: Http;//home.c2i.net/w-207341/ann_bonny.htm) Bonny soon grew apart from her dastardly husband, and left him. She quickly fell in love again, with a pirate named "Calico" Jack. (Calico Jack earned his nickname by wearing blithely colored clothes, which were called calicos. He was a king to a crew of pirates and was a very powerful man. Anne was captured by the brigade of semi-courageous pirates, and taken to "Calico Jack". He then fell in love with her. On the ship of "Calico Jack", Anne met a woman named...........

Mary Read

Mary Read was born in London. No one knows what happened to her during her years before 13 because her parents are unknown. All that is known is that Mary's mother is that she was a widow. At 13, Mary was employed by a wealthy French woman. She worked as a foot boy for this person. Mary got sick of this so, she ran away from here and "signed on board as a man-o-war". (Quote from: Http://www.seva.net/~smithsch/pirate_Mary_Read.html). On this ship, she showed the world that she was a brave woman. Next, Mary affiliated with a horse regiment where she fell for a soldier and married him. Mary's husband soon died and Mary became a woman pirate in a man's clothes. After she started this adventure, she was shipped to the West Indies where the ship she was on was taken captive by the ship of "Calico Jack". On the ship of "Calico Jack", Mary Read met a woman named Anne Bonny.

Mary Read & Anne Bonny on the same ship!

Mary Read fell in love with a newly signed on pirate. This pirate was a trouble maker and often got into quarrels. One quarrel was a big one and Mary Read knew her friend didn't stand a chance to the bigger, stronger man that he was supposed to fight. Mary Read stepped in for him and fought out this battle. In the end Mary won the grueling battle with the huge man and Ms. Read acquired the love of the soldier. The two admirers soon married each other. Immediately following the marriage, the ship of the angry pirates was taken as prisoner. Anne Bonny and Mary Read were both tried on November 28 in Jamaica. The court sentenced the two brave women to be killed brutally by hanging. Neither Mary or Anne were killed by this because they both pleaded this to be to harsh for them in their conditions. They were both pregnant! Instead of this punishment, Mary Read was put in prison where she shortly after died of fever. Anne Bonny disappeared ...without a trace! Many theories are around of where she went or what happened to her. But, the question is still asked: What happened to Anne Bonny? Was she killed, or taken back in pity by her father, given another name and identity?

Bibliography Ross, Stewert. Pirates. Brookfield, Connecticut: 1995, "Pages. 18-19"

Gibbons, Gail Pirates Robbers of the High Seas. Canada: 1993, "Pages. 22- 23"

Pirotta, Saviour Pirates and Treasure. New York, NY:1995, "Pages. 30-31"

URL: Http://www.seva.net/~smithsch/Pirate_Mary_Read.html

URL: Http://home.c2i.net/w-207341/Mary_Read.htm

URL: Http://home.c2i.net/w-207341/ann_bonney.htm