Women Pirates - Mary Read, Anne Bonny

Mary Read was one of these. Mary Read grew up in a poor family. In her early teen years, she was forced to go find employment to support her family. Dressing in disguise as a boy, Mary found employment as a footboy to a wealthy woman who lived in London. Mary was not happy with this job and ran away, looking for something that would offer more excitement.

Still disguised as a boy she found a job on the ship Man-O-War but life on the ship was not what she expected. After years of hardship, she managed to flee the boat and joined the British military. She quickly proved her bravery and was continuously promoted through the ranks. She also became friends with another soldier who believed her to be a man. She soon found herself in love and had no choice but to tell him the truth about her gender. He gladly accepted her and the two were wed.

They both left the military life to open an inn of their own called The Three Horseshoes. Mary's husband died shortly after and once again becoming a man, she went on board a ship headed for the West Indies. On the way to their destination, the ship was attacked by Captain Calico Jack Rackham and his pirate mistress, Anne Bonny.

Anne Bonny spotted Mary dressed as a man and decided to take "him" as her next sexual conquest. Approaching Mary, she discovered this was actually a woman and the two became quick friends. Anne swore to keep Mary's secret. The secret was not kept for long however as Jack Rackham decided to put an end to all the time his mistress was spending with this sailor.

Approaching these two, Mary was forced to reveal her identity once again, in fear for her life. Fortunately, the idea of having two women aboard his ship appealed to Rackham and he let them both stay.

Mary soon fell in love again with another sailor. She feared for his life when he was challenged to a duel by a large, longstanding pirate. She then took matters into her own hands. She challenged the large pirate to a duel herself and, according to pirate law, the two were rowed to shore to fight. Both pirates lost their pistols right away, firing at each other and missing. This led to a fight of swords and hands.

Mary waited for the large pirate to make a mistake. She had the opportunity when he lunged at her and she ripped her shirt open. While he stood gazing at her, she swung her cutlass, nearly decapitated him and killed him instantly. She married her lover soon after but was then taken as prisoner with Anne Bonny and Jack Rackham.

They were all sentenced to death by hanging however, since Anne and Mary were both pregnant at the time, they received stays of execution until their children were born. This saved Anne Bonny but Mary was not so lucky as she and her unborn baby both died in prison when she caught fever.