Anne Bonny remains one of the most recognisable female pirates of the early 18th century. Her short but notorious career during the Golden Age of Piracy made her a symbol of rebellion, independence, and violence at sea. Though much of her life is clouded by rumour and embellished accounts, enough survives in court records and eyewitness testimony to offer a compelling picture.
Early Life and Background
Anne Bonny was born around 1697 in County Cork, Ireland, the illegitimate daughter of lawyer William Cormac and his maidservant Mary Brennan. Her father relocated the family to the Province of Carolina, where he became a plantation owner. Anne was known from an early age for her fierce temper. One legend recounts that she stabbed a servant girl with a table knife, while another claims she beat a man senseless for attempting to assault her.
She married a small-time sailor and pirate named James Bonny around 1715, much to her father’s disapproval. Disinherited and disillusioned, she travelled to the Bahamas with her husband, but soon became involved with pirate circles in Nassau, then a haven for buccaneers.
Turning Pirate
Anne left James Bonny and took up with the infamous pirate John “Calico Jack” Rackham. The two sailed from Nassau in defiance of a British amnesty and began attacking small merchant vessels in the Caribbean. Anne disguised herself as a man aboard ship, both to be accepted as a crew member and to fight in battle.
The presence of another female pirate, Mary Read, added to the ship’s notoriety. Unlike most women associated with pirates who remained onshore, both Bonny and Read actively fought in engagements. Captain Charles Johnson’s A General History of the Pyrates (1724) includes numerous references to Anne’s aggression and fearlessness.
One captured sailor later testified:
“They wore men’s jackets, and long trousers, and handkerchiefs tied about their heads: and each of them had a machete and pistol in their hands, and they cursed and swore at the men to fight…”
Weapons and Combat
Anne Bonny was known to fight with flintlock pistols and short cutlasses, both of which were standard among pirates of the era. These were compact, practical weapons for boarding parties and close-quarters combat. Like many pirates, she would also have carried a knife or boarding axe. Her effectiveness with weapons earned her the respect of fellow pirates and the fear of her enemies.
She reportedly fought alongside the crew during raids, rather than staying behind as many non-combatants would. Her willingness to use violence directly challenged the gender norms of the time.
Ships and Pirate Life
Bonny sailed with Calico Jack aboard the Revenge, a small but swift sloop suited to hit-and-run attacks on coastal trade routes. These ships were lightly armed but agile, often relying on speed and surprise rather than heavy firepower.
Life aboard such vessels was harsh and chaotic. Discipline was loosely enforced, supplies were limited, and engagement with the enemy was always a risk. Bonny thrived in this environment, likely due to her bold nature and willingness to adapt to seafaring life.
Plunder, Bounty and Capture
Calico Jack’s crew primarily targeted small merchant ships and fishing vessels. While not as wealthy as some of the larger pirate outfits of the time, they managed to capture modest amounts of rum, sugar, and money. There’s no solid record of Anne Bonny burying treasure or acquiring major wealth, though a bounty was placed on her head by colonial authorities.
In October 1720, the Revenge was caught off the coast of Jamaica by a sloop commanded by Captain Jonathan Barnet. Most of the crew were drunk and offered little resistance. Bonny and Mary Read were reportedly the only ones who fought back.
Trial and Fate
Anne Bonny was captured and brought to trial in Spanish Town, Jamaica, in November 1720. The trial records remain some of the clearest documentation of her life. She was found guilty and sentenced to death. However, she revealed she was pregnant, which led to a stay of execution.
Mary Read died in prison, likely from fever or complications during childbirth. Anne Bonny’s fate, however, is less certain. There are no official records of her execution. Some believe she was released by her father’s influence, while others suggest she lived under a new identity. A burial record in South Carolina from 1782 names an Anne Bonny, aged 84, which has led some to believe she survived and started a new life.
Legacy
Anne Bonny’s story has inspired books, films, and television portrayals, often romanticised or exaggerated. Yet even the historical evidence portrays a woman who defied expectation, embraced violence, and carved her place in a brutal and male-dominated world.
As Charles Johnson put it:
“She was a fierce and brave woman, and did not hesitate to act with spirit whenever there was occasion.”
Where to See Artefacts
While no confirmed personal artefacts of Anne Bonny survive, pirate exhibits in Nassau’s Pirates of Nassau Museum and the Museum of Jamaican History provide context and insight into the world she inhabited. Replicas of period weapons and ships, alongside trial records and illustrations, help bring her world to life.
Anne Bonny remains a figure of fascination. Her name survives not because she commanded a fleet or left behind vast wealth, but because she refused to be forgotten.
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