Pirates: Anne Bonney

Issued 1987
Anne Bonney

It was possible for a tough woman to live and work as a sailor by disguising herself as a man. But pirate society was such that it was even possible for a tough woman to live and work as a pirate without a disguise!

Anne Bonney took to the high seas with her lover, pirate Captain “Calico” Jack Rackham. According to A General History of the Pyrates, she initially disguised herself as a cabin boy. The book adds that another young sailor on the crew caught her eye, however, and Anne disclosed to the handsome lad that she was, in fact, a woman. To Anne’s surprise, the object of her affection disclosed that she too was a woman—Mary Read. While the tale may be fanciful, Anne and Mary definitely sailed openly as female pirates and were among the fiercest members of Calico Jack’s crew.

Most pirates started as merchant sailors, but grew disgusted with the low pay, draconian discipline, and constant risk of injury that was typical of the sailor's life. Turning to piracy was one way to make more money and live a life outside the rules. Accepting a woman as an equal in the crew was certainly outside the rules.