Special Sub-Topic: Anne Bonney, Pirate Queen Click Here To Play: Anne Bonney, Pirate Queen

Where and when was Anne Bonney born?

County Cork, Ireland sometime between 1697 and 1705.. Most records agree that Anne Bonney was born illegitimately to prominent lawyer Willam Cormac and a family maid named Peg Brennan in County Cork, Ireland sometime between 1697 and 1705. After Anne was born, William moved his family to South Carolina, where he bought a large plantation.

What do legends say that Anne Bonney did at the age of 13?

Stabbed a servant girl in the belly with a table knife for making her angry.. History says that Anne had a fiery temper from a very young age. She also was said to have beaten a young sailor almost to death for showing an interest in her.

Who did Anne marry at the age of 16 against her father's wishes?

James Bonney. James Bonney had hopes of inheriting Anne's family estate, but William Cormac was so infuriated by his daughter's marriage to a sailor, that he disowned her.

After tiring of her spineless husband, with whom did Anne fall in love, run off and start pirating with?

John "Calico Jack" Rackham. James Bonney was a sailor and small-time pirate in the West Indies, who turned into an informant for Governor Woodes Rogers turning sailors in for piracy. He received generous rewards for it. Anne despised him for doing so and considered it cowardly. She met Calico Jack in a local tavern and ran away with him.

Who became Anne's best friend and fellow woman pirate?

Mary Read. Both Anne and Mary were known for their violent tempers and they shared the reputation of "fierce hellcats". The both disguised themselves as men, so that they were able to stay on board the pirate ship. When the secret was unmasked they had already established themselves as more than capable pirates and were allowed to stay.

Whose life did Anne save by revealing a plot to have him murdered?

Governor Woodes Rogers. Anne had learned from a friend about a plot to kill Governor Rogers. He was very grateful when she relayed the information to him and he waived the punishment of hanging for her crimes, asking her to promise to give up piracy. She refused and again fled with Calico Jack Rackham.

What was said to be the cause of the capture of Calico Jack, Anne Bonney, Mary Read and the rest of their crew?

The crew was celebrating two victories and all but Anne and Mary were too drunk to defend their ship against the armed sloop of Governor Lawes.. Anne and Mary fought bravely, but the men hid in the hold and the ship and crew were captured.

Why were Anne Bonney and Mary Read not executed along with Calico Jack Rackham?

They "pled their bellies". They were both pregnant.. Anne and Mary were sentenced to hang, but they were both pregnant. The courts would not kill an unborn child, therefore their dates of execution were postponed until after the birth of their babies.

Calico Jack, who had pleaded for mercy on behalf of Anne and Mary, was granted permission to see Anne before his hanging. What is it rumored that she said to him?

"I'm sorry Jack, but if you had fought like a man, you needn't now hang like a dog.". It is said that Jack lowered his head and went silently, but bravely to the gallows.

What is the most popular belief as to what finally happened to Anne Bonney?

Her father forgave her and ransomed her back to the Carolinas, where she assumed a new name and a new life.. I like the story about the doctor (Michael Radcliffe) marrying her and taking her away best, but nobody really knows for sure what happened. Anne Bonney seemed to have vanished from the record books after she was imprisoned. It is believed that Mary Read died of fever in prison, along with her unborn child.