Real Pirates of the Caribbean

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http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/07/0711_030711_piratescarribean.html


Pirates have been figures of fascination and fear for centuries. The most famous buccaneers have been shrouded in legend and folklore for so long that it's almost impossible to distinguish between myth and reality.

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Died : 1720 Anne Bonny was one of the two most famous Female Pirates. She sailed on the crew of Calico Jack Rackham. Anne was Calico's lover but she could be counted
as none the less fearless of any other pirate. She was born in County Cork, daughter of an attorney and his Maid. Anne fought in men's clothing, was an expert with pistol and cutlass and considered as dangerous as any male pirate. She was fearless in battle and often was a
member of any boarding party. In October of 1720 retribution was close at hand. The governor of Jamaica, hearing of Calico's presence sent an armed sloop to intervene and capture the Captain and crew. Calico's ship Revenge, was caught by surprise and much to Anne dismay, the pirates fought like cowards and were taking far too easily. Anne and Mary Read, were also captured but upon capture confessed there "sex". and pleaded to be tried separately after they gave birth.
www.geocities.com/CollegePark/4704/annebonny.html (http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/4704/annebonny.html)


Died : November 18, 1720
Mary Read led a man's life most of her life. Her parents are unknown. What little that is known is that her widowed mother raised her as a boy. She was born in London. Unfortunately her husband died, and Mary once again assumed men's clothing, attempted once again a life in the Army, but failing at this, shipped off to the West Indies. On the way there, her ship was taken By Captain Calico Rackham. As fate would have it, another female Pirate, Anne Bonny, was part of Calico's crew. Anne, saw a young strapping sailor among the newly captured prize and decided, she would have her way with the young man. Much to anne' surprise, when she got the man alone, he opened his blouse and exposed to Anne that he too was a woman. Mary confessed that she would much rather join with Rackham and Anne rather than lead the dull life a woman and she too became one of Calico's pirates.
from victorian.fortunecity.com/manet/394/page24s.htm (http://victorian.fortunecity.com/manet/394/page24s.htm)

RACHEL WALL
Rachel Wall was a Beacon Hill maid, and her husband, George, was a Boston Fisherman. After stealing a ship at Essex, they began pirating off of the Isle of Shoals. Pretending to be in distress, Rachel would stand out at the mast and cry for help. When the rescuers arrived, George and his men would kill them, rob them of all valuables, and sink their ship. In 1782, George Wall drowned in a storm. Rachel was rescued. She returned to Boston where she continued to steal from the cabins of ships docked in Boston Harbor. She was accused and convicted of murdering a sailor - a crime that she denied. At her hanging on October 8, 1789, she confessed to being a pirate. She is the only known woman pirate of New England.