|
|
|
In the spring of 1719, England and Spain again were at war. Rumors of a large Spanish invasion force, bound for the Bahamas, were rampant. The Bahamas' primary port and pirate haven, Nassau, was woefully unprepared to resist an attack. In desperation, the British Crown extended pardons to the buccaneers operating in the area in exchange for their service. One of the many cut-throats who took that offer was "Calico Jack" Rackam, friend of Blackbeard and trusted officer of another notorious pirate, Charles Vain. Arriving in Nassau in June 1719, Calico Jack received his pardon and began seeking a British privateering commission from the local Governor, Woodes Rodgers. Rodgers was in no hurry, however, choosing to issue commission to more "trustworthy" candidates.
Undaunted, Calico Jack remained in Nassau, convinced that sooner or later Rodgers' need for men to defend the port would bring forth the commission he desired. Rackam spent his time enjoying the good life in Nassau, reveling in drink and visiting the local bordellos. Eventually, he spied the object of such great beauty that Calico Jack, pirate and outlaw, fell madly in love. The object of his desire was Anne Bonny, the 19 year old wife of a young sailor, James Bonny. Fiery and tempestuous, Anne was not a blushing young bride but a frequent guest of the dock-side bars of Nassau and had numerous lovers among the pirate community. The illegitimate daughter of a prominent lawyer, William Cormac, in Cork County Ireland, Anne and her mother were brought to Charleston, South Carolina by Cormac to escape the scandal. Cormac soon became a wealthy merchant and bought a large plantation outside the city. Anne, a beautiful redheaded girl of 13, became mistress of her Father's house when her mother died. Soon, suitors began to call on the young woman, despite her reputation of having a terrible temper. She once stabbed a serving girl while in a fit of rage, and at another time rebuffed a potential suitor's quite forceful advances with such fury that the man was bedridden for weeks. Anne soon tired of the timid life in Charleston, she wanted adventure and began looking for an avenue to get away. Against her father's wishes, she met and married a poor young sailor name James Bonny. Bonny seemed at first to fulfill Anne's wishes, whisking her away to the pirate's nest of Nassau. James at once seemed out of place amoung the ruffians and soon went broke. Anne on the other hand was fascinated by the rough and tumble men who plied the "sweet trade" and began to lose interest in James. When James became an informant against the pirates to the Governor, Anne rejected him completely. She began to spend more and more time in the company of the pirates of Nassau. She soon met Calico Jack Rackam. Go To Page: 1 2
The copyright of the article Anne Bonny - Pirate Queen in Maritime History is owned by . Permission to republish Anne Bonny - Pirate Queen in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|