Mary Read Facts for Kids

For other uses, see Mary Read (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids Mary Read
1724 engraving of Read from A General History of the Pyrates
Died	April 1721 Spanish Town, Colony of Jamaica
Resting place	Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica
Piratical career
Type	Pirate
Allegiance	John Rackham
Years active	August – October 1720
Base of operations	Caribbean

Mary Read was a famous English pirate who lived a daring life. She sailed the seas during the "Golden Age of Piracy" in the early 1700s. Mary Read and Anne Bonny are known as two of the very few female pirates of that time.

Much of Mary's early life is a mystery. What we know mostly comes from an old book called A General History of the Pyrates, written in 1724 by Captain Charles Johnson. This book says she was born in England and often dressed as a boy. It also claims she joined the military before becoming a pirate in the West Indies.

Mary Read met the pirate John Rackham in the Bahamas. In August 1720, she joined his crew, along with Anne Bonny. They stole a ship called the William and attacked other ships in the Caribbean.

Their adventures ended in October 1720 when they were captured near Jamaica. Rackham and his male crew members were tried and sentenced. Mary Read and Anne Bonny claimed they were pregnant, which delayed their sentences. Mary Read later died in prison in April 1721.

Who Was Mary Read?
Mary Read's Lasting Story
See Also

Who Was Mary Read?

A Mysterious Childhood

We don't know exactly when or where Mary Read was born. There are no clear records from her time that tell us about her early life. Many women named Mary Read were born in England during the late 1600s. This makes it hard for historians to know which one became the famous pirate.

Some historians think she might have been born in Bristol around 1681. Her father might have been a pirate in Madagascar. Another idea is that she was a Mary Read who signed a special request to Queen Anne in 1708. This request asked for forgiveness for pirates in Madagascar. But we can't be sure if either of these was the pirate Mary Read.

Life According to an Old Book

Mary Read's name, alongside Anne Bonny's, is in notably larger font than other pirates like Blackbeard or Charles Vane.

Most of what we think we know about Mary Read's early life comes from Captain Charles Johnson's book. However, this book is not always accurate. Johnson wrote that Mary was born in London, England.

He claimed her mother had a son who died young. To get money from her husband's family, Mary's mother dressed Mary as a boy. She pretended Mary was her deceased brother. This trick worked for a while.

As a teenager, Mary worked as a servant. But she soon left that job. She decided to join the military, still dressed as a man. She fought bravely in battles in Flanders and the Netherlands.

During her time in the army, she fell in love with another soldier. They got married, and together they opened an inn. Sadly, her husband passed away. After this, Mary decided to leave the military life behind.

She boarded a ship heading to the West Indies. On this journey, her ship was attacked by pirates. Mary, still disguised as a man, chose to join the pirate crew. This was the start of her life as a pirate.

Joining the Pirates

1724 woodcut of John Rackham from A General History of the Pyrates

Mary Read arrived in the Bahamas, likely before 1720. She settled in Nassau, a place known as a pirate haven. There, she met the famous pirate John Rackham, also known as Calico Jack.

In August 1720, Mary Read joined Rackham's crew. Another brave woman, Anne Bonny, was also part of the crew. Together, they stole a ship called the William from Nassau harbor.

Life at Sea with Rackham

1724 engraving of Bonny from A General History of the Pyrates

For several months, Rackham's crew, including Mary and Anne, sailed the West Indies. They attacked many merchant ships. Their actions caught the attention of Governor Woodes Rogers. On September 5, 1720, he issued a public notice demanding their arrest. This notice specifically named both Mary Read and Anne Bonny.

Proclamation issued by governor Rogers 5 September 1720 that mentions Mary Read as a member of Rackham's crew.

An old story from A General History claimed that Anne Bonny fell in love with Mary Read. It said Anne only later found out Mary was a woman. To stop Rackham from being jealous, Anne supposedly told him Mary's secret. However, this story is probably not true. Governor Rogers' official notice already named both women openly.

A witness named Dorothy Thomas described Mary and Anne during their trial. She said they wore men's jackets, long trousers, and headscarves. They each carried a machete and a pistol. Dorothy Thomas also noted she knew they were women because of their physical appearance.

Capture and Final Days

On October 22, 1720, Captain Jonathan Barnet surprised Rackham's crew. They were relaxing near Negril Point off the coast of Jamaica. A short fight happened, and Rackham and his crew quickly gave up. No one was killed in the battle.

Rackham and his crew were arrested. They were brought to trial in what is now Spanish Town, Jamaica. They were sentenced for their acts of piracy. Mary Read and Anne Bonny were also sentenced.

However, both women claimed they were pregnant. This plea, known as "pleading the belly," meant their sentences were delayed. All the male crew members were executed. It is likely that Mary Read was not actually pregnant and used this claim to gain more time.

The End of Her Journey

Mary Read died in prison in April 1721. The exact reason for her death is not known. Captain Johnson's book suggests she died from a fever. Her burial record from April 28, 1721, is found in St. Catherine's Parish. There is no record of a baby's burial. This suggests she might have died while pregnant, or perhaps she was never pregnant at all.

Mary Read's Lasting Story

Even though her pirate career lasted only 61 days, Mary Read is one of the most famous pirates in history. Her story is especially well-known because she was a woman. Soon after her death, characters inspired by Mary Read began to appear in plays and books.

For example, the character Polly in John Gay's 1729 opera Polly was clearly based on Mary Read. In the 1800s, books like Charles Ellms' Pirates Own Book told Mary's story in detail. During the Victorian era, Mary Read was even more popular than Anne Bonny.

Today, Anne Bonny is often more widely known than Mary Read. Anne Bonny has appeared in many books, movies, TV shows, and video games. Mary Read, however, has fewer modern depictions. When she does appear, she is often a secondary character to Anne Bonny.