Anne Bonny and Mary Read: Caribbean's Female Pirates

Nassau, Bahamas. Now, when you hear the word pirate, you might imagine one of two things. Either Jack Sparrow, a swashbuckling hero who loves rum, but arguably not more than he loves the open sea. Or something more dangerous, like Somalian pirates who raid crews and cargo ships. The stories we hear and the movies we watch all paint a very specific picture of pirates. But there's much more to piracy, as evidenced by Anne Bonny and Mary Reed. Unlikely names for the real pirates of the Caribbean. TIMELINE 1698: and 1700, she was the daughter of a servant woman, Mary Brennan, and her employer, the lawyer William Cormack. 1711: when Anne was only 12. WHY THIS MATTERS The story of Nassau is a reminder that the events that shaped America didn't always happen in the biggest cities. What unfolded here left marks on the community that are still visible today. The full story is more complicated, and more human, than the version most people know. Episode 136 | Hometown History | Hosted by Shane Waters Hometown History explores forgotten stories from small-town America. The overlooked events, hidden triumphs, and buried tragedies that shaped the country we live in. New episodes every Tuesday. Find every episode at mythsandmalice.com/hometown-historyAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy