Female Pirate

When you think of pirates, you're likely picturing bearded buccaneers or peg-legged scalawags with names like Blackbeard, Barbarossa, and Calico Jack. While most pirates were men, there were women in these ranks of raiders who were just as merciless, notorious, and feared. Spanning the globe and centuries, we introduce you to the infamous she-pirates of the seven seas.

ANNE BONNY

Born in 1698, this Irish lass with luscious red locks and a dangerous temper became an icon of The Golden Age of Piracy (1650s-1730s) after marrying small-time pirate James Bonny. Anne's respectable father disowned her over the marriage, so she and her new husband moved to a portion of the Bahamas nicknamed the Pirates Republic, a sanctuary of sorts for scalawags. But the Bonnys were not happily married for long.

They divorced, and she took up with Calico Jack Rackham, first as his lover, then as his first mate of the ship Revenge. In October of 1720, she and the rest of Rackham's crew were captured despite Bonny and her bosom buddy Mary Read's valiant attempts to fight off the advancing English forces. Bonny blamed Rackham for their capture. Her last words to him in prison are recorded as, "Sorry to see you there, but if you'd fought like a man, you would not have been hang'd like a Dog."

He was hanged, but Bonny's pregnancy earned her a stay of execution. However, no historical record of her death sentence was found. Some speculate that her affluent father paid a handsome price to have her set free.

"9 Female Pirates You Should Know About." Mental Floss. N.p., 19 Sept. 2014. Web. 26 Mar. 2017.

Punishments and Torture

All the pirates who signed the articles of agreement knew all the rules before signing so one could not plead ignorance. Therefore, the punishments for violating the rules were often very strict and very harsh. Despite the common misconception there are almost no instances of pirates making anyone "walk a plank" but a pirate who disobeyed the pirate code could often find himself marooned on an island. Marooning was a simple and devilish punishment. The idea was to strand the offending pirate on a small island that lacked food, shelter, or fresh water. Preferably the island should be far away from the shipping lanes, such that the chance of rescue was unlikely. The marooned sailor was sometimes given a bottle of water or rum. But he was always given a pistol, and enough powder and shot to blow his own brains out. So, the marooned sailor had two choices: die quickly from a bullet to the head, or die slowly from starvation and dehydration while hoping that maybe a ship might come by and rescue him. You could also be thrown overboard, but that was done by two crew members holding your hands and feet. Other breaches of the code were met with being whipped. or even execution by firearm. Edward Low, a sadist whose cruelties became a byword in the Caribbean” (UBF p. 130)

Threatened a crew that if they concealed their money, he would sink the vessel and throw him overboard with a double shot to the neck Cut off a ship Masters lips and broiled them in front of him. Murdered entire crew (Portuguese ship). (32 people) punishment that was given where has follows the maximum lashes a Captain had was 12 to give a crewmember Court martialed: Deserter = 200, Mutineer = 300, Thief = 500, Sodomy = Death or 1,000 Unwillingness to Plea (guilty or not guilty) – stretched on the grounded and “pressed” by heavy rocks to Death or until a plea was made.

Cordingly, David. The romance and the reality of life among the pirates: the romance and the reality of life among the pirates. Place of publication not identified: Random House, 2006. Print.

Stockton, Frank R. Buccaneers and pirates. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 2007. Print.

"Pirate codes of conduct from the Golden Age (1721-24)." Sillyhistory. N.p., 04 July 2015. Web. 12 Mar. 2017. https://sillyhistory.com/2015/07/03/pirate-codes-of-conduct-from-the-golden-age-1721-24/

Modern Pirates

The topic that I have chosen to research this term is modern day pirates. I have always been very interested in pirates been born and raised in Jamaica. The headquarter of some of the most notorious pirates. Until recently, piracy has been relatively unheard of in contemporary news media. The practice, however, has garnered international prominence in recent years, especially the Somali piracy activities off the coast of Africa.   In April, when Somali pirates captured the MV Maersk Alabama and kidnapped the captain of the ship for four days, the news shocked many. While earlier reports of piracy may have made the news, they did not capture the public’s attention in the same way that this incident did. The fact is that piracy is not just a legend from days long past, but is a dangerous trend that is on the upswing and for the past few years. They aren’t like the pirates in the movies. “Colorful pirates don’t exist. They’re either well-organized gangs, making a lot of money out of it, or opportunistic thieves.

"Modern Day Pirate Attacks by Country." WorldAtlas. N.p., 16 Oct. 2015. Web. 28 Mar. 2017.

Kemp, Ted. NBCNews.com. NBCUniversal News Group, 17 May 2013. Web. 28 Mar. 2017.

Modern-Day Pirates

Modern-day pirates as well as pirates of the golden age arm themselves profoundly. Pirates use guns, knives and more recent modern pirates attack with bombs and rocket launchers. They threaten and attack crewmembers, take hostages and in some instance, abandon their victims. Pirates sometimes handover the ship's staff to the attack vessel and leave with the entire ship and its cargo. In some cases, crewmembers have died at the hands of these plundering modern-day pirates.  They also take benefit of current technology by monitoring communications among ships and ports to determine the greatest targets and plan of attack.

Facts or Fictions

Sir Henry Morgan sold himself has a slave for three years per Frank R. Stockton. This is not true Morgan was not a white indenture slave. 

Morgan and this man knew that Portobello was an easy target. they were never any doughty that they would take it.

There is not much information on Morgan’s early childhood. Therefore, the information in BAP that he grew up on a farm is clearly factious statement.

Cordingly, David. The romance and the reality of life among the pirates: the romance and the reality of life among the pirates. Place of publication not identified: Random House, 2006. Print.

Stockton, Frank R. Buccaneers and pirates. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 2007. Print.

Henry Morgan the Bad Boy Pirate

Henry Morgan is known has the pirates who invaded Panama; Henry Morgan had his first command as a captain of a privateer ship involved in an attack on Santiago de Cuba. A privateer that was empowered by the British government, or a representative of the government such as the Governor of Jamaica, to raid and attack the Spanish on England’s behalf. Privateers could keep some of their plunder for themselves. So, in a way, privateers could be thought of as ‘legal’ pirates. 

Sir Henry Morgan

After many effective crusades against the Spanish, by 1665 Morgan was already a wealthy man with sugar plantations on Jamaica, becoming a man of some status on the island. His fame was also spreading, particularly after the successful attack on Puerto Bello in Panama in 1666 during which he took the town, held the residents to ransom and then beat off a force of 3000 Morgan's attack on Panama City was successful for several reasons, the most important was the ability of Morgan fight skills over the Spanish Army that defended the city. Morgan victory came in part by maneuver, firepower, protection, and leadership. Morgan was a natural born warrior and his ability to fore see the unanticipated make him and his men almost unstoppable. Even thou they were out gunned, Morgan secure the high ground early when the battle was over; Morgan lost 15 men comparing to the Spanish 500. At the time of Morgan’s incursion on Panama England and Spain had signed a peace treaty revoking privateer permissions in the Caribbean. Because Morgan’s invasion of Panama had taken place after the peace agreement between England and Spain, he was arrested and transported to England but was never punished. However, relations with Spain quickly worsened, and in 1674 King Charles II knighted Morgan and sent him out again as deputy governor of Jamaica, where he lived as a wealthy and respected planter until his death. Captain Morgan is considered one of the greatest pirates ever, even though he was a privateer. He spread terror on the Spanish Main which helped in the treaty negotiation between England and Spain. Certain places are still named for him, such as Morgan's Valley in Jamaica and Morgan's Cave on San Andres island.                  

                                                                   

Stockton, Frank R. Buccaneers and pirates. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 2007. Print.

Cordingly, David. The romance and the reality of life among the pirates: the romance and the reality of life among the pirates. Place of publication not identified: Random House, 2006. Print.

http://www.historynet.com/henry-morgan-the-pirate-who-invaded-panama-in-1671.htm

The Golden Age

 

 Christopher Columbus

In their day pirate’s ships were the most elusive and fast souped-up hot rod on the most feared vessel at sea.  Most of these hot rods where stolen. Columbus journey to the new world in 1492 cleared the way for a golden age for piracy. Pirates was the ultimate opportunist and from the 16^th century to the 18^th century no water offer more opportunity than those of the Americans. The Caribbean was the prime hot bed for pirate activity for simple reason that’s where the Spanish found gold from the natives and they start shipping a fleet of their galleons from south America back to Spain so these ships where sitting ducks loaded with all this treasure.

Sir Francis Drake

The most feared pirates did not start out has pirates. Columbus and Sir Francis Drake where mere explores-settlers that saw an opportunity and took it. Drake first attempt at piracy he failed miserable he and his men where sent running when they tried to invade a small town of Nombre de Dios. But over time Drake perfected the Art of piracy and is known in history has of the most notorious pirate of all times. Sir Francis Drake hero to the English and pirate to the Spanish.

Stockton, Frank R. Buccaneers and pirates. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 2007. Print.

Cordingly, David. The romance and the reality of life among the pirates: the romance and the reality of life among the pirates. Place of publication not identified: Random House, 2006. Print.

http://www.historynet.com/henry-morgan-the-pirate-who-invaded-panama-in-1671.htm

"Sir Henry Morgan." Sir Henry Morgan. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2017.

http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofWales/Sir-Henry-Morgan/