The Conclusion of Anne Bonny and Mary Read

The Second Edition Material

The appendix to the second edition is described as follows on the title page. Note that there was very little time between the presumed date of the first edition and the date when this additional material was published. It’s possible that this was information that had been solicited earlier but not received in time. But at least one account in the 2nd edition specifically indicates that the initial publication and planned second volume was what inspired the informant to come forward, suggesting an incredibly compressed timeline for this alleged process.

“An APPENDIX, which compleats the Lives of the first Volume, corrects some Mistakes; and contains the Tryal and Execution of the Pyrates at Providence; under Governor Rogers; with some other necessary Insertions, which did not come to Hand till after the Publication of the first Volume, and which makes up what was defective. Collected from Journals of Pyrates, brought away by a Person who was taken by, and forc’d to live with them 12 Years; and from those of Commanders, who had fallen into their Hands, some of whom have permitted their Names to be made use of, as a Proof of the Veracity of what we have published. The Whole instructive and entertaining.”

Here Johnson seems quite concerned with offering the documentary basis for his information. The sections that are presented as journals and accounts often have a preface where the purported author is writing to “Captain Johnson” stating that they’ve heard that he plans a second volume and therefore they are making bold to send him additional material to include.

The following bolded items in the table of contents relate to Bonny and Read in what appears to be a miscellaneous section that adds details to the biographies of individuals already covered previously. This section is not attributed to any specific contributor.

• Rackham and Vane part, 281.
• Rackham’s Ship taken, he and his Crew escape ashore, 283.
• Rackham gets to Providence, and is allowed the Benefit of the King’s Pardon, 284.
• Anne Bonny proposes to her Husband his selling her to Rackham, 286.
• Rackham seizes a Sloop, 287.
• He forces some of Turnley’s Men, 289
• Governor Rogers his Sloops seized, 292
• Turnley, &c. maroon’d, 294
• Their Hardships, 295 to 303
• The Pyrates catch a Tartar, 303
• They are all taken, the forced Men sent to Providence, 304
• Governor Rogers sends to fetch the maroon’d Men, 305
• The Pyrates who escaped on Shore intrap’d by Governor Rogers 306 to 308.
• Rounsival’s Generosity, 309.

The relevant part of the narrative starts when Rackham, who has been quartermaster on Vane’s ship takes charge of a newly acquired vessel as captain. The two then had a falling out and went separate ways. In volume 1 this is dated to late November 1718. Rackham and his crew decided to take advantage of Rogers’ pardon offer, but the negotiations fell through (possibly related to the fact that the original deadline for taking the King’s Pardon was September 5, 1718) and Rackham’s ship was seized with the crew escaping on shore. There had been two women on board who had been kidnapped in a previous interaction (which, the text notes, was against usual practice), but they were left on board when the pirates fled. (With this new information, we can eliminate the kidnapped women from our attempts to sort out the various numbers given for Rackham’s crew when later captured.) After being picked up by Vane, Rackham and his crew again determined to go to Providence to take advantage of the pardon, which was accomplished in May 1719. It was shortly after this that Rackham is said to have first encountered Anne Bonny, and here we begin quoting from the original text.

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But Rackam, as Captain, having a much larger Share than any of the rest, his Money held out a little longer; but happening about this Time to come acquainted with Anne Bonny, that made him very extravagant. Anne Bonny, as has been taken Notice of in the first Volume, was married to James Bonny, one of the pardoned Pyrates, a likely young Fellow, and of a sober Life, considering he had been a Pyrate; but Anne, who was very young, soon turned a Libertine upon his Hands, so that he once surpriz’d her lying in a Hammock with another Man. Rackam made his Addresses to her till his Money was all spent; but as he found there was no carrying on an Amour with empty Pockets, he ingaged himself with Captain Burghess, lately a Pyrate, but pardoned, who had received a Commission to privateer upon the Spaniards. This Cruize proved successful; they took several Prizes, amongst the rest, two of considerable Value, one loaded with Cocoa Nut, and another with Sugar. They brought them into Providence, and found Purchasers amongst the Factors, who came from other Places for that Purpose. The Dividend was considerable, and as soon as possible disposed of: Burghess sailed out in Quest of new Purchase; but Rackam, who had nothing but Anne Bonny in his Head, staid behind to spend his Money, and enjoy his Mistress.

Rackam lived in all Manner of Luxury, spending his Money liberally upon Anne Bonny, who was so taken with his Generosity, that she had the Assurance to propose to her Husband to quit him, in order to cohabit with John Rackam; and that Rackam should give him a Sum of Money, in Consideration he should resign her to the said Rackam by a Writing in Form, and she even spoke to some Persons to witness the said Writing.

The Story made some Noise, so that the Governor hearing of it, sent for her and one Anne Fulworth, who came with her from Carolina, and pass’d for her Mother, and was privy to all her loose Behaviour, and examining them both upon it, and finding they could not deny it, he threaten’d if they proceeded further in it, to commit them both to Prison, and order them to be whipp’d, and that Rackam, himself, should be their Executioner.

These Menaces made her promise to be very good, to live with her Husband, and to keep loose Company no more; but all this was Dissimulation, for Rackam and she consulting together, and finding they could not by fair Means enjoy each other’s Company with Freedom, resolved to run away together, and enjoy it in Spight of all the World.

To this Purpose they plotted together to seize a Sloop which then lay in the Harbour, and Rackam drew some brisk young Fellows into the Conspiracy; they were of the Number of the Pyrates lately pardoned, and who, he knew, were weary of working on Shore, and long’d to be again at their old Trade.

The Sloop they made choice of was betwixt thirty and forty Tun, and one of the swiftest Sailors that ever was built of that Kind; she belong’d to one John Haman, who lived upon a little Island not far from Providence, which was inhabited by no humane Creature except himself and his Family, (for he had a Wife and Children) his Livelihood and constant Employment was to plunder and pillage the Spaniards, whose Sloops and Launces he had often surprized about Cuba and Hispaniola, and sometimes brought off a considerable Booty, always escaping by a good Pair of Heels, insomuch that it become a Bye-Word to say, There goes John Haman, catch him if you can. His Business to Providence now was to bring his Family there, in order to live and settle, being weary, perhaps, of living in that Solitude, or else apprehensive if any of the Spaniards should discover his Habitation, they might land, and be revenged of him for all his Pranks.

Anne Bonny was observed to go several times on Board this Sloop; she pretended to have some Business with John Haman, therefore she always went when he was on Shore, for her true Errand was to discover how many Hands were aboard, and what kind of Watch they kept, and to know the Passages and Ways of the Vessel.

She discovered as much as was necessary; she found there were but two Hands on Board; that John Haman lay on Shore every Night: She inquired of them, Whether they watch’d? Where they lay? And ask’d many other Questions; to all which they readily answered her, as thinking she had no Design but common Curiosity.

She acquainted Rackam with every Particular, who resolved to lose no Time, and therefore, acquainting his Associates, who were eight in Number, they appointed an Hour for meeting at Night, which was at twelve o’Clock. They were all true to the Roguery, and Anne Bonny was as punctual as the most resolute, and being all well armed, they took a Boat and rowed to the Sloop, which was very near the Shore.

The Night seemed to favour the Attempt, for it was both dark and rainy. As soon as they got on Board, Anne Bonny, having a drawn Sword in one Hand and a Pistol in the other, attended by one of the Men, went strait to the Cabin where the two Fellows lay who belonged to the Sloop; the Noise waked them, which she observing, swore, that if they pretended to resist, or make a Noise, she would blow out their Brains, (that was the Term she used.)

In the mean Time Rackam and the rest were busy heaving in the Cables, one of which they soon got up, and, for Expedition sake, they slipped the other, and so drove down the Harbour: They passed pretty near the Fort, which hailed them, as did also the Guardship, asking them where they were going; they answered, their Cable had parted, and that they had nothing but a Grappling on Board, which would not hold them. Immediately after which they put out a small Sail, just to give them steerage Way. When they came to the Harbour’s Mouth, and thought they could not be seen by any of the Ships, because of the Darkness of the Night, they hoisted all the Sail they had, and stood to Sea; then calling up the two Men, they asked them if they would be of their Party; but finding them not inclined, they gave them a Boat to row themselves ashore, ordering them to give their Service to Haman, and to tell him, they would send him his Sloop again when they had done with it.

Rackam and Anne Bonny, both bore a great Spleen to one Richard Turnley, whom Anne had ask’d to be a Witness to the Writing, which James Bonny, her Husband, was to give to Rackam, by which she was to be resigned to him; Turnley refused his Hand upon that Occasion, and was the Person who acquainted the Governor with the Story, for which they vowed Revenge against him. He was gone from Providence a turtling before they made their Escape, and they knowing what Island he was upon, made to the Place. They saw the Sloop about a League from the Shore a fishing, and went aboard with six Hands; but Turnley, with his Boy, by good Luck, happened to be ashore salting some wild Hogs they killed the Day before; they inquired for him, and hearing where he was, rowed ashore in Search of him.

Turnley from the Land saw the Sloop boarded, and observed the Men afterwards making for the Shore, and being apprehensive of Pyrates, which are very common in those Parts, he, with his Boy, fled into a neighbouring Wood. The Surf was very great, so that they could not bring the Boat to Shore; they waded up to the Arm-Pits, and Turnley, peeping through the Trees, saw them bring Arms on Shore: Upon the whole, not liking their Appearance, he, with his Boy, lay snug in the Bushes.

When they had looked about and could not see him, they hollow’d, and call’d him by his Name; but he not appearing, they thought it Time lost to look for him in such a Wilderness, and therefore they returned to their Boat, but rowed again back to the Sloop, and took away the Sails, and several other Things. They also carried away with them three of the Hands, viz. Richard Connor the Mate, John Davis, and John Howel, but rejected David Soward the fourth Hand, tho’ he had been an old experienced Pyrate, because he was lame, and disabled by a Wound he had formerly received.

When they had done thus much, they cut down the Main-Mast, and towing the Vessel into deep Water, sunk her, having first put David Soward into a Boat to shift for himself; he made Shift to get ashore, and after some Time, having found out Turnley, he told him, that Rackam and Mary Stead [Note: “Mary Stead” is clearly an error for Anne Bonny, but is what the original text has.] were determined, if they could have found him, to have whipp’d him to Death, as he heard them vow with many bitter Oaths and Imprecations; for whipping was the Punishment the Governor had threatened her with by his Information. From thence they stretch’d over to the Bury Islands, plundering all the Sloops they met, and strengthening their Company with several additional Hands, and so went on till they were taken and executed at Port Royal, as has been told in the first Volume.

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There are no other references to Rackham, Bonny, or Read.

One major thing these additions do is to thoroughly undermine the idea that Bonny’s sex was unknown to the pirate community she moved in. She is openly living with Rackham as his lover, after what is claimed to be a notorious incident where she convinces him to “buy” her from her husband. She becomes pregnant with his child, and yet this must all be in the same timeframe as the supposed “plausibly deniable” sapphic encounter with Mary Read. To reiterate, based on the few specific dates given in the text, the following events must be compressed into the 16 months between May 1719 and September 1720, though it’s impossible to determine the exact sequence.

• Rackham meets Anne while she is married to former pirate James Bonny and begins courting her.
• Anne arranges for Rackham to “buy” her from her husband. One of the requested witnesses to this, Richard Turnley, reports the events to the Governor.
• The Governor (Rogers?) condemns Anne’s loose morals and orders her to be whipped.
• To avoid these consequences, Rackham and Anne steal a sloop belonging to John Haman.
• Anne goes to sea with Rackham wearing men’s clothes.
• Anne and Rackham go on a revenge quest against Turnley and destroy his boat but fail to achieve their goal of punishing him.
• Mary joins Rackham’s crew, also in male disguise.
• Anne makes a pass at the disguised Mary and they mutually reveal their sex.
• Anne becomes pregnant with Rackham’s child, is left with friends in Cuba to bear the child, then rejoins Rackham.
• Rackham takes the King’s Pardon, but after trying his hand at privateering returns to piracy.
• Mary is attracted to one of the pirates, reveals herself to him, and they become lovers. She fights a duel on his behalf and becomes pregnant by him.

Other than trying to assemble a timeline that would account for all the reported events, there’s nothing new to comment on with regard to the plausibility of the General History account. The additional information entirely concerns the period when Anne is part of Rackham’s crew, therefore it doesn’t raise any new questions about information transmission or the lack of corroborating information in more reliable records. There is still the question of who was left alive to report the level of detail that is recorded. Some of the events involved people not involved in the piracy trials, but other details did not.

 If Anne had a previous encounter with the law over her unruly sexual behavior, one might expect that to be brought up during her trial, but one could counter-argue that the trial was concerned specifically with piracy and had sufficient evidence to condemn her on that point, therefore there was no reason to bring in any prior record. There is an implication that the complaint and threat didn’t rise to the level of a formal legal action (that would leave a record), but in that case there would need to have been someone relaying the information to Johnson.

Neither of the described attacks on Haman or Turnley appear anywhere in the official trial report, but as noted previously, the trials appear to be concerned entirely with events in the September-October 1720 timeframe, therefore the absence of these two needn’t be meaningful.

So overall this material adds nothing to the previous analysis beyond additional contradictions to the logic of the narrative.

Conclusions

The point of this presentation of documents and analysis is two-fold: to lay out the basic case of distrusting the veracity of any information about Anne Bonny and Mary Read found only in the General History, and to point out the cultural context for the elements introduced by the General History. The “sapphic encounter” is almost the least of these. It is presented as a humorous mistaken identity scenario, experienced entirely through a heterosexual lens—consistent with similar pop culture narratives found in literature, ballads, and stage drama. While passing women stories were popular during this era—both authentic and fictionalized—the assertion in the General History that Anne and Mary successfully concealed their sex is consistently undermined by other information in the publication, and is completely contradicted by the evidence given in their trial. And yet, the motif of “lesbian Anne Bonny and Mary Read” seems to be the story that will not die.

Bibliography

(Anonymous). 1721. The Tryals of Captain John Rackam, and Other Pirates. Jamaica; Robert Baldwin. (https://archive.org/details/the-tryals-of-captain-john-rackham)

Dekker, Rudolf M. and van de Pol, Lotte C. 1989. The Tradition of Female Transvestism in Early Modern Europe. Macmillan, London. ISBN 0-333-41253-2 (For LHMP blog, see: https://alpennia.com/lhmp/publication/4358)

Donoghue, Emma. 1995. Passions Between Women: British Lesbian Culture 1668-1801. Harper Perennial, New York. ISBN 0-06-017261-4 (For LHMP blog, see: https://alpennia.com/lhmp/publication/4359)

Dugaw, Dianne. 1989. Warrior Women and Popular Balladry 1650-1850. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago. ISBN 0-226-16916-2 (For LHMP blog, see: https://alpennia.com/lhmp/publication/4361)

Johnson, Charles (pseudonym). 1724. A General History of the Pyrates: from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time. With the remarkable actions and adventures of the two female pyrates Mary Read and Anne Bonny ... To which is added. A short abstract of the statute and civil law, in relation to pyracy. London: T. Warner. (https://archive.org/details/generalhistoryof00defo, accessed 2025/07/09]

Klein, Ula Lukszo. 2021. “Busty Buccaneers and Sapphic Swashbucklers” in Transatlantic Women Travelers, 1688-1843 edited by Misty Kreuger. Lewisburg PA: Bucknell University Press. (For LHMP blog, see: https://alpennia.com/lhmp/publication/6788)

Molenaar, Jillian. (Website accessed 2025/07/09) Depictions of John Rackam, Anne Bonny, and Mary Read. (https://jillianmolenaar.home.blog/)

Walen, Denise A. 2005. Constructions of Female Homoeroticism in Early Modern Drama. New York: Palgrave MacMillan. ISBN 978-1-4039-6875-3 (For LHMP blog, see: https://alpennia.com/lhmp/publication/4373)