Even though it isn’t as publicized as the male pirates, female pirates made some headway as well. I’ve already talked about the most famous female pirate (who was also one of the most famous pirates overall), Anne Bonny, in my post about Famous Pirates during the Golden Age. Here are some more popular female pirates!
Mary Read (1685-1721)
Mary was the illegitimate daughter of a widow to a sea captain. Her mother would dress her up as a boy in order to receive financial support from her mother-in-law, who apparently hated girls. She was so convincing as a boy that she was even hired as a foote boy. She realized that life as a man was easier, so she decided to keep dressing like one.
After marrying a man, and suffering through the loss of him, she boarded a merchant ship and set sail. Along the way, her ship was captured by pirates, and she was forced to join their crew until they took on a commission to privateer. She wanted to find a crew that she could do some real piracy with. It was at this time that she found Anne Bonny and Captain Calico Jack. Anne found out about Mary’s disguise and the two became best friends.
Because of Mary Read and Anne Bonny, Captain Calico Jack’s flamboyant style of dressing is remembered to this day.
One day, the trio was in a bar spending their spoils on alcohol when they were approached by the British Navy. The men, scared, retreated to the decks below which left Anne and Mary to fight off the soldiers themselves. After fighting valiantly, the two women went below deck and started firing their guns into the group of cowardly pirates, including Captain Calico Jack. When all the men who survived were sentenced to hanging (per the Pirate’s Code that says desertion during battle is a federal offense), she told her husband, “If you had fought like a man, you need not have been hanged like a dog”. Both Anne and Mary were sentenced to death as well, however, they postponed their execution by claiming that they were pregnant.
Mary died in prison before she was able to be executed. Anne’s father bought her release after her child was born.
Ching Shih (1775-1884)
From China, Shih ruled the south seas and is one of the most successful pirates, man or woman, to this day.
In her mid-20s, Ching is working at a brothel as a prostitute when the place is bombarded by pirates and she is captured. The captain claimed her as his wife. Shih, being awesome, only agreed to the marriage if she was to get half of his share of loot and an equal part in his leadership of the pirate fleet. She had control over an estimated 800 ships with around 60,000 pirates. After the death of her husband, the rest of the fleet and crew quickly bowed to her command.
She was a strict and ruthless commander who dealt out beheadings to those who would conceal plunder from the fleet and husbands who were found to be unfaithful. She had strict rules for the treatment of female captains. If pirates wanted the beautiful women, they had to marry them, stay faithful, and take care of them. Rape meant execution.
Later, the ruler of China decided that her reign had gone on long enough. So he offered her a deal. She could keep her wealth and a few of her ships. Only a few hundred of her worst pirates would be executed, while the rest were free to join the Navy. Shih took the deal and opened a new gambling house. She lived the rest of her life peacefully.
Overall, women were severely mistreated by the male-dominated field of piracy. Women had to enter the world of a pirate disguised as men and had to earn respect by performing as men. Only then were they treated with respect and seen as leaders or, in this case, captains.
How I Became a Pirate 