Mary Read

MARY READ

Mary Read and Anne Bonny were famous female pirates (and possibly lesbian lovers) in the early 18th century and feature as a comedy duo in Gemini Players new pantomime, “Robinson Crusoe” written by Bristol local historian Jonathan Rowe, which will be performed in St Luke’s Church Hall, Brislington from February 18 – 21 . Tickets now on sale. Tel: 07388774516. Email: jax.wasdworth@gmail.com.

There is a wealth of fiction about the pair but few facts are known. Anne Bonny is thought to have been Irish born in the 1690s, and Mary Read from the West Country, possibly  the Mary Read born in Bristol in 1681 and baptised at St Augustine the Less which stood on College Green, near the Marriot Royal Hotel. The building was damaged in the 1940 Blitz and demolished in 1962. Mary’s father, John was a seaman (who may also have been a pirate in Madagascar) who died before Mary was born.

Her mother dressed Mary as a boy to claim money from Mary’s paternal grandmother   after Mary’s brother died. Aged 13 Mary became a footman but after the death of her mother and grandmother she ran off to join the crew of a man of war, still dressed as a boy. Mary then joined the army and fought in Flanders in the Nine Years War (1688 – 97 ) a conflict between France and the Alliance of England, Holland and Spain. She fell in love with a Flemish soldier and revealed her true sex.

She married and the couple ran an inn in Holland. After her husband’s death Mary re enlisted in the army, deserted and stowed away on a ship. When the ship was attacked by pirates in the Bahamas Mary joined them and met Anne Bonny. They joined forces and by 1720 were attacking merchant ships and reputedly had a lesbian relationship. Mary and Anne were both captured and put on trial in Port Royal,  Spanish Town, Jamaica . They were put on “stay of execution” as they were said to have both been pregnant, but again this is debatable. A witness at the trial said they were known to have been women from the “largeness of their breasts” despite being dressed as men. Mary died of fever while in prison in 1721. Ann’s death is disputed but may have been as late as 1733.

Mary Read has been somewhat overshadowed in history by Anne Bonny. Historian Rebecca Simon believes this is because Ann Bonny was perceived as wearing male clothing to be on board ship with her lover, Captain Jack Rackham, so this was seen as romantic and not entirely her choice, whereas Mary Read had chosen to dress as a man for some time so this was seen as a “deviant” choice. The debate about Mary and Anne’s sexuality began early on but as there are no records it cannot be proved or disproved. Much of the story of Read and Bonny was first recorded in “A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pyrates” by “Captain Charles Johnson” (1724 ). The author has long since been disputed but some believe it was actually Daniel Defoe (1660 – 1731 ), the author of ‘Robinson Crusoe” (1719).

In 1934 James Bridie and Claud Gurney’s play, “Mary Read” with Flora Robson in the title role was premiered in London and was a big hit of the season. The Daily Express review 23 November 1934 noted Flora Robson’s, “queer knobbly face” and the play’s “bawdiness and savagery “ and called it, “vivid and adult”.  The same year Bridie and Gurney’s play was premiered, American author Frank Shay published, “Mary Read, the Pirate Wench” which begins with Mary working as a pot boy in a Bristol tavern. An article about Mary and her Bristol connections featuring a photograph of Flora Robson as Mary was published in  Bristol newspaper , the Evening World  on October 2 1941. In 2020 statues of Mary and Anne were unveiled at Wapping Dock, London and in 2022 were transferred  to Lewes F C, Sussex, the only gender equal football club in the world. The same year Rebecca Simon’s “Pirate Queens”, a biography of Mary and Anne Bonny was published. In 2024 Francesca de la Tores published “Saltblood”, a fictionalised novel of Mary’s life.

Jonathan Rowe 2026