Bibliography:

Websites:
Wikipedia: Anne Bonny; 15 October 2009 at 11:41 PM; October 20th, 21st, 22nd, 25th, 26th, 28th, and November 1, 2009; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Bonny

The Legend of Anne Bonny and Mary Read; 2009©; October 20th, 22nd, 25th,and October 28th; http://www.bonney-readkrewe.com/legend.html

Pirates of the Caribbean: Anne Bonny; 1994-2007©; October 22nd, 25th,and October 28th; http://blindkat.hegewisch.net/pirates/whosanne.html

Images:
Woodblock carving; November 1st; http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.thewayofthepirates.com/gallery/thumbs2/anne-bonny.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.thewayofthepirates.com/famous-pirates/anne-bonny.php&usg=__ZI7M4vntfIknF2C9IBxo2MMNerU=&h=180&w=180&sz=6&hl=en&start=5&sig2=4rqI9op3xJQbdlAqTA7niQ&um=1&tbnid=9mxuoh3idxHzPM:&tbnh=101&tbnw=101&prev=/images%3Fq%3Danne%2Bbonny%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26rlz%3D1C1GGLS_enUS291US303%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1&ei=h7TtSpSLBIvjlAe2tbz_BA

A picture of Anne Bonny

Why Is Anne Bonny so Well Remembered?

Of all the pirates in the world, why is Anne so famous? She never captained her own ship, and was not a part of any famous battles. She even got captured and taken to justice. How is it that her story withstood the test of time?

Her legacy remains because she is a rare female pirate. While I’m sure that her successfulness, her friendship with another female pirate (Mary Read), and her capture and disappearance have helped keep her reputation alive, I am sure that other male pirates were successful, teamed up with other male pirates, and were captured and disappeared. These men are not as well remembered as she, because they were men. Back then male pirates were the norm. Even today, most modern pirates are men. Anne Bonny was a girl. She stood out against the crowd of men as one of the only women. And that is why she is so well remembered.

Will I Live?

John and the others were hanged a week ago. I was allowed to visit him once before his execution. I was nearly shaking with fury. This was his fault! He should have helped fight. If he had, the other pirates would have certainly followed in suit. We could have won! So I told him: "Had you fought like a man, you need not have been hang'd like a dog." Tomorrow is Mary and I’s trial. Mary and I may have a way to win but will it work? WE are both pregnant and intend to ‘plead our bellies’. The courts will not kill an innocent child, so we will be given until are children are born to live. Then the court’s past actions show that they will most likely let us live. If only for the sake of our children. I hope they let me live, for my child’s sake as much as my own.

NOTE: Anne Bonny disappeared from the record. There is no record of her being executed or released. There are many theories to what happened to her, from her wealthy father paying for her release and bringing her back to live with him to her opening a tavern and entertaining the locals with her stories.

How Could it Have All Gone so Very Wrong?

This is the worst thing that has ever happened to me. And it had started out so very well. We had captured a Spanish ship and we were celebrating. All of us were drunk but I, Mary, and a man whose name I do not know. Then, out of the blue, a sloop appeared. It was captained by Jonathan Barnet, and it was intent on bringing us to justice. All but us were so drunk that they did not fight, so we who were the only ones to take a stand against the British Navy men. I called to the men to come up and fight, but fight they did not. We put up a good stand, but we were overwhelmed by them. There was nothing we could do. So that is why I am now scribbling in this book, not in my quarters, but in a cramped, damp jail cell. My trial will be soon. I wonder if I shall ever write in this book again.

I am Not Alone

Today, I learned that I am not alone. There is another woman on this ship, and she is nearly as great a pirate as me! Her name is Mary Read. She had disguised herself as a man, and she came to be on Jack and I's ship. She made a rather handsome fellow, and I happened to take interest in her. Rebuffing my advances, she revealed her true gender out of fear. I am deliriously happy. We will make the greatest of friends, I am sure. And I am even surer that we will make a deadly pirating duo, because she has shown herself to be a talented fighter. Almost as talented as I. Now I better go and let dear John know that she is a female. He has threatened to cut her throat. For all of his accomplishments, one of his major faults is that he is prone to jealousy. Oh, it will be so nice to have a fellow woman on board the ship!

Today I am Reborn as a Pirate!

Today, my life as a pirate begins for real! Though my back really, really hurts. Oh well, a flogging will do that to you. Still even the pain of my aching back cannot quell the fire of excitement burning in my chest! My darling lover, John Rackham a.k.a Calico Jack and I are currently sailing away from New Providence, and from our old lives. We are off to rob ships on the high seas! Before I close this book to attend to other matters, I first should explain what lead up to this joyous event:

James Bonny, the husband I have cast out from my heart, discovered John and I's love and brought me before the governor, and demanded that I be returned to him and flogged for adultery. Dear John tried to spare me of this fate by offering to buy me in divorce-by-purchase, but I refused to be "bought and sold like cattle". I was flogged. True love prevailing however, and John and I have just escaped to begin our life of piracy together!

The Worst Day of My Life 1718

Today, my husband, James Bonny has died. Or at least the man I loved has died. He has become an informant for Governor Woodes Rogers. Instead of robbing at the high seas with our pirating friends, attacking ships, he has decided to turn them into justice. How could he? Being a pirate is the only the best profession in the world! We pirates all have a fair vote in what we will plunder and who the captain is to be. Piracy evens the playing field, making the rich less rich and the poor less poor. The poor being us. And it works! We are rich! What has happened to my love? How can he forget what piracy stands for? How can he do this to me? I must face the facts: He is no longer the man I married. I am a widow. However, perhaps I will not be one for long. Calico Jack has spent quite a bit of time with me, and I quite enjoy his company. Perhaps he would make a fine husband. Though compared with the spineless sloop that James has become, a talking monkey might look good.