Every Monday in February, Valorie Clark has shared an episode of her fascinating podcast Unruly Figures. Weāve had art with Jean-Michel Basquiat, love with Edward VIII and Rosa Parksā part in the struggle for civil rights. We finish with a pirate. Always finish with a pirate seems like sensible advice. Thank you for being part of TREE this month, Valorie! āJeff
The 1700s werenāt the easiest time to grow up female. Children like todayās hero Anne Bonny were limited in what they could do with their lives. Their only options were pretty much get married or move into a convent.
Anne Bonny ā born Anne Cormac around 1700 in Old Head of Kinsale, a small town near Cork, Ireland ā didnāt love either option for herself. She did marry someone, a sailor named James Bonny, from whom she gets her famous name. But their marriage wasnāt the happiest, and when she met Captain āCalicoā Jack Rackham in Nassau, she didnāt hesitate to run off with him and take up the jolly life of piracy.
Sailing the Caribbean together, Anne became Jackās trusted lieutenant and his equal in sword and pistol. They spent a couple happy years together outrunning British ships and stealing from the ones who got in their way.
In October 1720, they were caught. But when a crew of British colonial sailors boarded their ship, ready to fight the pirates or bring them in, they only found Anne Bonny and Mary Read on the deck, ready for battle. The two women, armed with cutlasses and pistols, fought off several of their attackers, but were eventually taken in.
At her trial, Anne was sentenced to death, but with a temporary stay due to pregnancy! Her death was delayed until after she gave birth, but thatās the last record history has. How she escaped (and where to!) remains a mystery.
Arrr! me hearties, etc.!
TREE is not about current events. It is about living well in the actual existing world. Right now, an existing world is in quite a state. Iāve written eight thoughts about watching wars. You might find them useful.
Grow slowly
Jeff
Iām there in 1720 and the music is most beautiful. Thanks for a great start to an imaginative day full of possibilities. Iām going to get my rv filled with propane for the trip this week. Iām going to explore this music that is new to me all day. Blessings from Arizona at 8 am, Monday. Iām very positive everything is going to be alright, eventually. What are you waiting for?