Carribean Pirate John Rackham also know as Calico Jack. His nickname was derived from the colorful calico clothes he wore. He is remembered for employing two of the most notorious female pirates of his time. He was a moderately successful pirate, but is remembered because of Mary Read and Anne Bonny. It is said that he fathered their children, but there is no documentation to substantiate the report.
In 1718 Jack was a quartermaster on a ship that belonged to Charles Vane. On November 23, while at sea they encountered a French warship. Captain Vane decided to retreat rather than board the warship. The crew disagreed and a munity was set against him. The crew left Vane on the shore and sailed away in a ship called The Treasure. They voted to make Jack their new captain. Jack later returned and successfully boarded and took over that french vessel.
The very same day he was made captain, he managed to take several small vessels, earning him a good reputation with the crew. Once while drinking in a local tavern, he came across a woman who went by the name of Anne Bonny. He decided to court her and after a while, asked her to come with them. She agreed and dressed as a boy so the crew would take little notice in her. All went well with keeping her identity.
They raided a small merchant vessel near the West Indies. Most of the crew had been killed and they had one crew member cornered. They asked if the person would join their crew rather than be run through with a sword. With some apprehension, he agreed. Once brought aboard, it seemed Anne had taken a liking to the young man, Mark Read. Jack saw them always together and became very jealous. One day Calico Jack, decided to confront Mark. He asked what was between him and Anne, and he swore it was nothing. Jack didn't believe him. So to prove nothing was between him and Anne, Mark decided to give Jack his true identity, which happened to be not a man at all. The new sailor was, in fact. Mary Read She told him she was a woman and proved it, so there was no mistake.
Governor Woodes Rogers learned that Calico Jack had taken the ship named William in Nassau arbor. He sent two large ships with 45 men to hunt him down.
At this time Calico Jack was busy attacking vessels near Jamaica. In early October near Nigril, Captain Barnet (commander of the British Navy) caught up with Jack. Captain Barnet asked Jack to surrender, but a shouting match ensued. The entire crew of the "revenge" was drunk. The fight was short lived as the two women were out numbered and out gunned. The entire crew was taken to Port Royal for trial.
On November 16, 1720 Calico Jack and eleven of his crew were sentenced to death by hanging. On November 17, 1720, Jack and most of his crew were hanged. The women were testified as well but they stated they were both pregnant. It has never been proven if this was true or not, but nevertheless they were sentenced to remain in jail until they had given birth. Rackham's body was hanged on an island near Port Royal called Deadman's Cay, now fittingly named Rackham's Cay. Thus ended the life of the pirate Calico Jack.
He took only small vessels in the Caribbean, so his mark as a pirate is not great. But, he is the only recorded pirate that had two female pirates disguised as men in his crew.
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