Mary Critchett

Mary Critchett (d. 1729, first name also Maria, last name also Crichett or Crickett) was an English pirate and convict. She is best known for being one of only four female pirates from the Golden Age of Piracy[1].

History

Six prisoners - "Edmund Williams, George Caves, George Cole alias Sanders, Edward Edwards, Jeremiah Smith and Mary Critchett"[2] - were transported from England to Virginia in late 1728 to work off their sentences.[1] On May 12, 1729, they escaped and overpowered the two-man crew of the sloop John and Elizabeth.[1] Critchett held the prisoners in the ship's hold, sitting on the hatch to prevent their escape.[3] They released the pair a few days later over Critchett's objections, who feared the two would alert the authorities.[1] The pirates sailed into Chesapeake Bay but before they could raid any other ships, they were captured by the HMS Shoreham under Captain Long.[3] Returned to Virginia, they were tried in August 1729 in Williamsburg, convicted of piracy, and sentenced to hang.[4]

See Also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Fictum, David (13 May 2016). "Anne Bonny and Mary Read: Female Pirates and Maritime Women (Page Two)". Colonies, Ships, and Pirates. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  2. ↑ Appleby, John C. (2015). Women and English Piracy, 1540-1720: Partners and Victims of Crime. Rochester NY: Boydell & Brewer Ltd. pp. 222–223. ISBN 9781783270187.
  3. 1 2 Theophilus, Fox, Edward (2013). 'Piratical Schemes and Contracts': Pirate Articles and Their Society 1660-1730. Exeter: University of Exeter. pp. 225–226. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  4. ↑ Rediker, Marcus (2011). Villains of All Nations: Atlantic Pirates in the Golden Age. Beacon Press. p. 112. ISBN 9780807095386. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  5. ↑ There were other female pirates, but were either outside the "Golden Age" or were believed to be fictional.
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