Norah Dooley is willing to sign on as Mary Read, retired pirate, at your events - historical, piratical or otherwise. Please email Norah for dates and rates.Salt, Sea and Piracy with Mary Read

PROGRAM

Dressed as pirate Mary Read, Norah Dooley tells tales about the people who sailed in the Golden Age of Piracy, and the wonders of the 7 seas. In the early 1700s Mary Read disguised herself as a sailor to survive in the harsh world and became a pirate by accident when her ship was captured by Captain "Calico Jack" Rackham. Norah tells Mary's story in the first person brandishing pistol and sword and sharing secrets and multicultural stories from her sea bag. Some of her favorites are Maury O'Connor and the Mermaid ( Ireland), Arion and the Dolphins (Greek), Ocean Born Mary (New England legend), Mitsue and the Pirates (Japan). Norah plays pennywhistle and leads songs and sea chanties, including : John Kanaka, The Mermaid, & Run the Riggin' Again . While in port, Mary provides 45 minutes to an hour, of historically accurate and engaging fun for families with children   5 years old and older.

"Norah Dooley is an entrancing storyteller" - Scott Alarik, Boston Globe

 The Testimony from Ann Bonny and Mary Read's Trial

November 17, 1721

"...the two women, prisoners at the bar, were then on board the said sloop, and wore men's jackets, and long trousers, and handkerchiefs tied about their heads; and that each of them had a machete and pistol in their hands, and cursed and swore at the men, to murder the deponent; and that they should kill her, to prevent her coming against them;...an other witness stated the women were very active on board, and that Ann Bonny handed gunpowder to the men; also, "that when they saw any vessel, gave chase, or attacked, they wore men's clothes; and at other times, they wore woman's clothes."

The Verdict:

"You, Mary Read, and Ann Bonny, alias Bonn, are to go from hence to the place from whence you came, and from thence to the place of execution; where you shall be severally hanged by the neck till you are severally dead. And god of his infinite mercy be merciful to both your souls."

 

Charges of Piracy against Calico Jack and his Crew

The Prisoners that are charged are as follows:

The Captain of the pirate ship is John Rackman alias "Calico Jack."

The crew of the same pirate ship are George Featherston, John Davies, Thomas Bourn, James Dobbins, Thomas Earl, Richard Corner, John Howell, Noah Harwood, Patrick Carty, and John Fenwick.

The four charges against the prisioners are as follows:

1. That they "did piratically, feloniously, and in an hostile manner, attack, engage, and take, seven certain fishing boats" and that they assaulted the fisherman and stole their fishing boats".

2. That they did "upon the high seas, in a certain place, distance about three leagues from the island of Hispaniola...set upon, shoot at, and take, two certain merchant sloops," and did assault James Dobbin and other mariners.

3. That on the high sea about five leagues from Port Maria Bay in the island of Jamaica they did shoot at and take a schooner commanded by Thomas Spenlow and put Spenlow and other mariners "in corporeal fear of their lives."

4. That about one league from Dry Harbour Bay, Jamaica, they did board and enter a merchant sloop called Mary, commanded by Thomas Dillon, and did steal and carry away the sloop and her tackle.

                                                                                                        November 16, 1721 in  Spanish Town, Jamaica

Some parting words:

As Jack Rackman was going to be hanged Ann Bonny gave him a scornful look and spat out that, "Had you fought like a man, you need not have been hang'd like a dog."

November 17, 1721