This post contains references to John Rackam, Anne Bonny, and Mary Read in quote unquote “primary sources”–basically I am including everything that predates the General History.
1720 September 4
New-Providence, Sept. 4th. Several Pirates are on the Coast of the Bahamas, among which is one Rackum who Run away with a Sloop of 6 Guns, and took with him 12 Men, and Two Women. The Governour of this Place sent a Sloop of 45 Men after him. And on the 2d Instant Doctor Rowan with his Sloop, and 54 Hands, 12 Guns, went out in order to suppress them; as did Capt. Roach who arriv’d here from Barbadoes. The Pirates Swear Destruction to all those who belong to this Island.
The Boston Gazette 1720 October 17
1720 September 5
By his Excellency Woodes Rogers, Esq; Governour of New-Providence, &c. A Proclamation. Whereas: John Rackum, George Featherstone, John Davis, Andrew Gibson, John Howell, Noah Patrick–&c. and two Women, by Name, Ann Fulford alias Bonny, & Mary Read, did on the 22d of August last combine together to enter on board, take, steal and run-away with out of this Road of Providence, a Certain Sloop call’d the William, Burthen about 12 Tons, mounted with 4 great Guns and 2 Swivel ones, also Amunition, Sails, Rigging, Anchor, Cables, and a Canoe, owned by and belonging to Capt. John Ham, and with the said Sloop did proceed to commit Robery and Piracy upon the Boat and Effects of James Gohier Esq; on the South side of this Island, also upon Capt. Isaac’s Master of a Sloop riding at Berry-Islands in his Way from South-Carolina to this Port: Wherefore these are to Publish and make Known to all Persons Whatsoever, that the said John Rackum and his said Company are hereby proclaimed Pirates and Enemies to the Crown of Great-Brittain, and are to be so treated and Deem’d by all his Majesty’s Subjects. Given at Nassau, this 5th of September, 1720. Sign’d Woodes Rogers.
The Boston Gazette 1720 October 17
1720 October 20
Nine days since one White came here from Providence etc. 14 days afterwards one Rackun run away with a sloop and took two more of that place
Letter from Lieutenant Jos. Lawes to Captain Edward Vernon
1720 October 31
last night I received the agreeable news, that captain Barnet had taken Rackam the pirate, and eighteen of his crew, and had put them ashore at the leeward part of the island, from whence they are coming up by land under a strong guard.
Journals of the Assembly of Jamaica 1720 October 31 “A message from the governor, by his secretary”
1720 November 1
A motion being made, that captain Barnet be considered for the good service done the island in taking the pirate; Resolved, That, in consideration of the good services performed by captain Jonathan Barnet and his company, in taking John Rackam and his crew, noted pirates, the said Jonathan Barnet and his company shall have and receive, as a reward for such service, two hundred pounds; one hundred pounds for the said captain, and the other hundred pounds to be divided among his sloop’s company
Journals of the Assembly of Jamaica 1720 November 1
1720 November 5
the grand court drawing near, and the trial of the pirates soon coming on, and must not be delayed, wherein I intend to sit myself, not only in obedience to the king’s command, but, by doing justice upon those criminals, in some measure take off the odious character cast upon this country by the wilful and evil practice of a late offender, that we are all abettors, countenancers, and protectors, of such horrid villains.
Journals of the Assembly of Jamaica 1720 November 5 speech by provost marshal in the name of the governor
1720 November 13
I have not hitherto recd. any manner of commands concerning the cessation of arms tho’ on our parts ’tis most punctually observed, I wish I cou’d say the like of the Spaniards they continue dayly to molest our coast and the pirates are swarming round us in great numbers. About a fortnight ago a trading sloop belonging to the Island being well manned and commanded by a brisk fellow one Jonathan Barnet did us a very good peice of service he was met by a pirate vessel at the Leward part of this Island commanded by one Rackum in which were 18 pirates more whom he took and are now in goal, this week I intent to have them tryed by a Commission which was sent me some time agoe grounded on the Statute of the 11th and 12th of King William which by an Act of Parliament passed the last Sessions I find is made perpetuall.
Letter from Governor Sir Nicholas Lawes to the Council of Trade and Plantations
1720 November 16
The trial of John Rackam, George Fetherston, Richard Corner, John Davies, John Howell, Patrick Carty, Thomas Earl, James Dobbin, and Noah Harwood
1720 November 22
S. Jago de la Vega in Jamaica, Nov. 22. O.S. Last Wednesday his Majesty’s Commission for trying Pyrates was read and published, his Excellency Sir Nicolas Lawes, Captain General, being President: After a full Hearing, the following Persons were found guilty of Pyracy, Robbery, and Felony, on the High Seas, and receiv’d Sentence to be hang’d, viz. John Rackham Captain, George Featherston Master, Richard Corner Quarter-master, John Davis, John Howel, Noah Harwood, James Dobbins, Patrick Carty, and Thomas Earle: And the next day, Thomas Bowen alias Brown, and John Fenwick alias Fenis, were also tried and found Guilty; and accordingly on Friday last, the Five first mentioned, of the Nine condemned on Wednesday, were hanged at Gallows-Point in Port-Royal, and the other Four were hanged the next day at Kingston; and on Monday the other Two were hang’d at Galloway-Point. The Bodies of the said Captain, Master, and Quarter-master, were afterwards carried to Plumb-Point, Bush-Key, and Gun-Key, where they were hung on Gibbets in Chains.
The Post-Boy 1721 March 28
1720 November 28
The trial of Mary Read and Ann Bonny
1720 December 8
From Jamaica we have Advice, That the Pyrates are very [???] about that Island, few Vessels escapin[???] but Rackum the Pyrate, who took P[???] Ainsworth, lying in wait for a Sloo[???]han Barnet, Master, met with a Tartar, for Barnet took him and his Crew, which consisted of 26 Men and two Women, who were all carried into Jamaica.
The American Weekly Mercury 1720 December 8
1720 December 28
There has little thing of moment occurr’d since my last only the Commission I mentioned in my former for the trying of pirates has since been published and Rackum the Pirate and ten more have been tryed and executed which I hope in time will have a good effect tho’ we are dayly robb’d and plunderd by vessells fitted out from Trinidado on Cuba.
Letter from Lawes to CTP
1721 January 9
the Pyrates are busy in those Parts, and that the Governor had sent out two Sloops from Jamaica, with a hundred Hands each, to cruise on the Pyrates; one of which had taken and brought in a Pyrate Sloop, commanded by one Rackham of Jamaica, who had fourteen Hands on board. They were all condemned, and would be executed in a few days.
The Post-Boy 1721 January 12
the Pyrates were very busy in those Parts, and that the Governor had sent out two Sloops from Jamaica, with 100 Hands in each, to cruise upon them; one of which had brought in a Pyrate Sloop, commanded by one Rackham of Jamaica, having on board 14 Men, were all condemn’d, and would soon be hang’d.
The Daily Post 1721 January 13
the Pyrates are busy in those Parts, and that the Governour had sent out two Sloops from Jamaica, with a hundred Hands each, to cruise on the Pyrates, one of which had taken and brought in a Pyrate Sloop, commanded by one Rackham of Jamaica, who had fourteen Hands on board. They were all condemned, and would be executed in a few Days.
The London Journal 1721 January 14
1721 January 24
The trial of John Eaton, Edward Warner, Thomas Baker, Thomas Quick, John Cole, Benjamin Palmer, Walter Rouse, John Hanlon, and John Howard
1721 March 21
John Racan, Captain, George Featherstone, Master, and 7 other Criminals, were executed at St. Jago de la Vega, for Robbery and Felony on the High Seas, whereof the two first were hang’d in Chains for a Terror to others.
The Daily Post 1721 March 21
1721 March 25
John Racan, Captain, George Featherstone, Master, and Seven other Criminals, were executed at St. Jago de la Vega, for Robbery and Felony committed on the high Seas, of whom the two first were hanged in Chains, for a Terror to others.
The Weekly Journal or Saturday’s Post and The London Journal 1721 March 25
1721 March 31
From Jamaica March 31st. Several pirates have been lately taken and brought in here and on trial most of them found guilty and executed, among them Char. Vaine and one Racum, two notorious Comanders of pirate vessells suffered and died most profligate impudent villains. One Warner and his gang has been also tried and condemned but not yet executed.
Included in a letter from Lieutenant Governor Benjamin Bennett to the CTP
1721 April 28
Mary Read pirate
St. Catherine Baptisms Marriages & Burials, Vol. I: 1669-1764 – Thank you to Tyler for finding the digitized item on FamilySearch.
1721 June 12
tryall of the Pirates who have been executed here which has had good effect these seas haveing been more free of late from such villains than for some time before
Letter from Lawes to the CTP
1721 August 31
the Execution at Kingston and Port Royal of nine more Pyrates; also of the Tryal and Condemnation of 11 others, two of which were Women, named Mary Read and Sarah Bonny; the Evidence against whom deposed, that they were both in Mens Habit, and fought desperately, and that they narrowly escaped being murdered by them.
The Daily Courant 1721 September 1
the Execution at Kingston and Port-Royal, of nine more Pyrates; also of the Tryal and Condemnation of 11 others, two of which were Women, named Mary Read, and Sarah Bonny; the Evidence against whom deposed, that they were both in Mens Habit, and fought desperately, and that they narrowly escaped being murdered by them.
The Daily Journal 1721 September 2
the Execution of Nine Pyrates, and of the Tryal and Condemnation of Eleven more, Two of which were Women, named Mary Road and Anne Bonney, against whom ’twas prov’d, that they both of them wore Seamens Habits, were in Arms, fought desperately, and were more unmerciful than any of the Crew.
The London Journal 1721 September 2
the Execution at Kingston and Port-Royal of nine more Pyrates; also of the Trial and Condemnation of eleven others, two of which were Women, named Mary Read and Sarah Bonny; the Evidence against whom deposed, that they were both in Mens Habit, and fought desperately, and that they narrowly escap’d being murder’d by them.
The Post-Boy 1721 September 2
the Execution at Kingston of nine more Pirates: also of the Tryal and Condemnation of eleven others, two of which were Women, named Mary Read, and Sarah Bonny; the Evidence against whom, deposed, That they were both in Men’s Habit, and fought desperately, and that they narrowly escap’d being Murder’d by them.
The Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer 1721 September 2
Depictions of John Rackam, Anne Bonny, and Mary Read 