Mary Critchett (died 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 confirmed female pirates from the

Golden Age of Piracy The Golden Age of Piracy was the period between the 1650s and the 1730s, when maritime piracy was a significant factor in the histories of the North Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Histories of piracy often subdivide the Golden Age of Piracy into th ...

, and the only one executed.

History

Six prisoners - "Edmund Williams, George Caves, George Cole alias Sanders, Edward Edwards, Jeremiah Smith and Mary Critchett" - were transported from

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

in late 1728, to work off their sentences. On 12 May 1729, they escaped and overpowered the two-man crew of the sloop ''John and Elizabeth''. Critchett held the prisoners in the ship's hold, sitting on the hatch to prevent their escape. They released the pair a few days later over Critchett's objections, who feared the two would alert the authorities. The pirates sailed into

Chesapeake Bay The Chesapeake Bay ( ) is the largest estuary in the United States. The bay is located in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region and is primarily separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Delmarva Peninsula, including parts of the Ea ...

but before they could raid any other ships, they were captured by HMS ''Shoreham'' under Captain Long. Returned to Virginia, they were tried in August 1729 in

Williamsburg Williamsburg may refer to: Places *Colonial Williamsburg, a living-history museum and private foundation in Virginia *Williamsburg, Brooklyn, neighborhood in New York City *Williamsburg, former name of Kernville (former town), California *Williams ...

, convicted of piracy, and sentenced to hang.

Notes

References

Year of birth missing 18th-century pirates People executed for piracy 1729 deaths British female pirates English pirates English female criminals Executed English women {{Pirate-stub

History

See also

Notes

References