Mary Read
| |
|---|---|
 | |
| Vital statistics | |
| Title | Crewman |
| Gender | Female |
| Status | Alive |
| Ships | Lion |
| Relationships | Jack Rackham (Captain) |
| Appearances | First: XXXVIII. |
| Portrayed by | Cara Roberts |
Mary Read, also known by her alias Mark Read, is a young woman who travels to Nassau disguised as a man, filled with tales of the infamous pirates Captain Flint and Long John Silver. She meets Jack Rackham and is recruited to the crew of his ship with Anne Bonny.
Biography[]
Background[]
Mary, going by the alias Mark, claims to have been a British Regular during the wars with Spain in Europe.
Season Four[]
After civilization is peacefully restored to Nassau under the auspices of the new Royal Governor, Augustus Featherstone, "Mark" travels there and seeks out Captain Jack Rackham, and the two have a drink together in the Tavern.
Read asks Jack about Long John Silver. Rackham says that it does not matter whether or not a story is true. As time goes on, the truth of it matters less and less. The stories that people want to believe, that survive despite transitions, upheavals and progress, are the ones that shape history. Therfore, it does not matter how the story began. It has found truth in its maturity, and if that is a virtue of man, it should also be one for the things man creates. Jack begins to say that this relates to her question, and then admits that he forgot her question.
Read says that she asked about Long John Silver, and then Jack picks up the thread of where he left off. He apologizes and says that sometimes he will go on, but always in the service of thoroughness and with the best of intentions. Read says that there was no need to apologize, as she was drawn in. Jack says that the story of Long John Silver is a hard one to know. The ones who most deeply believed in it were ultimately destroyed by it, and those who had the most to gain were the most eager to leave it behind. All that remains are the stories that only bear a passing resemblance to the world they all once lived in. They survived that world, but it no longer exists.
Read leans forward and says that she hears that the governor allows still allows select crews to go on the account, and drive up prices for the merchants in town. Specifically, she has heard that he allows Rackham to continue the practice. Rackham tells her two important things. While the governor is a dear friend, the true power in Nassau is Max. Second, it is critical for commerce that it be known that there is no more piracy in Nassau. He then tells her to meet him by the jetty.
On his ship, Anne Bonny sees Mark and tells Jack she didn't know they were taking on new people. Jack says that Mark served with the British Regulars during the war in Europe, and assuages Anne's fears that Jack will take on new people who will convince him to go after the cache of gems. When Mary introduces herself as "Mark" Read, Anne gives a wry smile, seemingly knowing that Mark is in truth, a woman. After Rackham sees his new flag, the crew gets underway.
Quotes[]
"I hear it ain't altogether over. I hear there are still men on the account here under the blessing of the governor. I hear he allows for it... as long as it helps drive up prices for the merchants here. I hear he allows you to continue the practice. That's why I came."
- "Mark" to Jack Rackham in XXXVIII.
Trivia[]
- The real Mary Read (1690-1721) was an English pirate who sailed with Calico Jack Rackham from 1718 to 1720. She was born illegitimate, so her mother disguised her as a boy after the death of Mary's legitimate brother, in order to continue to receive financial support. She continued the practice throughout her life, serving as a soldier in the British Army for a time. She and Anne Bonny are two of the most famed female pirates of all time; they are the only two women known to have been convicted of piracy during the early 18th century. She was spared hanging because she was pregnant but died shortly after that due to a fever.