Answer me this, buffs

[DreadMaid]

I would like to know more about the lady pirate Anne Mills. I have a striking print of her and would like to know more about the person.

many thanks

[Red Bess]

I thought I knew my lady pirates, but I'm not familar with an Anne Mills. Any chance you could post a picture of this striking print you have?

[Cut-throat]

All I could find on Anne Mills was this :

Ann Mills was another British dragoon who fought on the frigate Maidstone in 1740.

[MorganTyre]

Found this reference googling:

"I have not yet had time to explore the second part of this book, 'Pirates in Action'. I see; however, that the first chapter in that part refers to social banditry in its title. I knew I'd find references to Hobsbawm in here! These chapters take a closer look at what is known about pirate society and examine the lives of those famous women pirates Ann Mills, Mary Reed and Ann Bonny. Guess I'll have to leave Bandits at Sea on the reading table for a while, so I can pick it up again."

In short, it appears the book: C. R. Pennell, editor, Bandits at Sea: A Pirates Reader (New York University Press, 2001) has a reference to Ann Mills

[MorganTyre]

Also found this image which is supposedly of her. Let me know what else you find!

[DreadMaid]

Thanks for the replys. I havent found much more than you folks, but this book is new lead. That image you found is the very same i have.

[Calico Jack]

The implication in the "British Frigate" service in 1740 reference, is that rather than being a Pirate, she instead may have served legitimately aboard a British Warship [likely originally as the wife of any of a number of lesser officers], but acted in a direct role during some combat engagement. For other examples on record, consider the wife of one gunner aboard Victory at Trafalgar, who served during that engagement first as Powder Monkey, then as Loblolly Boy... So she _may_ not be a pirate at all ['though I've no information of certainty either way]. You might do best to look up the frigate by name, and see what _she_ and her crew were up to in 1740....

[Capt. Sterling]

Interesting really... especially since dragoon is a cavalry term... could she have been serving more like a marine?? Perhaps she was "discovered" to be a woman at a later date... say from wound or illness?

[kass]

Perhaps Ann Mills wasn't a woman at all, but a man with a name that sounds feminine to us nowadays (like "Leslie" and "Shirley" which were both male names as late as the 19th century). I know Ann was certainly in use as a female name in the 16th century if not earlier. But could it be we have a case of "a boy named Sue" here? Just a thought...

I mean, that picture... Those are circa 1740s seaman's clothing and ain't nothing female about the person wearing them! In the pictures of other women passing for men, they show them to be female by exposing breasts or showing their hair down. This one, not so.

[Capt Thighbiter]

Come, come, now who could mistake those womanly hips for a mans!

Not that I think she's attractive, I mean look at the expressionless face and the easy way she holds that cuttoe! She might as well be slicing up a piece of salt horse.

[DreadMaid]

You have to admit she looks a little too pleased with herself to be very masculine. What I find to be striking about the picture is her composed, calm, and bland expression./ demeanor. As opposed to your bonny/ Read types. You have to be the ruthless pirate of pirates to so casually behead your victim. :) i susupect her to be a real interesting character, when ever i have found referance to her it has always been as 'famous lady pirate' just like in Morgans prior post. yet there is very little to known about her. I soppose there may be something in what Claico points out too. Thanks again.