Some Notable Figures From Cork's Maritime Past byJOHN DE COURCY IRELAND
In the archives of the Huguenot Society of London (dossier no 1120) is a record ofapplicants for admission to the London Hospital for Huguenots including that ofJacques Chard son ofJeremiah Chard. Supporting the application is an affidavit signed in a firm hand by John McCarty, 26 January 1827: 'I, John McCarty of Bethnal Green, Mariner of the Ad vanced Age ofNinety six years do make oath and say that I was personally acquainted with Stephen Dessoul ofRochelle in France Architectand well know that the said Stephen Dessoul was obliged to fly from France at the time ofthe Prosecution ofthe French Protestants and was also acquainted with his daughterJane Dessoul who was married toJeremiah Chard ship wright ofthe City ofCork in Ireland'.John McCarty epitomises thousands of maritime careers begun in Cork at this period. Cork piratess Anne Bonney was theillegitimatedaughter ofa successful lawyer, William Cormac, and a servant girl, Peg Brennan. She was brought by her father to South Carolina where she married a worthless character calledJames Bonney who brought her to New Providence in the Bahamas and proposed to live by informing the islands' governor about the activities of the local pirates. Anne meanwhile had fallen for a notorious ex-pirate.Jack Rackam. When Bonney ran to the governor, he threatened to have Anne flogged, ifshe did not return to her husband, whereupon she persuaded Rackam to resume his piratical career. They seized a sloop in Nassau harbour, Anne herselfovercoming the two men on watch by threatening them with a pistol. Anne and Rackam became the scourge of coastal and fishing vessels in the Caribbean. Anne turned another woman, Mary Read, captured on a Dutch ship, disguised as a man, into a pirate as fierce as herself. Eventually in October 1720, the pirate ship was captured offJamaica, after afierce battle, by a British naval vessel. It is recorded that when Rackam was hanged, Anne shouted to him: 'Had you fought like a man you need not have been hanged like a dog'. It is believed that Anne's father secured her release, as there is no record of her being hanged. The number ofCork MacCarthys who served in the French navy is strik ing. No fewer than six served inJohn PaulJones famous French-equipped raider BONHOMME RICHARD during the American War of Independence. Another MacCarrhy from Cork served with distinction in
Asgard fJ offOld Head of Kinsalc
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Cork City and County Archives SM994
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