Charlotte Badger was one of the first European women to live in New Zealand. She was also a pirate... or at least that's the traditional story. This special episode of Black Sheep, recorded live at Charlotte's Kitchen restaurant in Paihia, investigates Charlotte's pirate mystery.

Charlotte Badger was one of the very first European women to live in New Zealand. She was also a pirate... or at least that's the traditional story.

In a special episode of Black Sheep recorded live at Charlotte's Kitchen restaurant in Paihia, William Ray and his guests, historians Jennifer Ashton and Kate Martin, investigate Charlotte's pirate mystery.

Charlotte Badger was born in 1778 in Bromsgrove, a small village outside Worcester in England. Her father was a labourer and the family probably struggled to make ends meet. In desperation, 18 year old Charlotte committed what would be considered a fairly minor crime today - she stole a number of small items, including a silver coin, from her employer.

In 17th century England however, housebreaking was a hanging offence and Charlotte was sentenced to death. Luckily, her sentence was commuted and she was instead given seven years transportation to the New South Wales penal colony at Port Dalrymple, now known as Sydney.

"She arrived in Sydney in 1801 and then she disappears until 1806," says Jennifer Ashton, a historian who's been investigating the supposed pirate's story.

Charlotte's reappearance came in the form of a wanted notice posted in the Sydney Gazette in 1806:

"The persons under-mentioned and described did, on the 16th day of June 1806, by force of arms and violently and piratically take away from His Majesty's settlement of Port Dalrymple, a Colonial Brig or Vessel called the Venus."

The notice went on to name and describe about a dozen mutineers. Last on the list were two women:

"Catherine Hagerty, convict. Middle sized, fresh complexion. Much inclined to smile. Hoarse voice.

Charlotte Badger, convict. Very corpulent, full face, thick lips, infant child."

Later, the Gazette published official depositions from people who witnessed the mutiny, including the ship's captain who said the leaders of the mutiny were the first mate, the pilot of the ship and a soldier. The two women convicts are hardly discussed at all aside from a mention that Catherine Hagerty was "cohabiting" with the first mate, Benjamin Kelly, and had thrown some papers overboard.

It seems strange that the captain didn't say much about the two women given that a 1895 newspaper article depicts both Catherine Hagerty and Charlotte Badger taking an active part in the mutiny, armed with swords and pistols…

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details