Bartholomew Roberts “Black Bart”
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Flags used by Bartholomew Roberts. The left flag was his first and depicts Roberts and Death holding an hourglass. The second, later flag depicts Roberts standing on two skulls, the letters standing for “A Barbadian’s Head” and “A Martiniquian’s Head”, Barbados and Martinique being two islands for which Roberts held in great contempt.
Bartholomew Roberts was a Welsh-born pirate captain, and is widely recognized as the most successful pirate of the Golden Age. At the height of his career, his fleet consisted of four ships and hundreds of crewmen. He also is said to have plundered over 400 ships, more than Edward Low, Calico Jack, and Blackbeard combined. Roberts was so fearsome, he often sailed into ports flying the black flag (something that many pirates would never even consider) and crews of other anchored ships would surrender to him immediately. He was posthumously given the nickname “Black Bart” (not to be confused with the outlaw of the American West of the same name) due to his fearsome reputation. He was also particularly for always dressing in his finest clothes before any engagement. His fortune amounted to about $32 million in modern currency.
Not much is known about his early life. He was born in Wales in 1682 and his original name was probably John. He began sailing at a very young age and by 1719 he was the Third Mate aboard the British slave ship Princess. In June 1719, Princess was captured by the pirate captain Howell Davis, and Roberts was forced to join his crew against his wishes. He soon proved himself an extremely competent sailor however, and when Davis was killed only six weeks after Roberts had joined, he was elected the new captain via popular vote.
Throughout his career, he sailed to many locations and commanded many different ships. His first large haul was off the coast of Brazil, in which he raided a fleet of Portuguese ships, the richest of which contained 40,000 gold moidores and a set of diamonds intended for the King of Portugal. Shortly after, Roberts was betrayed by fellow pirate Walter Kennedy, who stole his ship and what remained of his loot. This led directly to the creation of Roberts’ famous pirate articles, which crew members swore on a Bible to uphold. The code is as follows:
1. Every man shall have an equal vote in affairs of moment. He shall have an equal title to the fresh provisions or strong liquors at any time seized, and shall use them at pleasure unless a scarcity may make it necessary for the common good that a retrenchment may be voted.
2. Every man shall be called fairly in turn by the list on board of prizes, because over and above their proper share, they are allowed a shift of clothes. But if they defraud the company to the value of even one dollar in plate, jewels or money, they shall be marooned. If any man rob another he shall have his nose and ears slit, and be put ashore where he shall be sure to encounter hardships.
3. None shall game for money either with dice or cards.
4. The lights and candles should be put out at eight at night, and if any of the crew desire to drink after that hour they shall sit upon the open deck without lights.
5. Each man shall keep his piece, cutlass and pistols at all times clean and ready for action.
6. No boy or woman to be allowed amongst them. If any man shall be found seducing any of the latter sex and carrying her to sea in disguise he shall suffer death.
7. He that shall desert the ship or his quarters in time of battle shall be punished by death or marooning.
8. None shall strike another on board the ship, but every man's quarrel shall be ended on shore by sword or pistol in this manner. At the word of command from the quartermaster, each man being previously placed back to back, shall turn and fire immediately. If any man do not, the quartermaster shall knock the piece out of his hand. If both miss their aim they shall take to their cutlasses, and he that draw the first blood shall be declared the victor.
9. No man shall talk of breaking up their way of living till each has a share of 1,000. Every man who shall become a cripple or lose a limb in the service shall have 800 pieces of eight from the common stock and for lesser hurts proportionately.
10. The captain and the quartermaster shall each receive two shares of a prize, the master gunner and boatswain, one and one half shares, all other officers one and one quarter, and private gentlemen of fortune one share each.
11. The musicians shall have rest on the Sabbath Day only by right. On all other days by favor only.
Roberts later sailed to Newfoundland and the Caribbean, along the way capturing a man o’ war carrying the governor of Martinique. This ship he renamed the Royal Fortune (one of many ships he at some point gave this name to) and designated it his flagship. By 1721, Roberts and his crew had almost singlehandedly shut down trade in the West Indies, so he decided to set sail for West Africa to plunder ships there. On February 10, 1722, at Cape Lopez on the island of Annobon, Roberts was engaged by the HMS Swallow, commanded by Captain Chaloner Ogle. He was killed in the ensuing battle when he was struck in the throat by grapeshot. His death came as a surprise to many, as a great number of people came to view him as invincible.
Not much is known about his early life. He was born in Wales in 1682 and his original name was probably John. He began sailing at a very young age and by 1719 he was the Third Mate aboard the British slave ship Princess. In June 1719, Princess was captured by the pirate captain Howell Davis, and Roberts was forced to join his crew against his wishes. He soon proved himself an extremely competent sailor however, and when Davis was killed only six weeks after Roberts had joined, he was elected the new captain via popular vote.
Throughout his career, he sailed to many locations and commanded many different ships. His first large haul was off the coast of Brazil, in which he raided a fleet of Portuguese ships, the richest of which contained 40,000 gold moidores and a set of diamonds intended for the King of Portugal. Shortly after, Roberts was betrayed by fellow pirate Walter Kennedy, who stole his ship and what remained of his loot. This led directly to the creation of Roberts’ famous pirate articles, which crew members swore on a Bible to uphold. The code is as follows:
1. Every man shall have an equal vote in affairs of moment. He shall have an equal title to the fresh provisions or strong liquors at any time seized, and shall use them at pleasure unless a scarcity may make it necessary for the common good that a retrenchment may be voted.
2. Every man shall be called fairly in turn by the list on board of prizes, because over and above their proper share, they are allowed a shift of clothes. But if they defraud the company to the value of even one dollar in plate, jewels or money, they shall be marooned. If any man rob another he shall have his nose and ears slit, and be put ashore where he shall be sure to encounter hardships.
3. None shall game for money either with dice or cards.
4. The lights and candles should be put out at eight at night, and if any of the crew desire to drink after that hour they shall sit upon the open deck without lights.
5. Each man shall keep his piece, cutlass and pistols at all times clean and ready for action.
6. No boy or woman to be allowed amongst them. If any man shall be found seducing any of the latter sex and carrying her to sea in disguise he shall suffer death.
7. He that shall desert the ship or his quarters in time of battle shall be punished by death or marooning.
8. None shall strike another on board the ship, but every man's quarrel shall be ended on shore by sword or pistol in this manner. At the word of command from the quartermaster, each man being previously placed back to back, shall turn and fire immediately. If any man do not, the quartermaster shall knock the piece out of his hand. If both miss their aim they shall take to their cutlasses, and he that draw the first blood shall be declared the victor.
9. No man shall talk of breaking up their way of living till each has a share of 1,000. Every man who shall become a cripple or lose a limb in the service shall have 800 pieces of eight from the common stock and for lesser hurts proportionately.
10. The captain and the quartermaster shall each receive two shares of a prize, the master gunner and boatswain, one and one half shares, all other officers one and one quarter, and private gentlemen of fortune one share each.
11. The musicians shall have rest on the Sabbath Day only by right. On all other days by favor only.
Roberts later sailed to Newfoundland and the Caribbean, along the way capturing a man o’ war carrying the governor of Martinique. This ship he renamed the Royal Fortune (one of many ships he at some point gave this name to) and designated it his flagship. By 1721, Roberts and his crew had almost singlehandedly shut down trade in the West Indies, so he decided to set sail for West Africa to plunder ships there. On February 10, 1722, at Cape Lopez on the island of Annobon, Roberts was engaged by the HMS Swallow, commanded by Captain Chaloner Ogle. He was killed in the ensuing battle when he was struck in the throat by grapeshot. His death came as a surprise to many, as a great number of people came to view him as invincible.