Bartholomew Roberts (Black Bart) Continued.
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The jackpot, again!
By the end of June 1721 they'd found a small settlement lead by one Jack Crackers, a notorious pirate now retired. Here they traded in like company and made good their vessels. Here he was told of two British men-o-war, ‘The Swallow’ and the ‘Weymouth’ that had visited just a month earlier with the intention of returning by the following Christmas. He was well aware of their firepower but felt safe since Christmas was half a year away.
Bart's crew didn't leave until that August, following the two British ships, the logic being that they'd find safety by staying a step behind them hence learning their movements. Inevitably, they raided every vessel that came their way but found no large hauls. They did however take and swap for a French built frigate, the ‘Onslow’. The ‘Onslow’ was renamed ‘The Royal Fortune’’ and visa versa. Many of its crew agreed to join with the pirates. They continued with some success, plundering those unlucky enough to sail their way as they went down the African coast.
On one occasion an attack on Porto-Nova in Whydah (present-day Benin, West Africa) they found eleven ships, all with little more than caretaker crews aboard, the rest working ashore. Roberts had hit the jackpot again. All the ships surrendered and either ransomed or plundered. Ransom meaning, their goods were not appropriate for pirating and would be sunk unless money was forthcoming. Given that they had made such little effort to defend themselves the captains requested Roberts give each a receipt for the goods stolen and ransom money so as to exonerate them at such time the ship owners learnt of the loss. Roberts obliged.
However, one ship, ‘The Porcupine’ was singled out. A slaver, fully laden and nearly ready to set sail but her
commander, Captain Fletcher was on shore finishing his business when the pirates arrived. They sent word to him, demanding
a ransom. Fletcher refused; Captain Roberts' answer was to send boats to take the slave cargo to safety prior to burning the
vessel. It was a disaster while one party set the ship alight the other tried to unshackle the slaves. Unfortunately, the
latter had a little more difficulty and soon found themselves on a burning ship still struggling to free its poor occupants.
The ship went up like a tinder box, the pirates fled in their long-boats but those slaves they'd managed to free could only
escape the flames by jumping into the sea. Others below deck burned with the ship. To make matters worse these waters are
shark infested; pirates and civilians alike witnessed a feeding frenzy as the sharks tore into the fleeing slaves.
What the Navy had to say...
Naval accounts omit Roberts attempt to free the slaves before firing the ship, typically he was not given any benefit of the doubt but there are other witnesses. In addition to this, pirates had no truck with slavery as it went against their basic principals. They even had liberated slaves amongst their number equal to anyone aboard. In this respect we have to ask ourselves who were the real outlaws since every crown in Europe set their navy to protect the slave trade. Before leaving Porto-Nova Roberts gained some news hinting his position was known to the British men-o-war. After informing the crew of this they voted to head for their old haunt at Cape Lopez, their troop being ‘The Royal Fortune’’, the’ Good Fortune’ and ‘The Ranger’.
Unbeknown to them, Cape Lopez would be their last stopover. While they had been abroad plundering, the British men-o-war ‘Swallow’ and ‘Weymouth ‘had been busy too. Though the two ships had their own share of trouble. Sickness on board reduced the crew in numbers and general health. This had a major impact on their performance, in-fact they could hardly function. At Cape Corso in Ghana they sought new crewmen, forcing them to sea as was the naval tradition in those days but it did not help. The ‘Weymouth’ was in pitiful condition. News came that Roberts had been sighted and ‘The Swallow’ was forced to leave the ‘Weymouth’ behind. Collecting intelligence from passing vessels Captain Ogle realised Roberts would probably try to escape back across the Atlantic and would have to lay up for a while to collect provisions and prepare for the journey. There were only a few places within reach of Porto-Nova where this was possible and aimed to check them all one by one.
Continued on page >> 6 << Ogle scores first success...
Is there anyone out there who is actually related to this fellow? One of my sisters has always said he claimed a place in our ancestry line, but now I wonder whether she was just kidding.
Did he design anything else?
According to something I've read, historians think he might have been a woman. Does anyone know if this pirate married and had children?
My name is Rebecca Novak. I was born in Key West, Florida. Black Bart actually is related to me, so is the privateer Avery Roberts. They are related on my maternal side, which come from Eluthera, Bahamas.
Most successful pirate of all time and was the man that started a code of conduct for pirates. Anyone injured or killed in battle next of kin would get a pension also if wounded would get compensation. A wealthy man had 600 ships of various size and died in battle with the royal navy body thrown over the side and never found.
Yes apparently my mother told me are family is also in his ancestry line I?m trying to find out as much as i can about this . I?m only 13 so I don?t know where to start really .
I am trying to contact Rebecca Novak (or any person with information). I was also born in Key west Florida and my 2 x great grandfather Richard Albury was married to Ufemina Roberts who was from the Bahamas. In family stories Black Bart is related, please, if you have you or anyone else has information please reply. Thank you
My name is Michael I live in Australia. My great grandmother was a Roberts and says we were related to Bartholomew Roberts!
A tea totaler. Also known as: Black Bart, Barti Ddu.
My grandmother, Kitty Roberts was from London but her paternal family were Welsh. She apparently always claimed that Bart was a relative, until she got old and changed her mind. It seems unlikely that he had any children in Wales if he left when he was young and never went back. My mum is working back through the family tree, but it would be interesting to know whether there are any verified offspring.
Related information...
Henry Morgan, Buccaneers, Freebooters and Pirates. David Williams, Buccaneers, Freebooters and Pirates. the Hump Murray, Wrong side of the law. John Callice, Buccaneers, Freebooters and Pirates.Let us know, add a comment to this listing right now!
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