Bartholomew Roberts, in my opinion probably the most imitated and yet one of the least known pirate captains.
"I have dipped my hands in muddy waters, and if pirate I must be tis better to be commander than a common man."
Born John Roberts, a welsh sailor who at 37 was forced into service to Howell Davis Pyrate Captain (also quite an interesting person). He did not join of free will but soon saw the bounty of "a merry life and a short one." A bare 6 weeks later after the death of Davis at Principe, was incredibly elected captain of the Pyrate Ship The Royal Rover. His first major prize was a Portugese treasure ship from the middle of a fleet! They sailed in took the ship and scared off the others until they had made good thier escape.
A short time later he was demoted, only to once again rise to captancy where he would remain for the rest of his 30 month career. So feared were his men that sometimes a whole harbor full of ships would surrender to them without a shot fired. Reportedly killed by grapeshot in a broadside from the HMS Swallow in 1722, Roberts was hastily buried at sea still dressed in his finest as he was before each battle.
Here was a man that began piracy at the age most men were ready to retire or died. He grasp the life and made it his own. He had his own articles or pirates code if you will. He dressed in finery for battle, in scarlet waistcoat and plumed hat with 4 pistols strapped about his shoulders, cutlass at his waist, and a gold chain with diamond cross about his neck. Instead of torture captured captains were often invited to tea in his cabin, and some were even gifted merchandise if they cooperated, and yet some were berated for not resisting enough. So successful was Roberts he was thought invincible until that fateful day the Swallow took him down. Reportedly his crew was mostly heavy into drink that day and a mistake by the helmsman allowed the fatal broadside shot that ended his life.
470 ships are atrributed to be plundered by his men during those near to three years and shipping in the Carribean brought to a near halt. Yet where did all the loot go? Kidd took a meager ship or two and we hear tales of his hidden treasure. Blackbeard captured a third of Robert's 470 prizes and reportedly stashed loot in several locations, but never do I hear of Roberts hidden treasure.
Captain Ongle of the HMS Swallow is thought to have perhaps taken the bulk of Robert's treasure from the three ships Ranger, Little Ranger, and Royal Fortune. He was later made to pay restitution to his men for thier share by the courts. However I find it curious that a successful pirate who prized speed would allow his ships to be weighed down by a vast fortune. Such history as we have tells of the men often carreening to scrape the sides of the ship. What a ride that must have been weighing down one side so the other exposed mostly from the water, allowing the men to scrape it clean. Speed was of importance both in attacking and fleeing. Ships with full holds are slow.
Admittedly much of the crew's loot surely was partied away during infrequent port stops, however Roberts himself is said to have been adverse to participation. One can only wonder how much loot might have been stashed along the way. If the figure of 470 ships is accurate then they averaged a ship taken every 3.5 days. Surely not all were heavily laden treasure ships but still that had to be quite a haul. Though they spent a good deal of time in the Carribean they also raided the coast of Africa, Greenland and the Americas. One has to wonder if some of that ill gotten loot didn't find it's way onto some lonely island or quiet beach or hidden pirate fortress just waiting for someone to discover it? Such as this are dreams made of.
If you read this far then you must have an interest in pirates, and this is but a small taste of the story of Bartholomew Roberts. If pirates truly are to your liking then researching this one will be a treat.
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