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· Black Bart

SM9828 : Monument on village green at Little Newcastle

Born in 1682 in the village of Little Newcastle, Bartholemew Roberts was perhaps one of the most successful pirates of all time, and is reputed to have been first to hoist the Skull and Crossbones flag, universally recognised as the dreaded hall-mark of pirate vessels.

He first went to sea at the age of thirteen, serving in naval vessels during the war of the Spanish Succession, and after a number of years on board slaving vessels, he joined the crew of the Royal Rover, a pirate vessel in 1719. Within a few months, the captain of this vessel was killed in an engagement, and such was the esteem with which the crew already regarded Roberts, that he was made captain. Within a short period of time he sailed down to Brazil, and in the sight of forty Portugese men o'war, captured the prize vessel, Sagrada Familia, bearing a cargo worth about Two and a half million pounds in present day terms.

This was to be the first in a series of daring raids and actions that returned a fortune in excess of eighty million pounds for Roberts and his crew by 1721. Despite his fierce reputation, Bartholomew Roberts had a number of beliefs and habits not usually associated with the accepted image of a pirate captain. He was a strict tee-totaller and Sabbatarian, and allowed no gambling nor prostitution on board his vessels. When engaging his intended prize, he appeared on deck dressed in a crimson coat and breeches to the accompianment of a band that sailed everywhere with him.

This flamoyant character ultimately met his end however off St Lopez in January 1722, where he was confronted by H.M.S. Swallow commanded by Captain Chaloner Ogle. Ogle, who had been given a particular commission to seek out and destroy pirate vessels, hoisted the flag of a Portugese merchantman, and Roberts moved in for the prize. As he came alongside, Ogle opened fire, and the pirate captain, conspicuous in all his finery, was killed in the first exchange. His crew, utterly demoralised by the death of their captain,surrendered, and many were later hanged.

So ended Black Barty's life as a pirate, a life that he is said to have described as he lay dying a '..... a merry life, and a short one' "

(see: http://home.clara.net/tirbach/HelpPagepearlsPEM.html)