Roberts in Africa
Roberts arrived to the coast of Senegal in June of 1721, and began raiding shipping along the coast. He anchored at Sierra Leone, where he heard welcome news: two Royal Navy ships, the Swallow and the Weymouth, had been in the area but had left a month or so before and were not expected back any time soon. This meant that he could operate virtually unopposed in the area, keeping one step behind the Men of War. They took the Onslow, a massive frigate, renamed-her the Royal Fortune and mounted 40 cannons on her. He had a fleet of four ships and was at the height of his strength: he could pretty much attack anyone with impunity. For the next few months, Roberts and his crew took dozens of prizes and each pirate began amassing a small fortune.
The Porcupine
Roberts was cruel and ruthless. In January of 1722, he was sailing off of Whydah, a well-known slaving area. He found a slave ship, the Porcupine, at anchor: the captain was ashore. Roberts took the ship and demanded a ransom from the captain, named Fletcher. Fletcher refused to ransom the ship: according to Captain Johnson, he did so because he refused to deal with pirates. Roberts ordered the Porcupine burnt, but his men didn't release the slaves on board first. Johnson's vivid telling of the horrible story bears repeating:
Roberts sends the Boat to transport the Negroes, in order to set her on Fire; but being in haste, and finding that unshackling them cost much Time and Labour, they actually set her on Fire, with eighty of those poor Wretches on Board, chained two and two together, under the miserable Choice of perishing by Fire or Water: Those who jumped overboard from the Flames, were seized by Sharks, a voracious Fish, in Plenty in this Road, and, in their Sight, tore Limb from Limb alive. A Cruelty unparalell'd!
Capture of the Great Ranger
In February of 1722, Roberts was making repairs to his ship when he saw a large vessel approach. When the vessel saw them, it appeared to flee, so Roberts sent his consort vessel, the Great Ranger, to capture it. The other ship was actually none other than the Swallow, a large Man of War which had been looking for them and under the command of Captain Challoner Ogle. Once they were out of sight of Roberts, the Swallow turned and gave battle to the Great Ranger. After a two-hour battle, the Great Ranger was in tatters and her remaining crew surrendered. After some hasty repairs, Ogle sent the Great Ranger away with a prize crew and the pirates in chains and went back for Roberts.
The Final Battle of Black Bart Roberts
The Swallow returned on February 10 to find the Royal Fortune still at anchor. There were two other ships there: one was a tender to the Royal Fortune and the other was a trading vessel out of London called the Neptune: apparently the captain had some business with Roberts, perhaps an illegal trade in stolen goods. One of Robert's men, a pirate named Armstrong, had once served on the Swallow and was able to identify it. Some of the men wanted to flee, but Roberts decided to give battle. They sailed out to meet the Swallow as Roberts dressed for a fight. Here is Captain Johnson's description: "Roberts himself made a gallant Figure, at the Time of the Engagement, being dressed in a rich crimson Damask Waistcoat and Breeches, a red Feather in his Hat, a Gold Chain round his Neck, with a Diamond Cross hanging to it, a Sword in his Hand, and two Pair of Pistols hanging at the End of a Silk Sling."
Unfortunately for Roberts, his fancy clothes did not make him invulnerable, and he was killed in the first broadside as grapeshot fired from one of the Swallow's cannons tore out his throat. Obeying his standing order, his men threw his body overboard. Without Roberts, the pirates on board quickly lost heart and within an hour they surrendered. 152 pirates were arrested. As for the other ships, the Neptune had vanished, but not before looting the abandoned smaller pirate ship. Captain Ogle set sail for Cape Coast Castle.
Trial of Roberts' Pirates
At Cape Coast Castle, a trial was held for the captured pirates. Of the 152 pirates, 52 were Africans, and they were sold back into slavery. Of the others, 54 were hanged and 37 were sentenced to serve as indentured servants and sent to the West Indies. The rest were acquitted because they could prove that they had been forced to join the crew against their will.
Legacy of Bartholomew Roberts
"Black Bart" Roberts was the greatest pirate of his generation: it is estimated that he took some 400 ships during his three-year career. It is interesting that he is not as famous as some of his contemporaries such as Blackbeard, Stede Bonnet or Charles Vane, as he was a much better pirate than they were. His nickname, "Black Bart," seems to have come more from his dark hair and complexion than from the presence of any sort of cruelty in his nature, although it is certain that he could be as ruthless as any of his pirate contemporaries.
Roberts owed his success to many factors, including his personal charisma and leadership, his daring and ruthlessness and his ability to co-ordinate small fleets to maximum effect. Wherever he was, commerce came to a halt, as fear of him and his men made merchants stay in port.
Roberts is a favorite of true pirate buffs. He was mentioned in Treasure Island, that classic of pirate lit. In the movie "The Princess Bride," the name "Dread Pirate Roberts" is a reference to him. He often appears in pirate video games and has been the subject of several novels, histories and movies.
Sources:
Cordingly, David. Under the Black Flag New York: Random House Trade Paperbacks, 1996
Defoe, Daniel (Captain Charles Johnson). A General History of the Pyrates. Edited by Manuel Schonhorn. Mineola: Dover Publications, 1972/1999.
Konstam, Angus. The World Atlas of Pirates. Guilford: the Lyons Press, 2009
