Bartholomew Roberts (Black Bart) by Chris Collingwood. [Postcard]

P1367. Bartholomew Roberts (Black Bart) by Chris Collingwood.

Bartholomew Roberts was born in Wales in the village of Little Newcastle which lies between Fishguard and Haverfordwest in Pembroekshire in 1682. His name was originally John Roberts, but he took up the name of Bartholomew Roberts which he may have taken after hearing of a well known pirate Bartholomew Sharp. It is believed in 1695 at the age of 13 Bartholomew Roberts went to sea but was not heard of until 1718 when he was a mate on a Barbados Sloop. In the following year he served on a slave ship the Princess of London as the third mate serving under Captain Abraham Plumb. In June 1718 the Princess of London was captured by two pirate shipe, the Royal Rover and the Royal James as she lay at anchor at Anomabu on the Gold Coast. The pirates were led by a Welshman named Captain Howell Davis. It seems that Davis liked Roberts who along with many of the crew of the Princess of London joined the pirates. Roberts soon showed his worth as a good navigator, and would often talk to Davis in welsh so that the other pirates would not understand their conversation. Bartholomew Roberts pirate career latest between 1719 and 1722 and he was the most successful pirate of this period, capturing over 470 ships, far more ships than some of the best-known pirates of this era such as Blackbeard and Captain Kidd. Although never used during his life time he is now often refered to as Black Bart. Captain Roberts was killed on the 10th of February 1722 , at Cape Lopez while trying to avoid and escape the British warship HMS Swallow. He was killed by grapeshot fired form the Swallow - while standing on the deck was hit in the throat. His wish was to be buried at sea and his crew quickly wrapped his body in sail and weighted it down, so that it would not be captured by the British. His body was never found.

Postcard

Postcard size 6 inches x 4 inches (15cm x 10cm)