The European nations started exploring around the world after Constantinople fell to the Turks in 1453. They roamed the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans in search of new lands. Around the 17th century, land exploration activities took place on a wide scale, but the explorers had to face unpleasant experiences in some ocean regions due to pirates.
The much-talked-about pirates of that era included Edward Teake, Henry Morgan, Bartholomew Roberts, and Henry Avery. Pirate activity was most prevalent in the Atlantic Ocean, and Bartholomew Roberts, also known as Black Bart, was one of the most feared pirates in the Atlantic Ocean.
On May 17, 1682, a child named John Roberts was born in Haverfordwest, Wales. Several of his father George Roberts’ friends were sailors. John fell into the company of these sailor friends of his father as he grew up. They told John about the adventures they faced during the voyages. Little John was wonderfully inspired by hearing such stories.
As a youth, John began to search for information on different types of ships, sea routes and famous explorers. He, who had wanted to be a sailor since childhood, did not get the chance to make his dream a success until he was a young man. He was willing to work on a ship, so he did not set his mind on any other career. Therefore, during the time he spent waiting for a job on a ship, he engaged in odd jobs to make ends meet.
One day, when John went on an errand, he met an old friend of his father. Getting into a discussion with the guest, he explained what his future ambition was. John’s father’s friend then gave him good news that a brave young officer was needed for the support of the captain of a ship that was supposed to travel to Ghana.
The two of them left to meet the captain of the ship. The captain considered John’s father’s friend’s request and hired John to work on the ship. Around 1719, John joined the service of the ship bound for Ghana. Abraham Plumb was the captain of that ship. Before the journey, the captain addressed his crew and told them that they should be careful because there are fierce pirates on the ship’s route.
Prisoners
Even though the crew of the ship that went to Ghana sailed very carefully, they could not escape from the pirates. The ship was captured by the pirate Howell Davis, and the ship’s crew became their prisoners. Howell Davis, who checked the prisoners, realised that John was a brave young man and recruited him into his pirate gang.
The pirates found that John, who joined Howell Davis’ gang, was a very brave and skilled fighter. He became popular among the other members. He engaged in robbery for about six weeks, and collected a lot of wealth. He was also able to win the heart of his leader.
It is said that after John joined Howell’s gang, the strength of the gang increased. Even the rest of the pirates were amazed at his bravery. At a time when John’s popularity was rising, Davis was killed in an ambush. A vote was held to choose a new leader. John, who was considered to be the most daring member, was elected by the majority of votes. John, who changed his name to Bartholomew Roberts, led Davis’ gang from then on.
As soon as he became the leader of the gang, he decided to avenge the death of his former leader, Davis. Therefore, the gang sailed to the island where Davis was killed. The pirates stormed the island and killed most of the men there. John and his group who looted the valuables on the island turned back and left the island completely destroyed. The pirates, who avenged the killing of their leader, decided to go to Brazil next after a poll.
As planned on that day, John and his group went to the sea near Brazil and waited for a merchant ship to pass through that area, but they did not find any ships for several weeks. However, this group, hoping to rob a merchant ship, spotted two Portuguese ships anchored in All Saints Bay, off northern Brazil. It was filled with the treasure that was prepared to be taken to the King of Portugal. Seeing the wealth of treasures, John and others made a plan and acquired a large amount of valuables from the ships.
After that robbery, John and others became very rich. They gathered new weapons and personnel and increased the power of the gang.
They were able to fight against any army of that time. As a result of this power, in the first five months of 1720, Roberts and his colleagues looted a large number of ships. In June, the gang sailed for Newfoundland. Seeing 22 ships parked in a port, Roberts and his group prepared to rob them. At that time, the port workers saw Roberts’ ship, the Royal Fortune, and fled immediately.
With this permission, the gang of robbers who stormed the port took possession of a great treasure and a large number of ships were destroyed. Because of these incidents, John became famous as a very dangerous pirate, and was nicknamed “Black Bart”.
In the early days, John was friendly with the members of his gang, but later, when he became a famous robber and inherited a great fortune, he gradually changed, and ruled the gang in a dictatorial manner. Once a member of the gang who could not stand his arbitrary rule raised his voice against John. After an argument between the two, the gang member was shot dead by John.
After this unfortunate incident, most of the gang members were disappointed. A considerable number deserted John. Among those who deserted Roberts was Thomas Anstis, a captain of one of his ships. As the power of the bandit waned, they realised that being in the Caribbean was risky. Therefore, in April 1721, John and his group sailed to Africa. They reached the coast of Senegal in West Africa in about two months.
They then went to Africa and engaged in looting for about six months. At that time, John’s gang had destroyed about 400 ships in about two years. Due to his activities, it was difficult for merchant ships to travel near the coast of West Africa. At that time, many ships that sailed from Europe to the East were travelling on that route, so the gang had also hindered trade activities.
Therefore, many parties were trying to destroy this gang. On February 5, 1722, John and his group were roaming the sea near Gabon, waiting for merchant ships. At that time, a large warship arrived there. Observing the robbers from a distance, the Captain of the shop adopted a strategy to trap them. That is to pretend to flee back in fear.
John thought that a large merchant ship had seen them and fled in fear. Therefore, he decided to chase the ship and sent two of his own ships for that purpose. He was having a party on a ship near Cape Lopez in Gabon with the rest of the group.
While Roberts was enjoying himself, the warship was returning to Gabon. It had successfully evaded the two ships of John that were chasing them.
On February 10, 1722, the warship returned to Gabon. At that moment, not more than half of John’s gang was there. The warship began attacking the pirates. Since the group’s power was weak, John and his group were killed in the attacks.
