Bartholomew Roberts or Black Bart was one of the most famous pirates of the first quarter of the 18th century. He was born in Pembrokeshire in about 1682, and in 1718, when he was second mate on The Princess, his ship was captured by the Welsh pirate, Howel Davis, and he was forced to serve under his captor. When Davis was killed, Roberts was elected captain. After a violent and successful career he was killed on 10th February 1722 in a battle against a Royal Navy ship, and his body, in all its pirate finery, was thrown overboard as he had previously requested.
The Library has recently purchased a contemporary account of Roberts's death. The periodical The Political State of Great Britain was published twice a year from 1711 to 1740 and included military as well as political news. In volume 23 for June 1722 there is a description of the battle between Black Bart's ship and The Swallow commanded by Captain Ogle, in which the famous pirate was killed. The report also includes one of the first descriptions of the Jolly Roger flag.
This rare periodical is an addition to the Library's holdings of early publications about Welsh pirates. In recent years we have also purchased the 1684 and 1704 editions of Bucaniers of America by Alexandre Exquemelin, which includes an account of the life of Henry Morgan (1635?-1688). These Welshmen have inspired works of fiction including Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island and the film series Pirates of the Caribbean.
Timothy Cutts,
Rare Books Librarian
Category: Article