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Born
Born John Bartholomew Roberts in Wales in 1682 -
Roberts joins merchant service
At age 13, Roberts joined a merchant service at sea until 1719. The month and day are unknown. Sometime during this period, he decides to change his name to Bartholomew for unknown reasons. -
Served as mate
During 1718, Bartholomew Roberts served as a mate for a slooping trade ship around Barbados. -
signs as third mate of London owned slaver ship
Sometime this year, Bartholomew was promoted to third mate of an English slave ship named the Princess. -
Bartholomew Roberts turns to Piracy
John Bartholomew Roberts turns to piracy at age 37, nothing is known of the day or month. -
the Princess is taken over
Later that year, Howell Davis captured the Princess with his two ships the Royal Rover and Royal James. Davis quickly noticed that his fellow Welshman was a great navigator, and often conversed with him in Welsh. However, the Royal James had to be abandoned due to wear and tear. -
Bartholomew is elected Captain
After Davis is killed on the island of Princes, the crew flees and is forced to elect a new Captain. Even though he had only been onboard for 6 weeks, the crew noticed he was a great navigator and the crew returned to the island of Princes under the cover of night and looted the island and killed the majority of the male population. -
Bartholomew Roberts changes his Jolly Roger
On Februrary 12, 1720, Bartholomew is attacked by two other ships and is forced to flee, and 20 of his crewmembers died on the way to repair their ship died of their wounds. This caused him to change his flag to a picture of him standing on two skulls. That of a Barbadian and a Martiniquian's. -
Creates the Articles of his ship
Bartholomew Roberts creates the law of his ship. In order to keep order, he made this very strict, with some punishments including death. Month and day are unknown. -
Dies
Roberts dies and is thereon known as Black Bart.
