Black Bart Roberts

One of the most famous pirates to sail into the Gulf of St Lawrence was Bartholomew Bart Roberts, also known as Black Bart. He was considered to be the most ruthless and successful pirate of the Golden Age.

He first sailed into Canadian waters in 1720, where he set about robbing some of the New England fishing fleets that were in Newfoundland waters. Next, he crossed the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and captured an English merchant ship and three French fishing vessels. It was said that he would arrive with drums beating, trumpets blaring, black flags flying and cannons firing. His arrival was often met with little resistance, for he claimed that causing fear was his greatest weapon. 

His reputation as a pirate who showed no mercy was often enough to cause those in his way to retreat. He was blamed for destroying wharves, burning warehouses after robbing them and sinking the ships that he had looted. 

He raided many of the small coastal fishing villages in the Gulf of St Lawrence including the Bay of Gaspe. He destroyed fisheries, and tortured captives. He stole ships and in a cash-starved economy, he was able to convince or force some of the local fishermen to join his crew. 
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He considered attacking the Fortress of Louisbourg but quickly recognized the vulnerability of such a move. Instead, he sailed into their waters, aware that targeting the bustling and profitable shipping lanes in Atlantic Canada would yield greater rewards. These shipping lanes were teeming with ships carrying valuable supplies from the Gaspe Coast.

To read more about him and other pirates who sailed through Gaspesian waters, follow this link... Pirates of the Gaspe Coast