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Biography of Black Roger
Author unknown
Updated 7-26-07
Claiming to have born "Artimus Glasscock", he found himself working on a sugar plantation in the Bahamas as a child. He doesn't know who his parents are, nor does he remember the date of his birth. He remembers being on a ship as a very young child before his years on the plantation, and he's sure he's from somewhere in the British Isles .
He learned the many varied customs of the slaves and plantation owners, all being of mixed nations, and he also quickly learned the importance of politics. He would soon use this cunning ability to his advantage, gaining favor with the plantation owners and field slaves alike. One day on an earned trip into port, he managed to escape from the group. He managed to work his way onto a ship bound for a nearby port. As fate would have it, the ship was attacked by pirates. Artimus was taken prisoner, where he would then quickly put his skills to work on board ship.
Finding that he was drawn to the allure of life on the seas, and having won favor with the crew and captain, he was quickly taken under the wing of the captain, Calico Jack Rackham. The name Roger was a nickname given to him by the Calico. When given instruction on board ship, Artimus would always respond with "Roger, Captain" instead of the traditional "Aye, Captain". Calico one day would say "Arty brings a queer tint to your fellow, you shall be known as Roger". Anne Bonny, Calico's lover at the time, added "Black" to his name, which comes from her observation of his prowess and seemingly unforgiving nature of his political dealings, a trait she initially admired.
One fateful event in Black Roger's life was when the ship had captured a Dutch merchant vessel sailing into the West Indies . When the crew was offered a chance to sign the pirate articles many of them decided to cast their lot with Calico Jack, and Black Roger soon discovered that one of the crew was a woman in disguise; the now infamous Mary Read. Finding a lover in Black Roger, she even took his place in a duel when he was challenged by a fellow pirate. Read would circle her massive opponent inflicting severe wounds, until, with a final thrust of her sword, he would fall. No one is quite sure why she took his place. Though Black Roger is not known for extreme bravery favoring behind the scene tactics for his gains.
Bonny and Read would become fast friends, and it was Bonn in fact that was responsible for Black Roger's venture on his own. Having a violent temper and a keen eye, she viewed Black Roger as a threat, getting it into her head that he was pining for the place of First Mate. Some say she was even jealous of Read's intimacy with him. Being the true force behind Calico Jack's reputation, Bonny managed to arrange for Black Roger to get his own ship by setting him afloat in a small sloop during a high seas raid.
With few provisions and no navigational aides, he found himself helpless to the trade winds. Fortunately, it wasn't long before he found himself on shore and in port. As time passed he would find himself on a few different ships as a crewman, and would visit many ports, including but not limited to Amalie, Barbados, Barcelona, Beaver Creek, Bermuda, Boston, Buffalo, Charleston, Charlotte, Cleveland, Crystal Beach, East Harbor, Erie & Presque Isle, Gibraltar, Havana, Luna Pier, Nassau, New Orleans, Newport, North Maumee Bay, Pelee Island, Port Bruce, Port Dover, Port Glasgow, Port Royal, Port Wheatley, Portobello, Portsmouth, Put-in-Bay, San Juan, Sandusky, Savannah, St. Augustine, Toledo Harbor, Tortuga, and Windsor.
The story of Black Roger Cash, as he is known this day, is not yet ended. Now the Pirate Lord of Lake Erie as one of the Great Lakes Pirates, and Captain of the “Marie Griffon”, he can still be found mingling with the crews of such ships as the Scarlet Harlot and the Sea Queen. Keep a weather eye for him at different ports of call, and he still flies the flag of his mentor Calico Jack Rackham when chance offers. You also may be able to identify him by his tattoo of a hook and two doubloons. Perhaps you can become a part of his tale!
