Pirates Captain Roberto Ball Last update 2nd April 2004

Ball, Roberto (aka Robert Ball, Roverbal actual name Jean Francois de la Roque, Seigner of Roverbal - French corsair who had seen prior service in Canada. Appeared in the West Indies in mid 1543 with his own fleet.

Ships Sailed

• Not known

Ships captured

• Not known

  Crewmen

• None named

  Died by

• Not Known

  History

He appeared in the West Indies in mid 1543 in command of a flotilla. He sacked Baracoa, and heading south his fleet was scattered by a violent storm. One ship reached Havana, and extracted a tribute of money and food. He sailed on to Rancherias which he stormed, and on the 16th July 1543 he captured Santa Marta without a fight. The takings were 35,000 pesos of goods plus 2500 pesos from the Royal stores plus 2000 pesos in tribute.

In 1544 he sailed on to Cartagena, which he captured with with only one sailor wounded. He took a ship off Santiago, and led a failed attempt to take Havana.