Riley P.

Trepassey, Newfoundland and Labrador

Avalon Regional Heritage Fair

The Real Treasure Island

This project speaks to the effect that pirates had on my hometown of Trepassey, NL and further relates to the the province of Newfound & Labrador, and Canada in general.

 

 

 

What was the most interesting thing you learned about your topic?

The most interesting thing I learned about my topic was that all of the things I have mentioned or written about in my project happened extremely close to home. As I have stated, the Buccaneer Bartholomew Roberts even attacked my home town of Trepassey. But what is possibly the most intriguing aspect of my research is that all of the evidence points to the wreck of Bartholomew Robert's sloop, <em>The Good Fortune</em>, beneath Trepassey Bay.

What important lessons have you learned that you want to share with other Canadians?

I have learned that as a Newfoundlander, I and my fellow Islanders have a profound heritage. Remnants of which are right on our doorstep. However, collectively, I have learned that we as Canadians also have a profound heritage to be prideful and proud of. No, our history does not include a bloody seven year long war for independence, nor a band of soldiers in a valiant last stand, but we do have our own heritage, our own stories, and our own culture that I'm sure our forefathers would have been very proud of.

How would you compare your life today to the lives of those studied in your project?

My life is radically different from those individuals whom I studied in my project. The residents of Trepassey at the time of Bartholomew Roberts' attack lived simple lives at best. They farmed and traded with ships coming in and out of the harbor, people today may regard Trepassey residents back then "dirt poor." However, life for pirates was even worse as they had to constantly be vigilant of law enforcement or it meant the gallows, as well as the fact that they were highly disease ridden and unsanitary.