George Roberts (mariner)
George Roberts; being a Series of uncommon Events which befell him in a Voyage to the Islands of the Canaries, Cape de Verde, and Barbadoes … written by himself’ (8vo, 1726).At Barbados, however, as the result of a difference of opinion with his captain, he fitted out a small sloop, in which he undertook a voyage to Guinea; but, being captured by pirates, who cleared the sloop out and detained his men, he was sent adrift, without sails, without provisions, and with no shipmates but a boy and a child.543) that the narrative is fictitious, and was written by Daniel Defoe, and this suggestion has been adopted in the British Museum ‘Catalogue.’ It seems unauthorised and unnecessary.The style is rather that of some humble and incompetent imitator of Defoe, whose story is very probably based on fact.No reason can be alleged for doubting the existence of Roberts or the substantial truth of the narrative.