The following is a brief summery of events, recorded in the British Military's Navel archives, London, England. This account documents the escape from the British Navy, of Caption William Kidd, his crew and his vessel "Adventure Galley", off the coast off Nova Scotia. After giving this account, Caption William Kidd and his crew were hanged for piracy, at Tilbury Fort, England May 23, 1701.

It was in the year 1698. The British Navy had been ordered, by the King of England, to apprehend, dead or alive, the notorious Captain William Kidd and to hang him for piracy. After five grueling days and nights attempting to elude four heavily armed British Man-Of-War Navel Ships, Captain Kidd had the good fortune of finding a secluded but treacherous refuge from his pursuers.

By this account, Captain Kidd started out, some years previously, operating as a "Privateer" for the crown, under a Military Commission bestowed on him by King William of England. Due to political circumstance of the day, Captain Kidd fell out of favor with the British Crown and was branded a "Pirate" who must be hanged. Kidd's escape from his pursuers meant the difference between life and death for he and his crew. Off the South Shore of Nova Scotia, in a heavy fog bank, with the British Navy hot on his heels, Kidd skillfully navigated his vessel, "Adventure Galley" inside, what is now know as Betty's Island and nervously anchored behind a low lying island, then called O'Hern Island (known today as Hern Island).

Desperate for better cover but not knowing the water’s depth or location of dangerous shoals in the uncharted waters, Kidd dispatched two trusted men. They launched a small boat to seek out a safe refuge where he could hide his huge vessel from his pursuers should they follow him into this dangerous inlet. Captain Kidd and his crew could not believe their good fortune when they discovered the entrance to the unique cove, we now know as "Rogues Roost".

At the risk of total destruction, Kidd launched a long boat with twelve oarsmen. This long boat towed his vessel through the narrow and hazardous entrance to the cove. It was of strategic importance to have a hiding place where their masts could not be seen by passing ships. To their amazement, the high ground surrounding this tiny refuge did exactly that.

Having navigated the rocks and shoals at the narrow entrance to the cove, Kidd stayed safely inside his hide for three days. All the time he watched his British pursuers off shore, from his perch atop a huge bolder on the very crest of the surrounding high ground. Kidd and his crew languished in the security and calm of their hiding place until they could see no sign of the British ships on the horizon.

By this account, Captain William Kidd was so impressed with this very special hide he placed a coded note on his navigational chart indicating the specifics of safe entry and the advantage of its surrounding topography.

After Captain Kidd's hanging the cove was frequented by pirates and privateers alike. Over time it was given the name "Rogues Hide" by fishermen who frequented the South Shores of Nova Scotia. Since that time, the name has been changed several times. Finally, as piracy was romanticized, the name "Rogues Roost" was born and has remained to this very day.

Caption Kidd's exploits in this region (New Scotland, now Nova Scotia / Isle Royal, now Cape Breton / New England, now Maine) are well documented, indeed. Despite this documentation, Kidd's many "treasure cashes" remain unaccounted for. In the end, Kidd never revealed the coded locations of these local treasure sites. Some speculate " Rogues Roost " is the repository of Kidd's bountiful pirate treasure, however, that remains little more than maritime lore; perhaps a mystery to be solved by future generations.