jolly roger and the pirates

Factual Questions
1

There is a revisionist history of Captain Kidd newly out suggesting that he was harshly treated. By the by the book mentions that pirates sailed under false colors, not the jolly roger.

When did, then, the JR become our standardised symbol for piracy?

And when did the skull and crossbone symbol become the icon for poison, danger etc?

Is it a chicken and egg thing ( to mix a metaphor or two )?

2

Lots of sites on this topic.

Here’s one: Pirate Flags

3

thanx.

nice site.

4

I like this one too
http://www.westcoastmutineers.com/flags.htm

5

Cecil’s column says it began to appear around 1700.