Barrett, the Antelope and other elements of the song are fictional, but “Barrett’s Privateers” is full of authentic details of privateering during the American Revolution, which in Nova Scotia was dominated by privateer warfare.
At the outbreak of the American Revolution, many Nova Scotians were New England-born and were sympathetic to the American Patriots. This support slowly eroded over the first two years of the war as American privateers attacked Nova Scotian villages and shipping to try to interrupt Nova Scotian trade with the American Loyalists still in New England. During the war, American privateers captured 225 vessels either leaving or arriving at Nova Scotia ports.
Yes!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrett's_Privateers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia_in_the_American_Revolution