 When Sparrow's first mate, Hector Barbossa, led a mutiny against Sparrow, Bootstrap was the only one who did not participate.When the crew was later cursed by stealing Aztec gold, Bootstrap atoned for his failure to defend Sparrow by sending his coin to his young son William, so that he and the crew would not be able to find it and thus remain cursed forever.This act enraged Barbossa, and he punished Bootstrap by tying his bootstraps to a cannon and throwing him overboard.