Ask a pirate.

[JollyJack87]

Go ahead lads n' lasses ask whatever be on ye mind and o'l Capin shark will answer.  

[JollyJack87]

Sam Bellamy was a pirate who atfirst sailed under Benjamin Hornigold along Side Edward Teach who would later be known as Blackbeard. Bellamy mutinied against and overthrew Hornigold and all except a few of the crew followed him. In his one year as captain Bellamy sailed up the American coast capturing over 50 ships. Among his crew was 10 year old John King who threatened his mother with Suicide if she did not allow him to join the pirate's ranks. Bellamy eventualy captured and kept for his own the Whydah galley, One of the biggest and most powerful pirate ships in history. Bellamy's life ended when he was caught in a hurricane off the north east of the English American colonies and the Whydah Galley was destroyed. The few survivors were promptly captured and executed.  

[JollyJack87]

Barbarossa is far more accurate of a character. Jack Sparrow has a few traits to him that may have been based on real life pirates. Specifically certain elements of his back story matching that of individuals like Charles Vane. However his Personality wise however he is a poor representation of what pirates are however, mostly for the fact that he is to kind and avoids doing harm unto others. Especially since what he seemed interested in was treasure hunting rather than pillaging and plundering. His attire is accurate though over the top and his love of rum is true to the pirate spirit.

pirate  

[JollyJack87]

@ Zetao
As far as nice pirates your best bet would be to look at Blackbeard. Though history's most infamous pirate and a terrifying individual there is no record of him killing any of his prisoners once they surrendered. Most who encountered him came out of the experience alive and relatively unharmed. Samuel Bellamy may also fall under this category (see the answer to Mavericks question for more on him). However very few would walk away from the life of a pirate without at least some blood on their hands.

As far as Children pirates go and cabin boys the cabin boy would receive half a share from the total plunder. Though i can not attest for pirate vessels often times on naval or merchant vessels cabin boys were greatly abused by their captains, which may have given them reason to turn pirate if the opportunity presented itself. One account i have read speaks of a merchant captain, who so severely abused his cabin boy that the child died.

I can give no firsthand knowledge of Pirates who were Little people. however it is a likely possibility considering pirates came from every race, creed, gender and walk of life.

@Mavrick
If by Robin Hood you mean steal to the rich and give to the poor then no, unless of course by the poor you consider the pirates themselves.
However one individual who may relate to such a analogy would be "Black" Samuel Bellamy. Bellamy and his crew did consider themselves the Robin Hood and Merry Men of the see. Treating prisoners with a level of humanity often more so than they received from their own captains.
Bellamy is quoted as once declaring "They rob the poor under the cover of law...and we plunder the rich under the cover of our own courage." in reference to the government of England.  

[JollyJack87]

There were obviously though, those who sat at the other end of the spectrum. Men like Francois L'Ollonais, Edward Low and Charles Vane who have been historically documented as being especially cruel.  

[JollyJack87]

Edward Low murdered his own father and is credited with cutting a man's lips off and cooking them in front of him.

Francois L'Ollonais Is regarded by history to be cruel and cold. He coldly watched in one account as his men murdered every member of a ships crew one by one. He is noted for his use of torture and murder.

Charles Vane tortured captives by sticking the ends of matchsticks under the eyelids of his captives and lighting them as he interrogated them letting the matches burn down till either he was told what he wanted to know or they were blinded by the fire.

Charles Gibbs we know much about through his own account and his account alone for he left no survivors, ever.

Captain Fly led a brutal mutiny that resulted in the murders of all ship officers and when the captain asked for a couple hours to prey for his immortal soul Fly granted him only a few short words before throwing him overboard.