Captured ship: Diamant or Diamond of Martinique (master Jean De Puy or Dupeaux)....

Captured ship: Diamant or Diamond of Martinique (master Jean De Puy or Dupeaux).

History: a French merchant ship (120 tons) bound from Martinique to Bordeaux, laden with sugar, cocoa; taken on 20/30 October 1696 in latitude 43°30'N by HMS Falkland (Robert Hancock commanding), who intended to take the ship into Bermuda, but bad weather forced them into New Providence, Bahamas. The case was sent into the High Court of Admiralty after complaints about the procedure initiated by Nicholas Trott, Governor of the Bahamas.

Documents:-

Ship's papers numbered SP 34-SP 60 from the larger bundle of SP 1-SP 272, all in folder HCA 32/1867/18; descriptions of the Diamant's ship's papers are continued from HCA 32/1867/18A and continue in HCA 32/1867/18C:

• SP 34: letter from Robert to his brother; he received his letters; he is saddened to his of the passing of his friend Chalaud; he is happy to have news of their family and relations; he has seven enslaved people and he hopes to acquire more by the next vessels as he thinks having enslaved people is a necessity in this country; the army officers and the local population do not get along and this causes disturbance; there was a hurricane that caused considerable damage; La Martinique 31 August 1696;
• SP 35: letter from la marquise d'Angenne; Mr. de Sorel threatened her, but the arrival of sugar barrels calmed him down; she requests a lieutenancy for a young man of her acquaintance; La Martinique 1 September 1696;
• SP 36: letter from [signature illegible]; business matters about sugar trade; the heavy rains of the past two months make it hard to have good sugar; there is a great need of enslaved people on the island and it would make good business if to send more to the island; diseases have killed many inhabitants and especially ship crews; La Martinique 2 September 1696;
• SP 37: invoice for sugar on board Le Diamant on account of Widow Cattier; La Martinique 1 September 1696;
• SP 38: invoice for cargo on board Le Diamant on account of Pierre Silva;
• SP 39: letter from Vieres to her uncle; she hopes he will return soon; she assures him that the family is doing well; La Rochelle 4 April 1696;
• SP 40: Muster roll; La Martinique, 5 September 1696;
• SP 41: letter from François Lebon; business matters; he sends a cargo of cotton he sends him; he hopes some war ships will come to protect the island; La Martinique 20 September 1696;
• SP 42: letter from Vallance Cattier to her brother; she is suffering after the death of her sister Vieres; her children are her only consolation; she asks for his help to recover a sugar payment; La Martinique, 1 September 1696;
• SP 43: letter to Silva le jeune; business matters; three ships were captured and suffered considerable loss of merchandise; he sends sugar on Le Diamant; La Martinique 20 July 1696;
• SP 44: letter from Vallance Cattier; her husband recently died; she is settling his affairs and asks for business accounts; La Martinique 1 September 1696;
• SP 45: letter from Regnaud; business matters; one partner refused to pay a bill of exchange; he asks for advice; he is waiting for payment from the intendant for provisions; La Martinique 2 September 1696;
• SP 46: letter from Begne; he sends sugar and a letter to give to [?] in Paris; La Martinique, 1 September 1696;
• SP 47: letter from A. Giraud to Benoist, merchants in Bordeaux; he sends sugar on Le Diamant on account of Le Compte; La Martinique 5 September 1696;
• SP 48: invoice for sugar on Le Diamant on account of Benoist; La Martinique 1 September 1696;
• SP 49: bill of exchange to Banchereau issued by Rodriguez & Silva; La Martinique 25 July 1696;
• SP 50: letter from Moyencours; business matters about sugar; she thinks there are losses in the shipments to Nantes; death is so familiar in this country that she is resolved to stay no more than two years; she asks him to be like a father to her son; La Martinique 20 August 1696;
• SP 51: letter from Gilles J. to Mondichel Alaisse, merchant in La Rochelle; business matters; he sends sugar and gives instructions as to where to address the cargo; La Martinique 30 ? 1696;
• SP 52: letter to Pene, officer in the King’s arsenal in Marseille; business matters; sugar loaded on his account on Le Diamant; received news of the safe arrival in France of ships on which he loaded goods; La Martinique, 25 July/ 30 August 1696;
• SP 53: invoice for goods loaded on board Le Diamant on account of Dacosta; La Martinique 30 August 1696;
• SP 54: letter from Marc-Antoine du Radoy to Benoist frères, merchants in Bordeaux; he sends sugar and asks for wine, shoes and cloth in return; he suffered considerable losses due to capture of ships; La Martinique 3 September 1696;
• SP 55: letter from Bernard to Minielle Bessan, merchant in Bordeaux; he sends sugar on Le Diamant with bills of lading on account of the late [Sansom Yaounet?]; he asks Bessan to inform the family so they can settle his affairs; La Martinique 1 September 1696;
• SP 56: letter from [Hakaent?] to Daniel Denide & Compagnie, bankers in Bordeaux; a house in Clermont that they might be interested in buying is for sale; he sends sugar and cocoa on Le Diamant; diseases kill many people on the island; La Martinique 1 September 1696;
• SP 57: letter from [signature illegible]; business matters about sugar cargo; request for debtors to pay otherwise it will not be possible to send more sugar; people are ready to pay good prices for enslaved people and it would be good for affairs to send some; diseases kill many people on the island; La Martinique 2 September 1696;
• SP 58: receipt for payment from De Cote, merchant in Bordeaux, to Birot; La Martinique 30 August 1696;
• SP 59: letter from B. Perroy to Perroy, his uncle in Noaillan; he assures his uncle that he understand his reproaches and is very grateful to be involved in the business; he sends a cargo of sugar; 30 August 1696;
• SP 60: letter [no signature or addressee]; hopes to receive news by the next ship; business matters; taxes are really high and make business difficult; family news; 12 April 1696.