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 94-SP 120 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 32/1867/18C and continue in HCA 32/1867/18E:

• SP 94: letter from Cafté to Miramon, merchant in Bordeaux; business matters; problems with a barrel of cocoa that arrived not full; he would prefer to negotiate with him in person when he is next in France; he informs him of the death of Cattier; La Martinique 1 September 1696;
• SP 95: letter from Bragelongne; he has safely arrived; his brother-in-law sent sugar in France for them to sell; he includes letters to forward to different addressees; La Guadeloupe 24 August 1696;
• SP 96: declaration from Alexandre Lheureux regarding the settlement of a sugar cargo; La Martinique 25 August 1696;
• SP 97: note about an order for tapestry and cow bells given by Major de Cayenne; undated and unsigned;
• SP 98: letter from Duclos to Benois frères, merchants in Bordeaux; business matters; he received the goods they sent by the ship L'Inconnu, but some of it was in bad condition; he asks them to take more precautions in the future; he sends them sugar with invoices and bills of lading; La Martinique 28 July / 1 September 1696;
• SP 99: bill of exchange issued by Rodriguez & Silva to Banbereau; La Martinique 20 September 1696;
• SP 100: letter to Barreyre, merchant in Bordeaux; he sends sugar and indigo on Le Diamant with invoices; La Martinique 1 September 1696;
• SP 101: letter from Dubois to Mrs Payen; business matters; he hopes she received the sugar he sent her; he sends small cargos to minimise risks at sea; he will arrange for the payment for the accommodations of enslaved people on the sugar refinery; La Martinique 26 July / 7 September 1696;
• SP 102: letter to Jacques Godefroy from Valleton & Ramée; business matters; they received the eau-de-vie and will send indigo in return; gives instructions for the next shipment; La Martinique 1 September 1696;
• SP 103: letter from De Furmille; he thanks him for his protection and asks if he could put a word for him to Pontchartrain and Phelipeaux to get him a position in a company; La Martinique 15 September 1696;
• SP 104: letter from C. de St Onen de Valmainiere to Benoist frères; business matters about sugar trade; La Martinique 5 September 1696;
• SP 105: letter from Valleron & Ramée to Comin; business matters about sugar trade; they ask for the prices of goods in France; La Martinique 1 September 1696;
• SP 106: letter from Bernard to Aquart, merchant in Bordeaux; business matters; he and Blanchereau are sending a cargo and asks for white cloth in return; La Martinique, 1 September 1696;
• SP 107: letter from Mrs Moyencour [cousins] to Doras le fils; saddened to learn of the death of her aunt; she is convinced that he is doing his best to console her uncle; she asks for family news; undated;
• SP 108: certificate of good conduct issued by François Roger Robert, King’s counsellor and intendant of the French Isles in America, to the name of Sieur de la Garrigue Savigny, infantry lieutenant in the Compagnies de la marine; La Martinique 1 September 1696;
• SP 109; letter from [Chemirre?]; business matters; La Martinique 30 August 1696;
• SP 110: letter from Avert to Lonelle; the ship St Louis safely arrived, but the cargo was not as good quality as expected; Avert works as hard as he can to remit the money due to him; La Martinique 2 September 1696;
• SP 111: bill of exchange to Pierre Silva, merchant in Bordeaux; La Martinique 16 July 1696;
• SP 112: letter from B. Maurellet; wrote to him several times, but ships were at risk of being taken by an English man of war and had to stay in the harbour; All French ships are now at risk; Capt. Martin was captured by the English with his commis, but they were released; the commis was sick and died five days later; diseases ravage ship crew at the moment; business matters about sugar cargo; he will write a memoirs of the cargo as it will likely be his last expedition before he retires; La Martinique 14 September 1696;
• SP 113: letter to Julien, merchant in Nantes, from his son; English ships capture so many French ships that it is very risky to send cargo; he will send only two barrels of sugar to his sister; he advises his sister, if she wishes to send merchandise, to insure them; he asks for men and women shoes; 12 September 1696;
• SP 114: letter from C. de St Onen de Valmainiere to Heron; he sent him letters on 9 August through Nantes; his son is going on a 8-19 month journey; he asks for a copy of his son’s portrait or the original if possible; he asks sugar cargo safely arrived; La Martinique 5 September 1696;
• SP 115: account for the money owed to Marie Jeanne Renaudin, widow de Moyencourt, by Mr Apoil; La Martinique 20 August 1696;
• SP 116: letter from Bernard to Jean Yuounet; he sends sugar on Le Diamant; he asks for an account of the business he did with him and his late cousin; La Martinique 1 September 1696;
• SP 117: letter from B. Maurellet to Silva le jeune; he thanks Silva for the wine, Spanish ham and chocolate; he sends sugar on Le Diamant; his friend Cattier from a liver ulcer; La Martinique 2 September 1696;
• SP 118: Extract from the registry of Admiralty of Martinique; 21 October 1695; in front of Nicholas Michel, sieur de Clermons, king's counsellor, appeared Sieur Jean Blaise Busques, captain of the ship Le Pont d'or from La Rochelle, regarding an accident which happened to his ship while careening; signed by other ship captains who confirmed that Busques’ report was true;
• SP 119: letter from Lafontayne Toraine to Benoist frères; he sends sugar on Le Diamant; list of articles he asks Benoist to send in return; La Martinique 16 July / 1 September 1696;
• SP 120: certificate of good conduct issued by Guitaud, lieutenant in general government of French Isles in America, to the name of Sieur Sauvigny, infantry lieutenant in Compagnies de la marine, addressed to Monseigneur De lamariniere; La Martinique, 4 September 1696.