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 151-SP 180 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 32/1867/18E and continue in HCA 32/1867/18G:

• SP 151: letter from B. Maurelles to Silva le jeune; the imprudent conduct of Captain Dupeux almost caused the loss of a ship and merchandise; Maurelles does not think Dupeux fit to command a ship; he worries that the ship l'Entreprenant will arrive while two English men of war are still off the coast; Martinique 14 September 1696;
• SP 152: letter from Dubois to Miss De Payen in Bordeaux; he sends sugar on the ship Notre Dame de Bonne Garde; Martinique 15 September 1696;
• SP 153: letter from Heyssones to Silva le Jeune, merchant in Bordeaux; business matters; he sent him cocoa on l'Enflammé; Martinique 25 July/ 30 August 1696;
• SP 154: letter from Chabert to Benoist frères, merchants in Bordeaux; business matters; sends cocoa and sugar on Le Diamant; he includes a list of goods to send in return; Martinique 1 September 1696;
• SP 155: letter from Valleron to Rainé [cousins]; business matters; he sends sugar, cocoa and asks for guns and cloth in return; Martinique 1 September 1696;
• SP 156: letter from Widow Duchesne to Aquart, banker in Bordeaux; she sends sugar; Martinique 1 September 1696;
• SP 157: letter from David to Castaing frères, merchants in Bordeaux [cousins]; he sends suger on La fleur de may (Captain Le Fabre); he asks for wine, eau-de-vie and flour in return; he congratulates them for the ship La Therese who took a prize of 100,000 ecus; 31 August 1696;
• SP 158: invoice of goods loaded on Le Diamant on account of the heirs of the late Jacques; Martinique 3 September 1696;
• SP 159: letter from Lairet to Benoist frères; business matters; sends sugar and cocoa on Le Diamant; asks to sell it to the best price; includes a list of goods to send in return; Martinique 5 September 1696;
• SP 160: letter from Kerliac; he sends sugar and cacao on La Flore (Captain Robin); English ships off the coast belated the departure of Captain Dupeux's ship; Martinique 20 September 1696;
• SP 161: letter from Dussaut to Paul Depon fils, merchant in La Rochelle; he sends sugar on Les deux Mariannes (Captain Dubois); Captain Dubois bought a ship (an English prize) named Le Fleurissant; Dussaut asks Depon to insure sugar cargo on this ship which is absolutely necessary considering the high risks of being captured by English privateers; Martinique 1/18 August 1696;
• SP 162: invoice for sugar loaded on Le Diamant account of Joulin in La Rochelle;
• SP 163: letter from Ferry to Cornier, merchant in Bordeaux; business matters; he sent sugar on the ship La Vierge and sends more on Le Diamant; Martinique 1 September 1696;
• SP 164: list of merchandise to send from Marseille and Lyon;
• SP 165: letter from Gracia to Dacosta, merchant in Bordeaux; business matters; he sends cocoa on Le Diamant; Martinique 30 September 1696; [in Spanish];
• SP 166: letter from E. Huet to Flaugergues, merchant in Bordeaux; business matters about sugar; news of family and relations; Martinique 4 September 1696;
• SP 167: list of merchandise to send to François Leroy;
• SP 168: invoice for sugar loaded on Le Diamant on account of Mathieu Clarmons; Martinique 27 July 1696;
• SP 169: letter from Kerauden to Sage, merchant in Bordeaux; he sends sugar on Le Diamant; Martinique 2 September 1696;
• SP 170: letter from Cafté to Silva; business matters; he sent sugar on L'Enflammé and cocoa on Le Diamant; he is sorry he cannot send more, but it is difficult to get paid; he might come back to France due to constant indisposition; Cafté received wine and ropes from Silva and asks to only send wine by the next ship as two Danish ships brough a large quantity of ropes; news of the death of Cattier; Martinique 30 July/ 1 September 1696;
• SP 171: Bill of lading;
• SP 172: invoice for sugar loaded on Le Diamant on account of Prunes; Martinique 20 July 1696;
• SP 173: invoice for sugar loaded on Le Diamant on account of Valleron & Ramée; Martinique 1 September 1696;
• SP 174: letter from Lacoste to Dumas jeune, merchant in Bordeaux; business matters; he sent sugar on L'Enflammé and asks if he could send him a 'wig ‘a lespagniolle'’; Martinique 31 August 1696;
• SP 175: invoice for sugar loaded on Le Diamant on account of Moyencours; Martinique 18 August 1696;
• SP 176: letter from P. Lancelot to Benoist et frère, merchants in Bordeaux; business matters; he sends cocoa and roucou; Martinique 1 September 1696;
• SP 177: invoice for sugar loaded on Le Diamant on account of Samuel Bernon;
• SP 178: letter from Heuilly to Chaumons; business matters; he sends sugar; he had to fire a worker at his refinery; he thinks enslaved people are much better workers than people sent from France; Martinique 20/28 July / 20 August 1696;
• SP 179: letter from Carrier to Maye, merchant in Bordeaux; business matters; he asks to sell his cargo as advantageously as possible; Martinique 3 September 1696;
• SP 180: letter from Oracia to Rodrigues & Silva bankers in Bordeaux; business matters; he drew a bill of exchange to pay for a cargo of cocoa; Martinique 25 July 1696.