Nancy first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR), in the volume for 1789.[1]
| Year | Master | Owner | Trade | Source & notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1789 | Illegible Trousdell | Mullowny | Bristol–Newfoundland | LR |
| 1791 | Trousdale E.Wilcox | Mullowny T.Vaughn | Bristol–Newfoundland Bristol–Africa | LR |
Thomas Vaughn and Edward Wilcox started trading between Bristol and Africa. Nancy left Bristol on 6 June 1791 with nine crew members. Between 30 July and 18 November six of the crew died. Nancy returned to Bristol in the first half of January 1792 with only three crew members. She stopped at Padstow on her way back to Bristol.
On 12 May 1792 Nancy, Wilcox, master sailed from Bristol to Africa. She returned to Bristol on 22 February. Lloyd's Lists ship arrival and departure data showed Nancy as returning to Bristol from The Gambia in February 1793.
Nancy, Wilcox, master, sailed for Africa on 2 June.
Capture: In July 1794, Lloyd's List reported that the French had captured three Bristol ships on their way to Africa and taken the ships to France. The three were, Wilson, master,, Mentor, master, and Nancy, Wilcox, master.[2] The date of Nancys capture was reportedly 10 June; her captor sent her into Brest.[3]