African Queen first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1797 with R. Buckle, master, T. King, owner, and trade Bristol–Africa.

[9][b] African Queen had been on a direct voyage (for wood, ivory, and palm oil for Britain), not gathering captives for the West Indies.

[5] Voyage transporting enslaved people (1798): Rather than returning to Bristol, African Queen commenced acquiring captives at Cape Coast Castle.

[11] On 9 March she sailed from Cork, bound for Barbados, as part of a large convoy for the West Indies under escort by HMS Volage.

[4] However, Lloyd's List reported on 8 December 1801 that African Queen, Cook, master, was on shore in the Bristol Channel and full of water.

[19] African Queen was valued at £6,500 in 1802,[20] and was listed in Lloyd's Register until 1804 with B. Cook, master, Anderson, owner, and trade Bristol–Barbados.