Between these two captures and recaptures, in 1802–1803, Hibberts served briefly as an armed merchant ship under the command of a Royal Navy officer.

[2] In September 1795 a French squadron captured Hibberts, Chisholm, master, as she was sailing from Jamaica to London, but HMS Santa Margarita recaptured her.

[5][6] Instead, in 1802, Hibberts served as an armed ship for the Royal Navy, with a naval officer in command.

[7] On 26 July, the "Hibberts armed ship", under the command of Lieutenant Donovan, left Plymouth Sound for Halifax, Nova Scotia.

[8][a] In 1804, the French privateer Restant captured Hibberts as she was returning from Honduras with a cargo of mahogany and took her into Havana.

[12] This incident gave rise to a case in the Vice admiralty court in Halifax, which restored her to her British owners.

[15] Lastly, when Hibberts reached London after having been recaptured, there was a case in which it was found that her crew had left her without having been discharged.