Major Pierson was launched in American in 1774 under another name and first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR) in the supplemental pages for 1781.

Lloyd's List (LL) reported on 18 December 1781 that Major Pearson, Withall, master, while on a voyage from London to New York, had parted from her convoy in the Western Isles in a gale.

[2] Major Pierson was offered for public sale on 25 October 1781 at Little Egg Harbor with her sails and rigging, and her cargo of flour, barley, and hops.

[5] Major Pearson became the Pennsylvania letter of marque Admiral Zoutman, commissioned on 14 January 1782 under the command of Captain William McFadden.

[8] When Admiral Zoutman arrived at New York, the British transferred her crew to the prison hulk Jersey.