She initially traded between Liverpool and Dublin, and then between 1801 and 1804 disappeared from Lloyd's Register.

Captain Matthew Fiott acquired a letter of marque on 29 June 1805.

[4] In June Lloyd's List reported that the privateer Ponsonby had detained and sent into Liverpool Young Josias, Jurgens, master.

[5] After this relatively brief foray into privateering, Ponsonby'trade changed to that of transporting enslaved people.

Captain John Brown sailed from Liverpool on 7 November 1805, bound for Africa.

[1] Lloyd's List reported in April 1806 that a French squadron consisting of an 84-gun ship-of-the-line and three frigates had captured Lord Nelson, Trio, and the sloop-of-war HMS Favourite off the coast of Africa.