[1] The British Admiralty had given notice in April 1777, that they were ready to issue letters of marque for privateers against the Americans.

[a] On her first cruise, Tartar captured the American-built French brigantine Babet, which was sailing from Bordeaux to Martinique.

Tartar was in company with another Bristol privateer, Albion, when they captured the snow Santa Maria.

[6][7] Next, Tartar captured St Antonio E. Almas, which was carrying tobacco from Ostend to Lisbon.

[6] The capture of St Antony Palmas, Sebastio Alfonso, master, took place on 24 September.

Tartar sailed from Jamaica on 18 July, and arrived back at Bristol on 20 September 1781 with 26 crew members.

[12] Lloyd's List reported in August 1782 that a French vessel of 40 guns, a frigate, and a cutter had captured Tartar, of Bristol, Fraser, master, off the coast of Africa.

Tartar had resisted and the capture only occurred after she had lost 10 men killed and a number of wounded.

[13] Other reports state that the captors were a French frigate, sloop-of-war, and cutter, and that the casualties on Tartar amounted to three men killed and five wounded.