An advertisement in April 1809:
The fine fast-sailing Brig SPARKES and REBECCA, W. Service, Master,
Burthen 150 Tons, well armed, manned and in excellent Condition; will leave
LIVERPOOL for MALTA and MESSINA Direct (Having Licence to sail without
Convoy), and has nearly completed loading her Cargo.
Being armed, she would have needed a larger crew to man her guns. Unfortunately
some other disaster befell her. She is described in Lloyd's Register (as
snow Sparks and Rebecca) as a prize, built in America, owned J. Anderson,
registered London, 127 tons register, trading London-Lisbon.
The Snow Sparks and Rebecca, Captain Service, which sailed from Liverpool, for Malta, on the 16th of April is supposed have foundered the following day, the pilot has never returned back. Three dead bodies have lately been washed on shore [on Anglesey], and one of them identified as the Captain, from the clothes he wore, and a bill of lading of goods in the above vessel, in his pocket.
Her previous voyage had been from Maranham (Brazil) to Liverpool, arriving 23 February 1809, with cotton and ox hides, with Captain R. Dye.