From: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

Active is an adjective denoting action or motion.

(Brigantine: T. 60; cpl. 15)

The first Active, a packet, was launched at Marshfield, Mass., in July 1779. With C. Barnes as master, she made a voyage to Balboa, Spain, In 1780, and to Nantes, France, in 1781. She was captured 23 March 1782 by HMS Proserpine while enroute from Philadelphia to Havana.