RUBY

DateMarch 1805

Object NameBRIG

MediumWOOD

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 67.9' x breadth 21.5' x depth 11.1'
gross tonnage 128 tons

Object numberABDSHIP002972

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: unknown

Fate: unknown, last in Lloyd's 1851 (R467)

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Snow or brig rigged (see note), 1 flush deck, 2 masts, standing bowsprit, square stern, carvel built, no figurehead

Owners:
1810-12: P. Gould
1813: Gibbon & Co.
1824: Registered at Aberdeen for subscribing owners;
Alexander Gibbon, 16 shares; James Gibbon, 16 shares; John Booth Jnr, 16 shares; all Aberdeen merchants.
Other owners (1824):
Patrick Booth, 16 shares; Aberdeen Merchants.
(Source: Aberdeen Register of Shipping (Aberdeen City Archives))
1842-51: Owner, Snowball, registered in Newcastle (Lloyd's)

Masters:
1809-16: Master W. Phillips
1818-23: Master G. Murray
1824: Master Alexander Young (from Aberdeen register, others from Lloyd's)
1842-51: Master Pollock

Voyages (from Lloyd's):
1809-16: London - Dublin
1818-20: Leith - Ramsgate
1821-23: Hull - Ramsgate
1842-51: Newcastle - Scotland

General History:
17/07/1811:
Brig RUBY, Phillip, of Aberdeen, arrived at St. Andrew's, New Brunswick, on 24 May and was ready to load on 27th of same month.
(Aberdeen Journal)

14/11/1814:
Brig RUBY, Rewe, of Aberdeen, arrived in Yell Sound, Shetland, on 17 Oct. from Archangel and from the prevailing adverse winds had not sailed again on 1 Nov. Ruby had a boisterous passage of 5 weeks to Shetland and experienced a tremendous gale from NNW, before which vessel was obliged to sail for 4 days under the foresale, by which she was driven near the North Cape.
(Caledonian Mercury (Edinburgh))

15/01/1816:
Brig RUBY, Law, of Aberdeen, arrived at Loch Hourn in Isle of Skye on 25 Dec., after very tempestuous passage of 48 days from Cockonem and 41 from Gut of Canso (Nova Scotia), during which she encountered violent and adverse gales and lost several sails. She made island of St. Kilda on 16 Dec., was afterwards driven to coast of Ireland and has since been beating off the Hebrides without possibility of reaching a harbour. On 24th Dec., although off entrance of Stornoway, was obliged to bear away.
(Caledonian Mercury (Edinburgh))

16/02/1820:
Dreadful hurricane at St. John, New Brunswick - brig RUBY, which sailed 29 Dec., came back with loss of both cables and other damage. I am sorry to add her men are all frosted.
(Aberdeen Journal)

31/12/1823:
Brig RUBY, Bodie, of Aberdeen, on standing in for Aberdeen Harbour with a pilot aboard, went on shore on beach to northward of the pier, but was got off next evening without appearing to have suffered any material damage after throwing overboard about 2 keels of her cargo of coals.
(Aberdeen Journal)

24/10/1825
On night of 18 Oct., brig RUBY, of Aberdeen, in ballast to Sunderland, got on shore on south end of South Shields sand, wind having suddenly changed and blown strong from eastward.
(Caledonian Mercury (Edinburgh))

05/12/1825:
Brig RUBY, Hutcheon, of and for Aberdeen, coal laded, from Sunderland, was driven out of Peterhead Bay by a hard gale from WNW, with lose of nearly all the sails she had set and was blown off land to a distance of 16 miles. Wind drifted to eastward and 4 days later RUBY reached Holy Isle (Northumberland). Crew all well, but sails spent.
(Caledonian Mercury (Edinburgh))

19/09/1827:
Upset price greatly reduced - to be sold by public group at Lemon Tree Tavern, Aberdeen, 21 Sept., one half share of brig RUBY, John Linklater master, as she presently lies in harbour of Aberdeen. Per register 127 tons. Vessel carries a large cargo for her tonnage, shifts without ballast, sails well, is well found and fit for sea without expense. Upset price (to ensure a sale) only £100.
(Aberdeen Journal)

07/1815: 2 passengers left Aberdeen for Halifax, Canada. Under Master Thomas Love.
1822: 125 passengers departed from Cromarty, Scotland, under J. Bodie, Master, and arrived at Pictou, Canada. The assisted passages were paid for by an unnamed association at Edinburgh. This association also found money for saws, spades, nails, bibles and yards of tartan.
(Lucille H. Campey (2002), "'Fast Sailing and Copper-Bottomed': Aberdeen Sailing Ships and the Emigrant Scots they carried to Canada 1774-1855" (Natural Heritage Books, Toronto), pp. 20, 71)

Notes: Described as brig rigged 1809-23, then snow rigged 1842-51.
Some repairs 1836, further repaired 1842 with new wales and topsides.