Ramsey

Official Number ?????

The Ramsey was a full-rigged ship built of iron by Gibson at Ramsey, Isle of Man, and launched in February 1863 (the same year as the Euterpe). She was initially registered at Liverpool, owned by her builder until 1868, then D.Brown. From 1872 she was owned by McKay & Co., and was registered at London until her loss in 1883.

The Ramsey arrived at Sydney from London on the 30th January 1866 with passengers (see Source 7).

From the Times newspaper, Saturday, 5th January 1884, page 5;

" Intelligence received from Lloyd's states that the well-known passenger ship Ramsey, bound from Brisbane for London, with a cargo of wool and other produce, has been wrecked on Elizabeth Reef, about 400 miles east of the Australian coast. The chief officer and some of the crew were picked up after being six days in an open boat. Another boat, with the remainder of the crew and the captain, has not yet been heard of."

Sources :

1. Lloyds Register information from Gilbert Provost website.
2. Mystic Seaport Library Ship Register Search has shipping register details from 1864 to 1883. The Ramsey was described as a barque for the final three years of her career. Masters are named as Capts.J.H.White (1864-7), J.Weeks (68-71), E.Hunt (1872-75), Cater (1876-83).
3. American Lloyd's Register of American and Foreign Shipping, 1865 - names master as J.H.White, owner as Gibson, vessel registered at Liverpool.
4. American Lloyd's Register of American and Foreign Shipping, 1870 - names master as J.Weeks, owner as D.Brown.
5. American Lloyd's Register of American and Foreign Shipping, 1883 - names master as Cater, owner as J.R.Harper, vessel registered at London.
6. There are three photos of the Ramsey at the State Library of Queensland - see Picture Australia website for photos 1, 2 and 3. One photo annotated "left Brisbane on the 28th October 1883 and was wrecked on the 31st October 1883".
7. See Mariners and Ships in Australian Waters for 1866 crew list - names master as Capt.Joseph Henry White.
8. The Times also first reported the wreck on Monday, 12th November 1883, page 6, citing from a telegraph sent by  Lloyd's agent in Brisbane on the 10th November - the rescued crew were landed at Brisbane.