Bark Rhea, C. Gjessing

In January 1866, the fast-sailing barque Hringhorn, classed A and commanded by Captain S. Christensen, was advertised to depart from Drammen for Quebec in late April. The vessel was described as particularly well suited for carrying passengers, and passage rates were advertised as very moderate. Bookings could be made through Gjessing & Aas in Christiania, who also provided further information about the voyage. Passengers for whom it was more convenient to embark at Christiania were to be transported to Drammen by steamship, at the shipowners’ expense, two or three days before Hringhorn’s departure from Drammen.

The Hringhorn departed from Drammen on May 1, 1866, bound for Quebec, where she arrived on June 9. She sailed in ballast and carried 341 steerage passengers. The vessel was commanded by Captain Søren Christensen, with Theobald Larsen and M. Lund serving as mates, and had a crew of 16.

During the crossing, three children died from debility. On May 20, six-month-old Johannes, son of Isak Skaadeshaugen, aged 24, and Anne, aged 20, died. On May 15, an infant child of Johannes Rise, aged 30, and Justina [?], aged 28, also died. On June 3, six-year-old Ricka, daughter of Engebreth Hansen, aged 31, and Anne, aged 28, died. A child named Anne Marie was born aboard the ship on May 3; the parents were not named in the record.

After reaching Quebec, a group of passengers signed a public statement expressing their gratitude to Captain Søren Christensen and the mates Theobald Larsen and M. Lund. The statement was dated at Quebec on June 10, 1866, and was published in Morgenbladet on July 27. The passengers thanked the officers for their considerate treatment and friendly conduct during the voyage and stated that, with God's assistance, they had landed in good health. They strongly recommended both Captain Christensen and the Hringhorn to relatives and friends who might be considering emigration to America the following spring, describing the vessel as well equipped and well suited for passenger service.

The statement was signed by the following passengers, and is particularly useful because it records their places of origin, information not given in the surviving passenger list:

Mathias Baken with family, from Ringsager, Ole Pedersen Braaten, from Vardal, Ole Fiskeberget with family, from Ringebu, G. Asshjem, Ole O. Sylthe with family, from Ringebu, N. Klemetsen, from Eiker, Johan M. Mære, from Modum. Ole C. Darbo, from Eiker, Jakob Opsalbækken, from Fron. P. P. Volden, from Fron, Paul O. Aamestad, from Ringebu, Hans Pedersen, from Christiania, Christian Pedersen Veftf., from Østre Eiker, Knud Koloen, from Nordre Fron, Otto Gunnerstuen, from Nordre Fron, Johan Johnsen Buskrudeie, from Modum. Thomas Aslaksbye, from Modum, Anders Gulbrandsen Ødenæs, from Modum, Jakob Morstadner, from Gran, Hadeland, Petter C. Carlsrud, from Modum, C. Johannesen Bure, from Ringerike, Hans Andersen, from Eiker, Lars Olsen, from Holmestrand, Hans Haagenstuen, from Gudbrandsdalen, Ole Teigen, from Gudbrandsdalen, T. Olsen Kirkevolden, Nils H. Nymoen, from Eiker. Nils Otter Jacobsen, from Eiker (Eger).

The passengers' statement gave the arrival date as June 10, while the official arrival information records the Hringhorn at Quebec on June 9. Its assertion that the passengers landed in good health should be understood as referring to those who completed the voyage, since three children had died during the Atlantic crossing.

By October 1866, the vessel had been renamed Rhea. An advertisement published that month announced that the first-class sailing ship, still commanded by Captain S. Christensen, would again carry emigrants from Drammen to Quebec the following spring. She was described as a fast-sailing vessel well adapted for passenger service. Passengers could book passage through Gjessing & Aasherstad and Schee & Aas in Christiania.

In 1867, the Rhea departed from Christiania on May 5 with 359 emigrants, and arrived at Quebec on June 24.

In 1871, the Rhea was commanded by Captain J. Andersen on a voyage from Rotterdam to New York. On May 31, she was run down by the North German Lloyd steamship Hansa, commanded by Captain Birkenstein. The Rhea sank immediately. Captain Anderson and seven crew members drowned, while two mates and six sailors were rescued by the Hansa.