British Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Ruby' (1652)

Three Decks' Forum

Come and ask, answer or inform.

Recent updates

Added
Sea-flower (4) 1714-1718
British 4 Gun
Merchant Sloop
Added
Charles BainsBritish
Ship Owner
Merchant Sailor
Service 1714-1718
Added
John ScottBritish
Merchant Sailor
Service 1798
Update
La Vengeance (20) 1797-1800
French 20 Gun
Privateer Unknown
Update
Zephyr (8) 1790-1798
British 8 Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
Update
Woodcot (Unknown) 1786-1798
British Unknown Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
Update
Raymond (Unknown) 1782-1798
British Unknown Gun
Merchant East Indiaman (EIC Regular Ship)
Update
Cassandra (26) 1720-1723
Pirate 26 Gun
6th Rate Ship
Update
Cassandra (26) 1719-1720
British 26 Gun
Merchant East Indiaman
Added
Richard LazenbyBritish
Naval Sailor
Pirate
Service 1719-1723
See more...

Ruby	428
Nominal Guns	42	BWAS-1603
Nationality	Commonwealth of England
Operator	State Navy
Ordered	5.1651	BWAS-1603
Launched	15.3.1651/52	B028
How acquired	Purpose built	B028
Shipyard	Deptford Dockyard - Deptford	B028
Constructor	Peter PettBritish Designer Ship Builder Service 1610-1672	BWAS-1603
Category	Fourth Rate	BWAS-1603
Ship Type	Ship of the Line	B028
Sailing Rig	Ship Rigged	B028
Broken Up to Rebuild	1708	B028
Becomes	British Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Ruby' (1708) (54) 1708-1748 British 54 Gun 4th Rate Ship of the Line 1744 Renamed "Mermaid"

Dimensions

DimensionMeasurementTypeMetric EquivalentBWAS-1603
Length of Gundeck125' 6"Imperial Feet38.1061
Length of Keel105' 6"Imperial Feet32.0345
Breadth31' 6"Imperial Feet9.6012
Depth in Hold15' 9"Imperial Feet4.6177
Burthen556 ⁷⁷⁄₉₄Tons BM

Armament

1666Broadside Weight = 308 Imperial Pound ( 139.6781 kg)BWAS-1603
Lower Gun Deck22 British Culverin
Upper Gun Deck22 British Demi-Culverin
Quarterdeck4 British Saker

1677Broadside Weight = 304.5 Imperial Pound ( 138.0909 kg)BWAS-1603
Lower Gun Deck22 British Culverin
Upper Gun Deck20 British Demi-Culverin
Quarterdeck6 British Saker

1685Broadside Weight = 308 Imperial Pound ( 139.6781 kg)BWAS-1603
Lower Gun Deck22 British Culverin
Upper Gun Deck22 British Demi-Culverin
Quarterdeck4 British Saker

1696Broadside Weight = 217.5 Imperial Pound ( 98.63625 kg)BWAS-1603
Lower Gun Deck22 British 12-Pounder
Upper Gun Deck19 British Demi-Culverin

Crew Complement

Date# of MenNotesSource
3.1651/52150 BWAS-1603
1653180 BWAS-1603
1666170 BWAS-1603
1685230 BWAS-1603

27 Ship Commanders

DatesRankNameSource
1652CaptainBWAS-16031652 - 18.2.1652/53CaptainBWAS-16033.1652/53 - 7.1653CaptainBWAS-16037.1653 - 1655CaptainBWAS-16031656 - 1660CaptainB05127.5.1661 - 29.12.1662CaptainB05111.10.1664 - 7.6.1666CaptainB0518.6.1666 - 30.9.1667CaptainB05121.5.1668 - 22.4.1669CaptainB05124.8.1672 - 26.8.1672CaptainBWAS-160327.8.1672 - 8.6.1674Captain†BWAS-160326.3.1678 - 1682CaptainBWAS-160318.11.1682 - 28.7.1683Captain† Discharged DeadBWAS-160320.3.1683/84 - bef.24.9.1686CaptainBWAS-160330.6.1688 - 1690CaptainBWAS-16031691 - 1693CaptainBWAS-16031693CaptainBWAS-16031694CaptainBWAS-16031696 - 12.7.1697Captain† Discharged DeadBWAS-160328.4.1696 - 1696Captain ADM 6/3/149ADM 6/315.5.1696 - 1696Captain ADM 6/3/157ADM 6/35.7.1697 - 7.1698Captain ADM 6/4/124
Issued by
Confirmed 17.11.1697BWAS-160314.2.1700/1 - 9.3.1701/2Captain Transfered ADM 6/6/55ADM 6/69.3.1701/2 - 7.6.1703Captain Transfered ADM 6/8/47
Confirmed 12.2.1703/4BWAS-16038.6.1703 - 9.2.1703/4Captain Transfered ADM 6/8/38
Confirmed 5.1.1703/4ADM 6/822.8.1703 - 18.9.1704Captain Transfered ADM 6/8/28
Confirmed 22.11.1703ADM 6/820.9.1704 - 13.12.1704Captain Transfered ADM 6/8/94ADM 6/8

9 Commissioned Officers

DatesRankNameSource
1674Lieutenant ADM 106/300/81ADM 1061683Lieutenant ADM 106/364/2008ADM 10628.8.1695 - 2.6.1697Second Lieutenant ADM 6/3/155
Issued by , West Indies - North Atlantic Ocean
Confirmed 6.5.1696ADM 6/33.6.1697 - 1697First Lieutenant ADM 6/4/126
Issued by
Confirmed 24.11.1697ADM 6/46.8.1697 - 1697Second Lieutenant ADM 6/4/126
Issued by
Confirmed 24.11.1697ADM 6/415.2.1700/1 - 1701First Lieutenant ADM 6/6/56ADM 6/617.2.1700/1 - 3.8.1701Second Lieutenant ADM 6/6/55ADM 6/64.8.1701 - 23.10.1703Second Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/6/111ADM 6/623.8.1703 - 18.9.1704Second Lieutenant Transfered ADM 6/8/25
Confirmed 11.11.1703ADM 6/8

8 Warrant Officers

DatesRankNameSource
1695 - 22.1.1694/95Chaplain Transfered ADM 6/3/31ADM 6/331.3.1696 - 24.7.1697Purser Transfered ADM 6/3/142ADM 6/315.8.1696 - 1696Boatswain ADM 6/4/17ref:17881697 - 19.1.1696/97Boatswain Transfered ADM 6/4/64ADM 6/418.1.1696/97 - 1697Boatswain ADM 6/4/62ADM 6/425.7.1697 - 1.4.1698Purser Transfered ADM 6/4/123
Issued by
Confirmed 10.11.1697ADM 6/42.4.1698 - 27.5.1698Purser Discharged ADM 6/5/16ADM 6/528.5.1698 - 1698Purser ADM 6/5/21ADM 6/5

6 Petty Officers

DatesRatingNameSource
1.3.1691/92 - 17.8.1692Midshipman Transfered ADM 107/1/69ADM 107/11695 - 19.5.1695Volunteer Transfered ADM 6/3/57ADM 6/311.5.1695 - 2.8.1698Volunteer ADM 6/3/56ADM 6/34.9.1696 - 1696Volunteer ADM 6/4/22ADM 6/428.12.1696 - 1696Volunteer ADM 6/4/57ADM 6/415.11.1702 - 11.3.1702/3Midshipman Transfered ADM 107/2/25ADM 107/2

3 Crewmen

DatesRatingNameSource
10.8.1681 - 19.5.1684Carpenter's Crew ADM 107/1/77ADM 107/120.5.1684 - 13.11.1685Able Seaman ADM 107/1/77ADM 107/124.3.1701/2 - 14.11.1702Able Seaman ADM 107/2/25ADM 107/2

Service History

DateEventSource
3.1651/52Completed at Deptford Dockyard - Deptford at a cost of £4175.12.6dBWAS-1603
19.5.1652Battle of Dover
28.9.1652Battle of Kentish Knock
1653At St Helens for the winter of 1653/54BWAS-1603
18.2.1652/53Battle of Portland
2.6.1653Battle of the Gabbard
20.4.1657Battle of Santa Cruz
1659Operations in the SoundBWAS-1603
1662part of Sandwich's squadron at Tangier and LisbonBWAS-1603
3.6.1665Battle of Lowestoft
1666Rerated as a 46 gunner
1.6.1666Four Days Battle
25.7.1666St James Day Battle
1668Sailed to the MediterraneanBWAS-1603
28.5.1672Battle of Solebay
28.5.1673First Battle of Schooneveld
4.6.1673Second Battle of Schooneveld
11.8.1673Battle of Texel
1677Rerated as a 48 gunner
1678In the ChannelBWAS-1603
15.4.1679Sailed for BilbaoBWAS-1603
5.1679Sailed for homeBWAS-1603
6.1679Sailed for the Straits with a convoyBWAS-1603
8.1679Sailed homeBWAS-1603
3.1679/80Carried the Portugese Ambassador to LisbonBWAS-1603
6.1680Sailed to Tangier with troopsBWAS-1603
1683Sailed to JamaicaBWAS-1603
28.7.1683

Lieutenant Henry Boteler, the Ruby, Carlisle Bay, Barbados. This morning the Captain May died of dropsy. Gives account of proceedings since they left Jamaica in May in search of pirates.

ADM 106
1684Returned homeBWAS-1603
1687Rebuilt by Henry Johnson at Blackwall - No change to dimensionsB022
1.5.1689Battle of Bantry Bay
4.1692Sailed tiwh a convoy to the North coastBWAS-1603
19.5.1692Battle of Barfleur
1.6.1692Action at Cherbourg
1693In the West IndiesBWAS-1603
7.4.1694Took the Ship BWAS-1603
12.5.1694Took the off the Isles of ScillyBWAS-1603
1696Sailed to the West IndiesBWAS-1603
1696In the West IndiesBWAS-1603
7.1698Paid offBWAS-1603
8.1701Sailed to the West IndiesBWAS-1603
20.8.1702Benbow vs DuCasse
1706Broken up at Deptford to be rebuiltBWAS-1603

Fleets
Dates	Fleet	Fleet Commander	Source
1659-1659	British Baltic Fleet 1659	Edward MontaguBritish Naval Sailor Service 1656-1672
9.1701-1702	British Fleet for the West indies	John BenbowBritish Naval Sailor Service 1678-1702

Sources

IDNameAuthorType

ADM 106 Document

ADM 107/1 Archive

ADM 107/2 Archive

ADM 6/3 Archive

ADM 6/4 Archive

ADM 6/5 Archive

ADM 6/6 Archive

ADM 6/8 Archive

B022Rif Winfield, Book

B028J. J. Colledge, Book

B051John Charnock, Digital Book

BWAS-1603Rif Winfield, Book

ref:1788Christopher Donnithorne, Book

Previous comments on this page

Posted by Cy on Saturday 24th of January 2026 18:58

A master is NOT equivalent to a captain in an RN vessel. He is the senior warrant officer in charge of navigation.

Posted by Roy Walmsley on Saturday 24th of January 2026 17:38

The Last Will and Testament of "William Kellvy, Mariner, belonging to his Majesties Ship the Ruby", dated 30 June 1701, was witnesses by:
R Barrow, 1st Lieutenant
John Taylor, Master
Thomas Hogg, Purser
Barrow and Hogg are in your list of crew above, in these roles, albeit not quite at the date of the Will. The master, which I assume is equivalent to Captain, John Taylor, is not. Do you have any comments on this?

Make a comment about this page

Recent comments to other pages

Date posted	By	Page
Thursday 4th of June 2026 20:01	James Daschuk	British steam sloop 'Devastation' (1841) (6) 1841-1866 British 6 Gun Unrated Steam Sloop
Thursday 4th of June 2026 14:56	AvM	British Merchant east indiaman 'Zephyr' (1790) (8) 1790-1798 British 8 Gun Merchant East Indiaman
Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:37	Jon Miller	British Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Pembroke' (1733) (60) 1733-1749 British 60 Gun 4th Rate Ship of the Line
Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:33	Jon Miller	British Sixth Rate ship 'Mercury' (1745) (20) 1745-1753 British 20 Gun 6th Rate Ship
Wednesday 3rd of June 2026 19:26	Jon Miller	British Sixth Rate frigate 'Seahorse' (1748) (24) 1748-1784 British 24 Gun 6th Rate Frigate

GDPR Statement