Archives of Manitoba
Hudson’s Bay Company Archives – Ships’ Histories
Search for ships’ histories for vessels owned or chartered by Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC). Please note that not all watercraft utilized by HBC are included in the table below, and history sheets have not been created for all HBC ships. If the vessel you are researching is not included or does not have a linked history sheet, search its name in Keystone to see what HBCA records are available.
Ships’ histories provide a good starting point for research, but are not a comprehensive source of information on a vessel; there may be other related records in the HBCA holdings. The information included in the ships’ histories has been derived from HBCA records and other sources; however, verification of facts against the original or microfilmed records is advisable. For a more detailed explanation of the ships’ histories, please see The Ship’s History Explained (PDF).
| Ship | Type of ship | Dates of HBC service | Areas of Service | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | End | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | Pacific Northwest | Western Arctic | Eastern Arctic | Interior | ||
| Aklavik (PDF) | Motor vessel | 1923 | 1942 | Western Arctic | |||||
| Anson Northup (a.k.a. The Pioneer) (PDF) | Steamboat | 1861 | 1861 | Interior | |||||
| Anyox (PDF) | Steamship (chartered by HBC) | 1933 | 1933 | Western Arctic | |||||
| Athabasca (PDF) | Stern wheel steamer | 1888 | 1897 | Interior | |||||
| Athabasca River (PDF) | Stern wheel steamer | 1912 | 1917 | Interior | |||||
| Athabasca River (II) (PDF) | Stern wheel tug | 1922 | 1949 | Interior | |||||
| Banksland (PDF) | Freighter | 1955 | 1964 | Western Arctic | |||||
| Baychimo (PDF) | Steel steamer | 1921 | 1931 | Europe | Western Arctic | Eastern Arctic | |||
| Bayeskimo (PDF) | Steel screw steamer | 1922 | 1925 | Eastern Arctic | |||||
| Baymaud (PDF) | Motor schooner | 1926 | 1927 | Western Arctic | |||||
| Baynain (PDF) | Steel screw steamer | 1928 | 1930 | Eastern Arctic | |||||
| Bayrupert (PDF) | Steel screw steamer | 1926 | 1927 | Eastern Arctic | |||||
| Beaver (PDF) | Steamship | 1835 | 1860 | Pacific Northwest | |||||
| Beaver (sloop) | Sloop, converted to brig | 1788 | 1793 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Beaver Lake (PDF) | Twin-screw diesel tug | 1938 | 1947 | Interior | |||||
| Brierley Hill (PDF) | Barque | 1872 | 1881 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| Brothers (PDF) | Barque, chartered by HBC | 1843 | 1845 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| Broughton (PDF) | Sloop | 1826 | 1836 | Pacific Northwest | |||||
| Buffalo Lake (PDF) | Tunnel sterned tug (twin screw) | 1930 | post-1939 | Interior | |||||
| Cadborough (PDF) | Schooner | 1826 | 1850 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| Caledonia (PDF) | Stern paddlewheel | 1890 | 1907 | Pacific Northwest | |||||
| Cam Owen (PDF) | Brigantine | 1883 | 1886 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Camden | Chartered by HBC | 1824 | 1831 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Carnatic (PDF) | Full-rigged ship | 1858 | 1860 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| Ceres | Brig | 1802 | 1804 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Charlotte | Brig | 1769 | 1782 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Charlotte | Sloop | 1775 | 1781 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Cheshire Cat | Auxiliary yacht | 1910 | 1910 | Europe | Eastern Arctic | ||||
| Cheyenne (PDF) | Sidewheeler | 1881 | 1881 | Interior | |||||
| Chief Commissioner (PDF) | Screw steamer | 1872 | 1875 | Interior | |||||
| City of Winnipeg (PDF) | Sternwheeler | 1881 | 1881 | Interior | |||||
| Colinda (PDF) | Barque, chartered by HBC | 1853 | 1854 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| Columbia (PDF) | Barque | 1835 | 1850 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| Colvile (PDF) | Screw steamer | 1875 | 1882 | Interior | |||||
| Corea (PDF) | Barque | 1860 | 1861 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | Eastern Arctic | |||
| Cowlitz (PDF) | Barque | 1840 | 1851 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| D.A. Thomas (PDF) | Steamship | 1924 | 1930 | Interior | |||||
| Dering (PDF) | Pink, fireship | 1688 | 1689 | Europe | Eastern Arctic | ||||
| Dering (III) (PDF) | Frigate | 1692 | 1697 | Europe | Eastern Arctic | ||||
| Diamond (PDF) | Barque, chartered by HBC | 1842 | 1843 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| Diana (PDF) | Screw steamer | 1880 | 1888 | Europe | Eastern Arctic | ||||
| Discovery (PDF) | Barque-rigged auxiliary steamer | 1905 | 1920 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | Eastern Arctic | |||
| Distributor (PDF) | Sternwheeler tug | 1924 | 1947 | Interior | |||||
| Dryad (PDF) | Brigantine, chartered by HBC | 1825 | 1836 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| Eagle (PDF) | Brigantine | 1827 | 1837 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | Pacific Northwest | |||
| Eaglet (PDF) | Ketch | 1668 | 1668 | Europe | Eastern Arctic | ||||
| Eddystone | Full-rigged ship | 1807 | 1823 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Edward and Ann | Full-rigged ship, chartered by HBC | 1811 | 1811 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Emerald | Brig | 1816 | 1817 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Enterprise (PDF) | Sidewheeler | 1862 | 1883 | Pacific Northwest | |||||
| Erik (PDF) | Screw steamer | 1888 | 1900 | Europe | Eastern Arctic | ||||
| Eskimo (PDF) | Single screw motor vessel | 1947 | 1949 | Hudson Bay / James Bay | Eastern Arctic | ||||
| Esquimaux (PDF) | Brigantine | 1835 | 1836 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | Eastern Arctic | |||
| Forager (PDF) | Chartered by HBC | 1839 | 1841 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| Fort Charles (PDF) | Wooden ketch | 1940 | 1959 | Hudson Bay / James Bay | |||||
| Fort Churchill (PDF) | Motor sailing vessel | 1913 | 1939 | Hudson Bay / James Bay | |||||
| Fort Garry (I) (PDF) | Schooner | post-1924 | 1939 | Eastern Arctic | |||||
| Fort Garry (II) (PDF) | Steel Naval Stores Lighter | 1950 | 1961 | Hudson Bay / James Bay | |||||
| Fort Hearne (PDF) | Motor screw | 1949 | 1961 | Western Arctic | |||||
| Fort James (PDF) | Two-masted auxiliary schooner | 1928 | 1937 | Western Arctic | Eastern Arctic | ||||
| Fort McPherson (PDF) | Gas schooner | 1914 | 1930 | Western Arctic | |||||
| Fort Ross (PDF) | Motor vessel | 1938 | 1950 | Western Arctic | |||||
| Fort Severn (PDF) | Auxiliary wood schooner | 1926 | 1950 | Hudson Bay / James Bay | |||||
| Fort York (PDF) | Motor schooner | 1914 | 1930 | Hudson Bay / James Bay | |||||
| Fox (1850-1878) (PDF) | Schooner | 1850 | 1878 | Hudson Bay / James Bay | |||||
| Fox (1885-1918) (PDF) | Yawl | 1885 | 1918 | Eastern Arctic | |||||
| Frances | Schooner | 1836 | 1843 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Ganymede (PDF) | Barque, chartered by HBC | 1828 | 1837 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | Pacific Northwest | Eastern Arctic | ||
| Glaramara | Barque | 1865 | 1867 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| Gomelza (PDF) | Full-rigged ship, chartered by HBC | 1859 | 1859 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| Grahame (I) (PDF) | Sternwheeler | 1884 | 1896 | Interior | |||||
| Hadlow | Full-rigged ship | 1815 | 1816 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Hampshire (PDF) | Frigate | 1697 | 1697 | Eastern Arctic | |||||
| Harmony (PDF) | Auxiliary steamer | 1926 | 1927 | Eastern Arctic | |||||
| Harpooner (PDF) | Brigantine or barque, chartered by HBC | 1848 | 1850 | Pacific Northwest | |||||
| Holgate (PDF) | Steamship, chartered by HBC | 1916 | 1916 | Europe | |||||
| Huband (PDF) | Frigate | 1687 | 1687 | Europe | Eastern Arctic | ||||
| Hudson's Bay (PDF) | Pink, frigate | 1689 | 1697 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | Eastern Arctic | |||
| Inenew | Steamship | 1902 | 1903 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| International (PDF) | Double-decked sternwheeler | 1867 | 1871 | Interior | |||||
| Isabella (PDF) | Brig | 1829 | 1830 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| Isobel (PDF) | Schooner | 1851 | 1857 | Interior | |||||
| James (PDF) | Ketch | 1682 | 1683 | Eastern Arctic | |||||
| John & Alexander (PDF) | Fireship, lent to HBC | 1679 | 1680 | Eastern Arctic | |||||
| Kayoshk | Schooner | 1874 | 1879 | Eastern Arctic | |||||
| King George (I) (PDF) | Full-rigged ship | 1750 | 1755 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| King George (II) (PDF) | Full-rigged ship | 1761 | 1780 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| King George (III) (PDF) | Full-rigged ship | 1781 | 1812 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Kitty (PDF) | Barque, chartered by HBC | 1859 | 1859 | Eastern Arctic | |||||
| Koksoak (PDF) | Peterhead | 1929 | 1944 | Eastern Arctic | |||||
| Kugyuk (PDF) | Motor screw schooner (tug) | 1925 | 1926 | Western Arctic | |||||
| Labouchere (PDF) | Sidewheeler | 1858 | 1866 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| Labrador (PDF) | Screw steamer/barque | 1866 | 1887 | Europe | Eastern Arctic | ||||
| Lady Frances Simpson (PDF) | Schooner | 1852 | 1858 | Hudson Bay / James Bay | |||||
| Lady Head (PDF) | Barque | 1865 | 1903 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | Pacific Northwest | |||
| Lady Kindersley (PDF) | Schooner | 1921 | 1924 | Western Arctic | |||||
| Lady Lampson (PDF) | Barque | 1869 | 1878 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| Lama (PDF) | Brigantine | 1832 | 1837 | Pacific Northwest | |||||
| Lauriston (PDF) | Barque | 1916 | 1917 | Europe | |||||
| Liard River (I) (PDF) | Sternwheeler | 1918 | 1922 | Interior | |||||
| Liard River (II) (PDF) | Tunnel sterned motor tug | 1923 | 1947 | Interior | |||||
| Lily (PDF) | Sternwheeler | 1877 | 1883 | Interior | |||||
| Lively (PDF) | Brig, chartered by HBC | 1822 | 1824 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| Mackenzie River (PDF) | Sternwheeler | 1908 | 1947 | Interior | |||||
| Mainwaring (PDF) | Schooner | 1807 | 1820 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Manitoba (PDF) | Sternwheeler | 1880 | 1884 | Interior | |||||
| Margaret A. (PDF) | Motor schooner | 1934 | 1943 | Western Arctic | |||||
| Marquette (PDF) | Sternwheeler | 1879 | 1883 | Interior | |||||
| Marquis (PDF) | Sternwheeler | 1882 | 1886 | Interior | |||||
| Marten (PDF) | Brig | 1845 | 1850 | Eastern Arctic | |||||
| Marten | Schooner | 1852 | 1878 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Mary (IV) (PDF) | Frigate | 1737 | 1749 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Mary Dare (PDF) | Brigantine | 1846 | 1854 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| Messenger (PDF) | Fan-tail stern | 1897 | 1906 | Interior | |||||
| Midge (PDF) | Schooner | 1877 | 1877 | Eastern Arctic | |||||
| Mink (PDF) | Schooner | 1874 | 1903 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Mount Royal (PDF) | Sternwheeler | 1902 | 1907 | Pacific Northwest | |||||
| Nascopie (PDF) | Steel screw semi-icebreaker | 1912 | 1947 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | Eastern Arctic | |||
| Neophyte (PDF) | Motor ketch | 1946 | 1947 | Hudson Bay / James Bay | |||||
| Nereide (PDF) | Brig | 1833 | 1840 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| Nigalik (PDF) | Ketch | 1938 | 1952 | Western Arctic | |||||
| Nimble | Brigantine | 1792 | 1793 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Nonsuch Replica (PDF) | Ketch, replica | 1968 | 1974 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | Interior | |||
| Norman Morison (PDF) | Barque | 1849 | 1853 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| North West (PDF) | Sternwheeler | 1882 | 1897 | Interior | |||||
| Northcote (PDF) | Stern paddlewheel steamer | 1874 | 1886 | Interior | |||||
| Northland Echo (PDF) | Sternwheel tug | 1928 | 1945 | Interior | |||||
| Northwest Fox (PDF) | Frigate | 1689 | 1690 | Europe | Eastern Arctic | ||||
| Ocean Nymph (PDF) | Barque | 1863 | 1884 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | Eastern Arctic | |||
| Old Maid (II) (PDF) | Schooner | 1928 | 1930 | Western Arctic | |||||
| Otter (PDF) | Screw steamer | 1853 | 1883 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| Pagwa (PDF) | Motor tug | 1923 | 1924 | Interior | |||||
| Pandora (PDF) | Brig | 1846 | 1851 | Pacific Northwest | |||||
| Pelican (PDF) | Screw sloop | 1901 | 1920 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | Eastern Arctic | |||
| Perseverance (PDF) | Barque | 1891 | 1900 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | Eastern Arctic | |||
| Port Simpson (PDF) | Sternwheeler | 1908 | 1918 | Pacific Northwest | |||||
| Prince Albert (PDF) | Barque | 1841 | 1856 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | Pacific Northwest | |||
| Prince Arthur (PDF) | Barque | 1854 | 1864 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Prince George | Full-rigged ship, chartered by HBC | 1834 | 1837 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Prince of Wales (1845-1850) (PDF) | Schooner | 1845 | 1850 | Pacific Northwest | |||||
| Prince of Wales (I) (PDF) | Full-rigged ship | 1793 | 1841 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Prince of Wales (II) (PDF) | Barque | 1850 | 1885 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | Pacific Northwest | |||
| Prince Rupert (I) (PDF) | Frigate | 1744 | 1760 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Prince Rupert (II) (PDF) | Presumed pink | 1755 | 1768 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Prince Rupert (III) (PDF) | "Ship" frigate | 1769 | 1786 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Prince Rupert (IV) (PDF) | Sailing ship | 1827 | 1841 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Prince Rupert (V) (PDF) | Barque | 1841 | 1853 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Prince Rupert (VI) (PDF) | "Clipper" Barque | 1865 | 1886 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | Pacific Northwest | |||
| Prince Rupert (VII) | Barque | 1887 | 1891 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Princess | Schooner | 1892 | 1896 | Hudson Bay / James Bay | |||||
| Princess Louise (PDF) | Side paddle-wheeler | 1878 | 1883 | Pacific Northwest | |||||
| Princess Royal (PDF) | Frigate | 1854 | 1885 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | Pacific Northwest | |||
| Queen Charlotte (PDF) | Full-rigged ship | 1790 | 1800 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Recovery (PDF) | Brigantine | 1852 | 1859 | Pacific Northwest | |||||
| Robin (PDF) | Schooner | 1843 | 1856 | Hudson Bay / James Bay | |||||
| Ruby (PDF) | Schooner, chartered by HBC | 1914 | 1923 | Europe | Western Arctic | ||||
| Rupertsland (PDF) | Steel motor vessel | 1948 | 1960 | Hudson Bay / James Bay | Eastern Arctic | ||||
| Saskatchewan (1873) (PDF) | Steamboat | 1873 | 1873 | Interior | |||||
| Saskatchewan (1905-1909) (PDF) | Sternwheeler | 1905 | 1909 | Interior | |||||
| Seahorse (I) (PDF) | Pink | 1734 | 1764 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Seahorse (II) (PDF) | "Ship" frigate | 1765 | 1781 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Seahorse (III) (PDF) | Full-rigged ship | 1782 | 1792 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Sorine (PDF) | Barque, chartered by HBC | 1910 | 1911 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Stork | Barque | 1904 | 1908 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Strathcona (PDF) | Stern steam paddlewheel | 1898 | 1902 | Pacific Northwest | |||||
| Sumatra (PDF) | Barque, chartered by HBC | 1836 | 1838 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| Titania (PDF) | Clipper | 1885 | 1893 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| Tory (PDF) | Barque, chartered by HBC | 1850 | 1851 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| Una (PDF) | Brigantine | 1849 | 1852 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| Union (PDF) | Sloop | 1824 | 1831 | Hudson Bay / James Bay | |||||
| Valleyfield (PDF) | Barque, chartered by HBC | 1841 | 1843 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| Vancouver (I) (PDF) | Schooner | 1826 | 1834 | Pacific Northwest | |||||
| Vancouver (II) (PDF) | Barque | 1838 | 1848 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| Vancouver (III) (PDF) | Brigantine | 1852 | 1853 | Pacific Northwest | |||||
| Walrus (1851-1857) (PDF) | Sloop | 1851 | 1857 | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | ||||
| Walrus (1872-1876) (PDF) | Schooner | 1872 | 1876 | Europe | Eastern Arctic | ||||
| Wave (PDF) | Schooner | 1840 | 1841 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| Weenusk (I) (PDF) | Motor boat | 1920 | 1938 | Interior | |||||
| Weenusk (II) (PDF) | Steel tug | 1940 | 1951 | Interior | |||||
| William and Ann (PDF) | Snow | 1824 | 1829 | Europe | Pacific Northwest | ||||
| Ship | Type of ship | Start of Service | End of Service | Europe | Hudson Bay / James Bay | Pacific Northwest | Western Arctic | Eastern Arctic | Interior |
