The ship (Klippership) Rubens was built 1857 in Elbing, Germany. Owner was H. Parr Samuelsen in Drøbak. Burden was 314 Norwegian Commercial lasts. The Rubens sailed from Christiania to Quebec with emigrants in 1868 and 1869. Master was Christian J. Johnsen, he had earlier been master of the "Drøbak" which sailed 1857-1861 from Christiania to Quebec with emigrants. It is told that the captain had orders to salute with the ship's canons when the ship passed Drøbak on the way out the fjord. It is also told that the walls in the ship's cabin, was decorated with all kinds of weapon, which could be used for protection against pirates.

There were announcements for the ship in the newspaper in 1868. The booking agent in Kristiania, Søren Edvard Nielsen called for passenger to sign on for the crossing. The owner H. Parr Samuelsen had raised a security of 2000 Spd. for the passenger conveyance, which was recorded by the Police in Kristinia. However, we have not been able to confirm any voyage with passengers for the Rubens for 1868.

In 1869 the ship Rubens departed from Christiania Apr. 22nd, and arrived at Quebec June 14th. The Captain acted as booking agent in Christiania before the departure. She was sailing in ballast, and was carrying 177 steerage passengers and 3 cabin passengers. When the ship arrived at the quarantine station on Grosse Île, one of the passengers was sick with rubeoloid eruption (measles). The ship was detained under quarantine for observation. There had been one death on the voyage, Bernt(1½), son of Johannes Johansen(33) and Marthe Christiansdatter(32). The ship was mastered by Capt. C. J. Johnsen, and had a crew of 17. In 1869 the booking agent was Chr. J. Johnsen, in Christiania.