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I don't know. Seems to me their reaction to Frodo's disappearance would have been different had they not known something of the properties of the Ring. I'm referring specifically to the following passage:

But there was one swarthy Bree-lander, who stood looking at them with a knowing and half-mocking expression that made them feel very uncomfortable. Presently he slipped out the door, followed by the squint-eyed southerner: the two had been whispering together a good deal during the evening. Harry the gatekeeper also went out just behind them.

Can't imagine that Tolkien included this without insinuating that others in the room (aside from Strider and the Hobbits) knews of the Ring. Your reply and others forced me to break out the book and get specific. Turns out only a Bree-lander made knowing expressions and that he was in in the company of just one of the southerners. Another fabulous scene in the LOTRs, but it raises some incidental questions for me :)

Yes, interesting to wonder how much they knew... and one can of course believe either way. Maybe they had heard something about a magic ring indeed, or maybe they had just had black-cloaked wraiths asking about traveling hobbits that carried something they were very interested in getting ahold of.

At any rate, we don't know yet what they are really up to, but we may get more information later... I don't recall... and doesn't either Ferny or the Souherner end up being spotted in The Shire during the scouring? - We shall see!