Identification & Site Information

• Name: GIPSEY
• Former Name: ISAAC WALTON
• Type: Wooden Schooner
• Builder: H. Doviel
• Date Built: 1859
• Location of Build: Sodus, New York
• Original Hull: Reconstructed on the remains of the ISAAC WALTON (built in 1847)
• Commissioned By: R. Scott & Co., Sandusky, Ohio
• Home Port: Sodus, New York
• Gross Tonnage: Initially 33 tons; recorded at 22.56 tons in 1868
• Value: $1,200 (1861 classification)
• Classification: Class B1 vessel (Lake Vessel Register, 1861)
• Vessel Type

The GIPSEY was a wooden Schooner, a versatile sailing vessel widely used on the Great Lakes during the mid-19th century for transporting goods and navigating inland waterways.

Description

The GIPSEY was an example of ingenuity and resourcefulness in shipbuilding. Constructed in 1859 using the Hull of the older ISAAC WALTON (1847), this practice of reusing materials was common during the period. The GIPSEY was commissioned to serve as a working vessel, primarily involved in general freight transport across the Great Lakes.

Throughout its life, the Schooner changed hands multiple times, reflecting its durable nature and continued utility. Ownership records detail the vessel’s service under various owners from ports like Oswego, French Creek, Clayton, and Sodus, New York.

Ownership Timeline

•1860 – 1866: Registered 11 times in Oswego, New York.

•1866 – 1867: Registered twice in French Creek, New York; owned by J. Garlick (Sodus, New York).

•1868: Owned by a party in Clayton, New York. Gross Tonnage recorded at 22.56 tons.

•1876: Owned by A. Cock of Clayton, New York.

Notable Incidents

1.Galloo Island Grounding (September 1866)

•The Schooner ran ashore at Galloo Island, Lake Ontario.

•Refloated and repaired; damages estimated at $230.

2.Pier Collision (November 8, 1866)

•While attempting to dock, the GIPSEY struck the south pier, causing extensive damage:

•Broken railings

•Damaged Stanchions

•Mainsail torn into ribbons

3.Lightning Strike (July 12, 1848)

•While lying at the foot of Commercial Street, a bolt of lightning struck the topmast.

•The strike caused:

•Shattered topmast

•Damage down the mast into the water via the Anchor Chain

•Nearby Stern of a small boat shattered

4.Cape Vincent Grounding (October 19, 1873)

•The vessel ran aground near Cape Vincent, New York.

•Successfully released without significant damage.

Final Years

Despite repeated challenges, including groundings, collisions, and severe weather damage, the GIPSEY continued operating on the Great Lakes. It serves as an enduring example of 19th-century Schooner resilience and the ability of shipowners and crews to adapt to the harsh and unpredictable environment of Great Lakes navigation.

Legacy

The story of the Schooner GIPSEY is a fascinating glimpse into Great Lakes maritime history. Built from the Hull of the ISAAC WALTON, the vessel’s history of repairs, ownership changes, and persistent service reflects the spirit of resourcefulness that defined 19th-century maritime trade. Each incident it survived—whether caused by nature or accident—only adds to its legacy as a resilient wooden Schooner that plied the Great Lakes for decades.

References & Links

•David Swayze Shipwreck File

•Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Great Lakes Maritime History

•Great Lakes Ships Database

•Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library

•Alexandria Bay Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan

Suggested Keywords & Categories

•Keywords: GIPSEY Schooner, ISAAC WALTON, Galloo Island wreck, Great Lakes wooden vessels, Clayton New York maritime history, Lake Ontario Schooner incidents.

•Categories: Lake Ontario Schooners, 19th-Century Shipbuilding, Wooden Vessel Reconstruction, Great Lakes Groundings, Maritime Resilience.

Glossary Terms

•Schooner: A sailing vessel with two or more masts, typically used for cargo transport in the 19th century.

•Grounding: When a vessel runs ashore or strikes the lake bottom, often causing damage.

•Stanchions: Vertical supports or posts, often used to hold railings or structures in place.

•Lightning Strike: A natural hazard that could cause severe damage to wooden vessels’ rigging and masts.

Let me know if you’d like additional details on the GIPSEY or related maritime incidents in Lake Ontario!