Shipwreck Report: J.G. Jenkins

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

• Vessel Name: J.G. Jenkins

• Type: Schooner

• Year Built: Not specified

• Location: 35 miles northwest of Oswego, New York, Lake Ontario

• Depth: 631 feet (192 meters)

• Coordinates: Not explicitly provided but identified during a submersible dive by the US Geological Survey.

• Discovery Date: April 29, 2020

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Final Voyage

• Date of Incident: November 30, 1875

• Route:

• Departed: Welland Canal

• Destination: Oswego, New York

• Cargo: Wheat from Milwaukee

• Incident: The Schooner Foundered during a gale approximately 3 miles from Oswego.

• Fatalities: All nine crew members and passengers were lost.

CREW AND PASSENGERS

The crew and passengers onboard included:

1. Captain John Brown

2. First Mate Samuel McDonald

3. Second Mate John Smith

4. Seamen:

• William Bosner

• Hugh Doran

• Charles Chetney

• Archie McCullom

5. Cook: Jennie Williams

6. Passengers: John Stewart and James Oats

CARGO AND INSURANCE

• Cargo: Wheat (insured for $26,000)

• Vessel Insurance: $8,000

DISCOVERY AND CONFIRMATION

Initial Reports

• December 6, 1875: The Oswego Palladium confirmed the vessel had Foundered during the gale. Debris, including a cabin door, was discovered washed ashore near Oswego.

Historical Speculations

• August 21, 1876: Captain Peter Cronley of the Schooner John T. Mott reported striking an object resembling a mast near Ford’s Shoals, thought to be part of the J.G. Jenkins.

• August 28, 1876: The Schooner Ella Murton encountered a similar obstruction in the same area.

2020 Submersible Dive

The wreck was located and filmed at a depth of 631 feet by the US Geological Survey. The condition of the vessel and surrounding debris field confirmed it as the final resting place of the J.G. Jenkins.

ADDITIONAL HISTORY AND TRAGEDY

• The Schooner was a regular fixture in the Lake Ontario shipping lanes and was based in Oswego, New York.

• Official Number: 100078 (MVUS listing).

• The wreck highlights the hazards of 19th-century maritime navigation on the Great Lakes, where gales and treacherous weather often led to the loss of vessels and lives.

FINAL DISPOSITION

• Cause of Loss: Foundered in a gale.

• Date: November 30, 1875.

• Location: 3 miles from Oswego, New York.

• Current Resting Depth: 631 feet (192 meters).

SIGNIFICANCE IN MARITIME HISTORY

The wreck of the J.G. Jenkins serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by sailors navigating the Great Lakes in the 19th century. The loss of nine lives and valuable cargo underscores the perilous nature of maritime trade and travel during this era. The wreck also provides a valuable window into the construction and operation of schooners, which were vital to the economic development of the region.

TAGS

#JGJenkins #LakeOntario #Shipwreck #GreatLakesHistory #MaritimeDisaster #OswegoWrecks #USGeologicalSurvey #HistoricalShipwreck

RESOURCES & LINKS

• Oswego Palladium (December 6, 1875)

• US Geological Survey (2020 Submersible Dive)

• Merchant Vessels of the United States (MVUS)

• Toronto Daily Globe (November 30, 1875)

CONCLUSION

The J.G. Jenkins is a poignant example of the challenges faced by schooners in the volatile conditions of the Great Lakes. Its rediscovery in 2020 adds to the rich tapestry of maritime archaeology, ensuring the legacy of its crew and cargo endures in the study of Great Lakes history.