Shipwreck Report: James Wood (1846–1852)

Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: James Wood
• Official Number: None
• Vessel Type: Wooden Propeller Steamer (Passenger & Package Freight)
• Built: 1846, in Dexter, New York
• Final Location: Near Ashtabula, Ohio (Lake Erie)
• Date Lost: September 12, 1852
• Cause: Stranded in storm, Total Loss
• Final Cargo: Unknown
• Loss of Life: Unknown
• Owner: S.M. Johnson, Chicago, Illinois
• Specifications
  • Hull Material: Wood
  • Length: 124 feet (37.8 meters) Beam: 25 feet (7.6 meters) Depth: 10 feet (3 meters) 
• Tonnage: 286 tons

Operational History

The James Wood was built in 1846 in Dexter, New York, a town known for early Great Lakes shipbuilding.  Designed as a propeller-driven wooden Steamer, it was built to carry passengers and package freight across the Great Lakes.  Screw-propelled steamers like the James Wood were becoming more common in the 1840s, replacing earlier sidewheel steamers due to greater efficiency and reliability.

The ship was owned by S.M. Johnson of Chicago, Illinois, and likely operated on trade routes between Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, and Lake Ontario.

Final Voyage & Loss (September 12, 1852)

• Caught in a Storm on Lake Erie
  •  On September 12, 1852, the James Wood encountered a severe storm near Ashtabula, Ohio.
  • The vessel stranded and was declared a Total Loss.
• Details on crew survival and casualties are unknown, as early shipwreck records often lacked detailed reports.
• Remains Still Visible Decades Later By 1871, nearly 20 years after the wreck, parts of the ship were still visible from far out on Lake Erie, suggesting that large portions of the Hull remained intact in shallow water. It is unclear whether any salvage attempts were made, but the wreck was never refloated or repaired.

Wreck Site and Potential Remains

• Location: Near Ashtabula, Ohio (Lake Erie)
• Depth: Likely shallow waters near shore
• Current Condition:
  • Given that the remains were visible as late as 1871, some wreckage may still exist beneath sediment or scattered along the lakebed.
  • The ship’s wooden Hull likely deteriorated over time, but iron fastenings or machinery components may remain buried.
• No modern surveys or recoveries have been reported, making the James Wood a potential target for future underwater exploration.
• Exploration & Archaeological Interest:  The wreck has not been documented in contemporary shipwreck databases, meaning that its exact site remains unknown. Given its historical significance as an early Great Lakes screw Steamer, further sonar surveys off Ashtabula could potentially identify remnants of the vessel.

Legacy and Significance

A Transition-Era Vessel The James Wood was built during a period of transition from sailing ships to steam propulsion on the Great Lakes. As a wooden Propeller Steamer, it was part of the early generation of screw-propelled vessels that began replacing Paddlewheel steamers in the mid-19th century.

The Perils of Early Steam Navigation The ship’s loss in a storm near Ashtabula underscores the dangers faced by early steam-powered vessels on the Great Lakes. Many wooden steamers of the era were still vulnerable to sinking, stranding, or Hull failures, despite advances in propulsion.

A Forgotten Wreck Site The James Wood is a largely undocumented shipwreck, despite reports that its remains were still visible decades after its sinking. Unlike many well-known Great Lakes wrecks, this vessel has not been extensively studied or located in modern times.

Further Research and Resources

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca Contains archival records on 19th-century Great Lakes steamboats and shipwrecks.
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society https://www.glsps.org Dedicated to locating and preserving shipwrecks in the Great Lakes.
• Ohio Shipwreck Research https://www.ohioshipwrecks.org Focuses on shipwreck sites in Ohio waters, including Lake Erie.
• National Museum of the Great Lakes https://nmgl.org Researches and preserves shipwreck history in the Great Lakes region.

Conclusion

The James Wood was a wooden screw Steamer built in 1846, operating as a passenger and package freight vessel. It stranded near Ashtabula, Ohio, during a storm on September 12, 1852, and was declared a Total Loss. Though its remains were still visible as late as 1871, no modern surveys have documented the wreck, leaving it a forgotten piece of Great Lakes maritime history.