Identification & Site Information

• Name: NEHEMIAH HUBBARD (usually recorded as N. HUBBARD)
• Other Names: None reported
• Official Number: None assigned
• Date Built and Launched: 1832
• Builder: Amasa Savage, Ashtabula, Ohio
• Original Home Port: Not documented
• Vessel Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
• Hull Materials: Wood
• Number of Decks: 1
• Number of Masts: 2
• Measurements: Length: 72 ft (21.9 m) Beam: 20 ft (6.1 m) Depth: 7 ft (2.1 m)
• Tonnage: 93 tons
• Owner at Time of Loss: Not documented
• Master at Time of Loss: Acting Captain Olney Hatch (drowned)

Vessel Type

The NEHEMIAH HUBBARD was a wooden schooner, a typical Great Lakes sailing vessel of the early 19th century. Ships like this were essential for early commerce on the Great Lakes, carrying lumber, grain, coal, and general goods between ports in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Canada.

Built in Ashtabula, Ohio, in 1832, this vessel was relatively small, but its size and two-mast schooner rigging made it highly maneuverable, allowing it to navigate shallow harbors and rivers.

History

The NEHEMIAH HUBBARD operated for 10 years before meeting its tragic fate in 1842.

Key Events in the Vessel’s History:

• 1832: Built by Amasa Savage in Ashtabula, Ohio, launched as a Schooner.
• 1832-1842: Actively engaged in cargo transport on Lake Erie, likely carrying grain, lumber, and general freight.

Final Disposition

The NEHEMIAH HUBBARD was lost on November 18, 1842, off Conneaut, Ohio, in a severe storm.

The Disaster

• The vessel arrived near Conneaut Harbor but was unable to enter due to the storm.
• As winds intensified and waves grew, the ship Foundered and sank offshore.
• The lifeboat was missing when the wreck was later examined, suggesting that the crew may have attempted an escape.
• However, no reports confirmed any survivors, leading to the assumption that all seven crew members perished.

One unusual detail is that the regular captain was ashore, and the vessel was operated by:

• Acting Captain Olney Hatch (drowned)
• A “saltwater skipper” acting as first mate

This may have contributed to navigational difficulties during the storm.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return. The NEHEMIAH HUBBARD‘s wreck has never been confirmed or located near Conneaut, Ohio.

Given that Lake Erie’s storms are known for strong waves and shifting sands, any remains of the vessel may be deeply buried or dispersed.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil return. No modern navigational hazards related to this wreck are reported near Conneaut, Ohio.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Great Lakes Shipwreck File

Conclusion

The NEHEMIAH HUBBARD was one of many early schooners lost on Lake Erie, highlighting the dangers of Great Lakes navigation in the 19th century.

Its mystery remains unsolved, as the missing lifeboat raises questions about whether any of the seven crew members survived.

The loss of an entire ship just offshore from its destination is a stark reminder of how unpredictable the Great Lakes’ weather can be, even for experienced sailors.

If you’d like to learn more about other early shipwrecks on Lake Erie, schooners built in Ashtabula, or shipwrecks near Conneaut, Ohio, let me know!