PROTECTION (1851) – Shipwreck Information

Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: PROTECTION
• Also Known As: GORE
• Year of Build: 1851
• Built at: Brockville, Ontario
• Vessel Type: Propeller
• Hull Materials: Wood
• Builder Name: George H. Notter
• Original Owner: H. Jones & Company, Brockville, Ontario
• Power: Screw Propulsion
• Tonnage: 120 tonnage (old style); may have been 160 tons after repairs
• Vessel Type Propeller, wood

Description

The PROTECTION was a wooden propeller vessel built in 1851 at Brockville, Ontario by the shipbuilder George H. Notter. Originally owned by H. Jones & Company of Brockville, Ontario, the PROTECTION was a screw-propelled Steamship with a Hull tonnage of 120 tons. The ship underwent major repairs in 1854, possibly in Montreal, and at some point was upgraded to a tonnage of 160 tons. It continued its service along the Saint Lawrence River, notably for the Jones & McDonald Company Freight Line, which ran between Hamilton, Toronto, and Montreal.

In 1861, the vessel was renamed GORE and was under the ownership of Smith & Jardine of Montreal, Quebec.

History

The PROTECTION had a somewhat eventful career, with a significant incident occurring on August 27, 1856, when it collided with the Canadian Steamer BOSTON in the Saint Lawrence River near Gannanoque. The collision caused the PROTECTION to sink. The vessel was raised and subsequently repaired. The ship continued its freight operations after that, even after being renamed GORE in 1861.

Over the course of its career, the PROTECTION (GORE) operated in the Saint Lawrence River and in the trade between Hamilton, Toronto, and Montreal, under the management of several ownerships and operators. After its repair following the sinking in 1856, it appears to have had continued service in the region before ultimately being renamed and sold to Smith & Jardine in 1861.

Final Dispositions

Date of loss: The PROTECTION was eventually lost or decommissioned, though details about its final disposition are unclear.

Notable Incidents: Collision with the BOSTON, sinking in 1856, raised, and repaired.

Collision: With the BOSTON on August 27, 1856, near Gannanoque, which led to her sinking.

Resources & Links

• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Great Lakes Ships
• Sources: C. Patrick Labadie Collection, Historical data from the Saint Lawrence River shipping archives
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes

Conclusion

The PROTECTION was a wooden propeller Steamship built in 1851 at Brockville, Ontario, and originally operated by H. Jones & Company. It became part of the Jones & McDonald Company Freight Line, running from Hamilton to Montreal and Toronto. After a major collision with the BOSTON in 1856, the PROTECTION was raised and repaired. It was later renamed GORE under new ownership. While it continued to serve on the Saint Lawrence River, its final fate remains unclear.