Identification & Site Information

• Name: Queen Charlotte
• Former Names: None
• Official Registration Number: None (Canadian registry)
• Date Built and Launched: 1819 (some sources suggest 1816 or 1818)
• Builder: Teabout & Chapman, Finkle’s Point (Bath), Ontario
• Measurements: Length: 150 ft (45.7 m) Beam: Unknown Depth: Unknown
• Date of Loss: 1837
• Place of Loss: Near Cataraqui Bay (Elevator Bay?), west of Kingston, Ontario

Vessel Type

The Queen Charlotte was a wooden Sidewheel Steamer designed for passenger transport and package freight on Lake Ontario. As one of the earliest steam-powered vessels on the lake, she represented a significant technological advancement in maritime transportation, transitioning from traditional sailing ships to steam propulsion. The sidewheel design allowed for greater maneuverability in the confined waters of Lake Ontario, while her wood-burning engine marked the early era of steam navigation in Upper Canada.

Description

Built in 1819 by Teabout & Chapman at Finkle’s Point (now part of Bath, Ontario), the Queen Charlotte was a 150-foot-long Sidewheel Steamer constructed of wood. She served as both a passenger vessel and a freight carrier, connecting communities along Lake Ontario in a period when overland transportation was still slow and unreliable.

The vessel was powered by a wood-burning steam engine, typical of early Great Lakes steamers. These vessels were essential for the transportation of people and goods between burgeoning settlements, facilitating the economic growthof the Lake Ontario shoreline.

History and Service Life

Early Steam Navigation (1819–1837):

The Queen Charlotte was part of the pioneering fleet of steamers on Lake Ontario, operating in an era when steam power was just beginning to transform maritime transportation. Serving as both a passenger Steamer and a freight vessel, she contributed to the development of trade and communication between key ports like Kingston, Toronto(then York), and Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Regional Significance:

Steamers like the Queen Charlotte were vital in Upper Canada, helping to connect rural communities with major commercial centers. The vessel played a role in moving settlers, mail, and supplies across the lake, bolstering the colonial economy.

Final Disposition and Loss (1837)

• Cause of Loss: Stranding in a Storm
• Date of Loss: 1837
• Location: Near Cataraqui Bay, west of Kingston, Ontario, Lake Ontario

In 1837, the Queen Charlotte encountered a storm while operating near Cataraqui Bay, just west of Kingston. The vessel became stranded and eventually broke up, marking the end of her service life. The specific circumstances of the storm are not well-documented, and the loss of life remains unknown.

Her wooden Hull and sidewheel structure would have made her particularly vulnerable to high winds and rough waters, common challenges faced by early steamers on the Great Lakes.

Loss of Life

Unknown: Records do not specify whether there were casualties associated with the vessel’s stranding and subsequent breakup.

Final Disposition

The Queen Charlotte was stranded and broke up near Cataraqui Bay, where she was likely Abandoned due to the severity of the damage. No attempts at salvage or rebuilding are recorded, suggesting the vessel was considered a Total Loss.

Historical Significance

Pioneer of Steam Navigation on Lake Ontario: The Queen Charlotte represents the early adoption of steam technology on the Great Lakes, marking the transition from sail-powered vessels to steam-powered transportation. Her construction in 1819 places her among the first generation of steamers on Lake Ontario.

Economic Development of Upper Canada: By facilitating passenger travel and freight transport, the Queen Charlotte contributed to the economic and social development of Upper Canada (modern-day Ontario). Steamers like the Queen Charlotte were critical in connecting settlements, enabling the movement of people, goods, and mail in a rapidly growing region.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return.

NOTMARs & Advisories

There are no known navigational hazards associated with the wreck of the Queen Charlotte, as the vessel likely disintegrated over time in the shallow waters of Cataraqui Bay.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Maritime Database
• Kingston Marine Museum
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Bath Historical Society

Conclusion

The Queen Charlotte, a 150-foot wooden Sidewheel Steamer, was built in 1819 at Finkle’s Point near Bath, Ontario, by Teabout & Chapman. As one of the earliest steam-powered vessels on Lake Ontario, she played a significant role in transporting passengers and freight across the lake during the early 19th century. Her stranding and destruction in 1837 near Cataraqui Bay, west of Kingston, marked the end of a vessel that had served during a pivotal time in the transition from sail to steam on the Great Lakes.

Her story highlights the challenges faced by early steamships, from mechanical vulnerabilities to the perils of Great Lakes storms. Despite her relatively short operational life, the Queen Charlotte contributed to the growth and connectivity of settlements in Upper Canada, making her an important figure in the maritime history of Lake Ontario.

Suggested Keywords: Queen Charlotte Sidewheel Steamer, Lake Ontario steamships, early steam navigation Canada, Cataraqui Bay shipwrecks, Finkle’s Point shipbuilders, Great Lakes maritime history.

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Ontario, Early Steamships of Canada, Maritime History of Kingston, Ontario, 19th Century Great Lakes Vessels.

Glossary Terms: Sidewheel Steamer, Wood-burning Steam Engine, Stranding, Passenger and Package Freight Vessel, Cataraqui Bay Navigation.