Identification & Site Information

• Name: Queen of the Bay
• Former Names: None
• Official Registration Number: C [?]
• Date Built and Launched: 1858, by Geo. Thurston or Chas. Jenkins, Kingston, Ontario
• Measurements: Length: 70 ft (21.3 m) Beam: 17 ft (5.2 m) Depth: 6 ft (1.8 m)
• Tonnage: 76 tons
• Date of Loss: November 1867 (third week of the month)
• Place of Loss: Near Oswego, New York Lake Ontario

Vessel Type

The Queen of the Bay was a two-masted wooden scow-Schooner. Scow-schooners were known for their flat-bottomed design, which made them especially useful for navigating shallow waters and transporting cargo in and out of small harbors and rivers. This type of vessel was widely used in the mid-19th century for short-haul freight transport across the Great Lakes. Built in 1858 in Kingston, Ontario, by either Geo. Thurston or Chas. Jenkins, the Queen of the Bay was a 70-foot scow-Schooner with two masts. Her flat-bottomed Hull and modest dimensions made her ideal for coastal shipping and local trade along Lake Ontario’s busy shipping routes.

The vessel’s small size and versatility suggest she carried a variety of cargoes, ranging from building materials to agricultural products. Though specific details about her cargo on her final voyage are unknown, scow-schooners like the Queen of the Bay were essential in supporting local economies and connecting smaller ports with major trade centers like Kingston and Oswego.

Local Freight Transport (1858–1867): The Queen of the Bay operated primarily on Lake Ontario, transporting goods between Canadian and American ports. Her flat-bottomed Hull allowed her to navigate shallow waters, making her a valuable vessel for coastal trade and inland waterway shipping.

Kingston Shipbuilding: Built in Kingston, a prominent shipbuilding centre in Ontario, the Queen of the Bay reflects the region’s maritime heritage. Kingston-produced vessels were known for their craftsmanship and were a vital part of Lake Ontario’s commercial fleet during the mid-19th century.

Final Disposition and Loss (1867)

• Cause of Loss: Storm
• Date of Loss: November 1867 (third week)
• Location: Near Oswego, New York, Lake Ontario

During a storm in late November 1867, the Queen of the Bay was driven ashore near Oswego, New York. The vessel suffered extensive damage and was reported as a Total Loss. The specific details of the storm are unknown, but late-season gales on Lake Ontario were notorious for their fierce winds and rough seas, often catching ships off guard.

Despite the vessel’s destruction, there were no casualties reported. The crew survived, by abandoning ship before the vessel broke apart on the shoreline.

Loss of Life

None: No loss of life was reported in connection with the wreck of the Queen of the Bay.

Final Disposition

The Queen of the Bay was declared a Total Loss after being driven ashore near Oswego, New York. There are no records indicating any attempts to salvage or recover the vessel, and it is likely that she broke apart or was dismantled shortly after the wreck.

Historical Significance

Scow-Schooner Design and Utility The Queen of the Bay represents the importance of scow-schooners in the Great Lakes shipping industry. These vessels were critical for short-distance freight transport, especially in areas with shallow ports or limited docking facilities.

Kingston’s Role in Shipbuilding: Built in Kingston, Ontario, the vessel highlights the city’s prominent role in 19th-century Canadian shipbuilding. Kingston’s Shipyards produced a wide range of commercial vessels, contributing significantly to the maritime economy of the Great Lakes.

Navigational Challenges on Lake Ontario: The Queen of the Bay’s loss near Oswego illustrates the dangers posed by late-season storms on Lake Ontario. These gales were responsible for the loss of many vessels, emphasizing the risks faced by mariners during this period.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return.

NOTMARs & Advisories

There are no known navigational hazards associated with the wreck of the Queen of the Bay. The vessel was reported ashore and likely dismantled or destroyed by wave action shortly after her loss.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Maritime Database
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Kingston Marine Museum
• Oswego Maritime Foundation

Conclusion

The Queen of the Bay, a two-masted scow-Schooner built in 1858 in Kingston, Ontario, served as a local freight carrier on Lake Ontario for nearly a decade before being driven ashore near Oswego, New York, in a November 1867 storm. Though the vessel was declared a Total Loss, her crew survived, highlighting both the resilience of the sailors and the hazards of late-season navigation on the Great Lakes.

The Queen of the Bay exemplifies the importance of small, versatile schooners in the regional economies of the Great Lakes and contributes to the broader history of Canadian-American maritime commerce during the 19th century.

Suggested Keywords: Queen of the Bay Schooner, Lake Ontario shipwrecks, Kingston Ontario shipbuilding, Oswego New York maritime history, Great Lakes scow-schooners, 19th-century Lake Ontario storms.

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Ontario, Great Lakes Scow-Schooners, Maritime Disasters in New York, Kingston Shipbuilding History.

Glossary Terms: Scow-Schooner, Flat-bottomed Hull, Lake Ontario Storms, Oswego Maritime History, Kingston Shipbuilders.