Identification & Site Information

• Name: Uncle Tom
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: 25040
• Date Built & Launched: 1855
• Builder: Merry & Gay, Milan, Ohio
• Specifications: 231 tons
• Vessel Type: Wooden Schooner
• Date Lost: November 1874
• Place of Loss: Near Buffalo, New York, Lake Erie
• Cause of Loss: Ran ashore during a storm and wrecked
• Loss of Life: None
• Cargo: Staves (wooden planks used for barrel-making)
• Owner: Cardinall, McCarthy & Gibson, Toledo, Ohio
• Repaired: 1868

Vessel Type

The Uncle Tom was a wooden Schooner, a common vessel type on the Great Lakes, primarily used for transporting lumber, grain, and manufactured goods. At 231 tons, it was a medium-sized Schooner, well-suited for bulk cargo transport between Midwest and East Coast ports.

Description & History

Built in 1855 by Merry & Gay in Milan, Ohio, the Uncle Tom was part of the flourishing trade network of the Great Lakes, connecting Toledo, Buffalo, and other key shipping hubs. The vessel had an 18-year service life, undergoing repairs in 1868, likely after sustaining damage from an earlier accident or storm.

In November 1874, the Uncle Tom was caught in a storm on Lake Erie while transporting staves (used for barrel construction). The ship ran aground at “Tifft’s Farm”, an area near Buffalo, New York, known for its shallow waters and hazardous shoreline. The impact left the vessel wrecked beyond recovery, though no lives were lost.

Final Disposition

The Uncle Tom was declared a Total Loss, and no known salvage efforts were recorded. The wreck was likely broken up by wave action or later removed to prevent navigational hazards.

Located By & Date Found

No confirmed discovery of the wreck has been documented.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Tifft’s Farm, now Tifft Nature Preserve, has undergone significant land changes, making any remnants of the ship unlikely to exist. No known modern navigational hazards linked to this wreck.

Resources & Links

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

Conclusion

The Uncle Tom was a typical Great Lakes Schooner, transporting bulk cargo such as wooden staves for barrel production. Its loss near Buffalo in 1874 serves as an example of the frequent shipwrecks caused by Lake Erie storms, particularly in the late fall shipping season. While the vessel was completely wrecked, its story remains part of Great Lakes maritime history.

Keywords & Categories

Keywords: Great Lakes schooners, Buffalo shipwrecks, Lake Erie storms, 19th-century maritime trade, wooden shipwrecks

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Erie, 19th-century shipwrecks, wooden schooners, storm-related losses

Glossary Terms: Schooner, Shipwreck, Lake Erie Navigation, Great Lakes Trade