Identification & Site Information

•Vessel Name: Barclay

•Vessel Type: Scow Schooner (Wooden Hull)

•Year Built: 1857

•Builder: J. McDermot or Sylvester Larned (sources vary)

•Build Location: Detroit, Michigan

•Official Number: 26834

•Dimensions:

•Length: 72.7 feet (22.1 meters)

•Beam: 18.8 feet (5.7 meters)

•Depth: 5 feet (1.5 meters)

•Tonnage:

•old style measurement: 69 tons

•Gross Tonnage (1866): 53.23 tons

•Decks: Single

•Masts: Two

History

The Barclay was a scow Schooner built in Detroit, Michigan, in 1857. It featured a wooden Hull and was primarily used for cargo transport on the Great Lakes during the mid-19th century. The vessel’s construction, potentially by J. McDermot or Sylvester Larned, highlights the shipbuilding practices in Michigan during this era, particularly for utilitarian lake-going schooners.

Throughout its operational life, the Barclay changed ownership multiple times:

•1860: Owned by J. McAllister of Detroit, Michigan.

•1863: Ownership transferred to Whitney & Sims of Lakeport, Michigan.

•1866: Purchased by F. Mannel of Port Huron, Michigan. Later that year, the vessel was recorded as owned by Nelson Little and William Brown of Port Huron.

The Barclay was enrolled in Port Huron on October 26, 1866, marking its final recorded official documentation.

Final Disposition

The Barclay was lost on February 15, 1868 under unspecified circumstances. Records do not detail whether the loss was due to a storm, collision, or other maritime incidents. By December 17, 1878, the vessel’s official documents were surrendered in Port Huron, indicating its formal removal from service and registry.

External Links and Resources

•David Swayze Shipwreck File: Historical database of Great Lakes shipwrecks.

•Great Lakes Ships: Repository of maritime history, vessels, and incidents.

Keywords

Barclay, scow Schooner, Detroit shipbuilding, Port Huron maritime history, Great Lakes shipwrecks, 19th-century schooners, cargo vessels, Nelson Little, William Brown, Lakeport Michigan shipping.

Conclusion

The Barclay, a scow Schooner from Detroit, reflects the utilitarian design and rugged service of Great Lakes vessels during the mid-19th century. Though the details of its loss remain unclear, its service history showcases the dynamic nature of maritime trade and ownership transitions during this era. The vessel’s story remains a small but significant part of the Great Lakes’ rich maritime heritage.