Shipwreck Report: MARQUIS (Formerly TOBIAS BUTLER)

Identification & Site Information

•Name: MARQUIS (formerly TOBIAS BUTLER)

•Type: Three-masted Wooden Schooner

•Construction: Wooden Hull, carvel-built

•Builder: William Jamieson

•Year Built: August 1872

•Location of Build: Mill Point, Ontario (now Deseronto)

•Measurements:

•Length: 148.0 feet (45.11 meters)

•Beam: 28.9 feet (8.81 meters)

•Depth: 11.5 feet (3.51 meters)

•Tonnage:

•Gross: 446.30 tons

•Registered: 424.00 tons

•Home Port: Toronto, Ontario

•Initial Registration: Napanee, Ontario

•Cargo Capacity: Over 500,000 feet of lumber

•Value at Launch: Approximately $20,000 (as TOBIAS BUTLER), $18,000 (as MARQUIS)

Vessel Type Description

The MARQUIS was a three-masted Schooner with a round Stern, designed to carry substantial cargoes of lumber and other bulk goods. Constructed with the finest white oak timbers, the vessel exemplified high standards of shipbuilding craftsmanship. Her carvel-built Hull ensured durability and stability, making her well-suited for the rigours of the Great Lakes trade.

History

The MARQUIS began her life as the TOBIAS BUTLER, launched on August 27, 1872, from the shipyard of H.B. Rathbun & Son in Mill Point, Ontario. She was the largest vessel ever built on the Bay of Quinte at the time, reflecting the area’s thriving shipbuilding industry. Designed to facilitate trade between Bay of Quinte ports and Oswego, New York, the Schooner had an impressive carrying capacity of over half a million feet of lumber.

The TOBIAS BUTLER was a symbol of the region’s economic vitality, built to high specifications, and rated as A No. 1 for insurance purposes. Her initial registration was in Napanee, Ontario, where she served as a Barge for lumber transportation.

On May 25, 1875, the vessel was renamed MARQUIS and relocated to Toronto under the ownership of W. Hale. Despite the name change, the ship continued to serve in the lumber trade, leveraging her significant cargo capacity and robust construction.

Final Disposition

The eventual fate of the MARQUIS is not detailed in the historical record. Her contributions to the lumber trade and the maritime economy of the Great Lakes remain a testament to the shipbuilding industry of the Bay of Quinte and the foresight of her builders.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) are linked to the MARQUIS. The lack of records suggests that the vessel was likely retired, decommissioned, or lost to history without a significant wreck event.

Located By & Date

No wreckage of the MARQUIS has been documented. It remains unclear whether the vessel met with disaster or was dismantled after her operational life.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No known remains of the MARQUIS have been identified. If wrecked, her timbers and other components may rest on the Great Lakes’ lakebed, awaiting discovery.

Resources & Links

•Maritime History of the Great Lakes

•David Swayze Shipwreck File

•Great Lakes Ships Database

Keywords

Schooner MARQUIS, TOBIAS BUTLER, Bay of Quinte shipbuilding, Mill Point shipyard, H.B. Rathbun & Son, Great Lakes lumber trade, 19th-century schooners, carvel-built vessels, Canadian maritime history, wooden Schooner legacy.

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