Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: T.G. Colt

• Type: Wooden Schooner

• Year Built: 1846

• Builder: Unknown, constructed in Black River, Ohio

• Dimensions:

• Tonnage: Approximately 90 tons (old-style measurement)

• Configuration: Single Deck, two masts

• Home Waters: Presque Isle District, Lake Erie

• Final Disposition: Sunk off Barcelona, New York, Lake Erie, on July 3, 1859

• Cause of Wreck: Severe storm; vessel sprang a leak

• Cargo at Time of Loss: 100 tons of coal

• Value of Vessel: Estimated at $2,000

• Location: Near Barcelona, New York, Lake Erie (exact coordinates undocumented)

Vessel Type Description

The T.G. Colt was a wooden Schooner, a type of vessel often favored on the Great Lakes for its versatility and cargo-carrying capacity. Schooners of this era were typically built with a single Deck and multiple masts, providing both stability and flexibility to handle Lake Erie’s changing conditions. With a modest tonnage of 90 tons, the T.G. Colt was well-suited to regional trade, frequently carrying goods such as coal, lumber, and other essentials for Great Lakes communities.

History

Built in 1846 at Black River, Ohio, the T.G. Colt began its life as a promising addition to the Lake Erie trade network. For over a decade, the vessel operated actively within the Presque Isle District, carrying goods across the lake under the ownership of its captain, William Langley.

In 1854, the T.G. Colt suffered a significant mishap as it attempted to enter Buffalo harbor. The Schooner struck a Breakwater and began to take on water. Although it was pulled off and brought into the Erie basin for repairs, the vessel ultimately filled with water and sank—a premonition of the tragic end that would follow several years later.

The vessel’s final chapter unfolded on July 3, 1859. While en route from Erie to Buffalo with a heavy cargo of 100 tons of coal, the T.G. Colt encountered a fierce storm. Battling strong northeast winds, the Schooner sprang a leak and began taking on water rapidly. Despite the crew’s best efforts, the vessel could not be saved. It sank into the depths of Lake Erie near Barcelona, New York.

The tragedy of the T.G. Colt was compounded by the loss of a crew member, John M. Barley, the vessel’s cook, who perished in the wreck. The ferocity of the storm and the vessel’s swift descent into the lake left little chance for the crew to escape. The vessel’s sinking, reported by the Erie Gazette, resonated with the community as a somber reminder of the dangers inherent to maritime life on Lake Erie.

Final Disposition

The T.G. Colt rests somewhere off the shores of Barcelona, New York, in Lake Erie, where it met its tragic end in 1859. The vessel, valued at $2,000 at the time, along with its cargo of coal, was lost in the storm. The Schooner became a symbol of the inherent perils faced by mariners on Lake Erie, remembered for both the loss of the vessel and the sacrifice of John M. Barley.

Legacy and Historical Significance

The story of the T.G. Colt exemplifies the unpredictable and often harsh realities of Great Lakes navigation. For many mariners, the lake’s frequent storms and changing conditions posed constant threats, and vessels like the T.G. Colt often became casualties of these dangers. The Schooner’s memory endures as a testament to the resilience and courage of those who braved the Great Lakes’ challenging waters. Its story is woven into the lore of Lake Erie’s maritime history, reminding us of the sacrifices and trials faced by 19th-century sailors.

Resources & Links

For additional information on the T.G. Colt and Great Lakes maritime history:

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Maritime History of the Great Lakes

• Great Lakes Ships Database: Great Lakes Ships Database

• Erie Historical Society: Potential local resources on Lake Erie shipwrecks and 19th-century maritime incidents.