Identification & Site Information

• Name: Belvidere

• Year Built: 1847

• Builder: Oakville, Ontario

• Owner: Captain Burnside

• Tonnage: 60 tons

• Location of Loss: Off the coast of Oakville, Lake Ontario

Vessel Type Description

The Belvidere was a wooden Schooner designed for the transportation of cargo across the Great Lakes. Its modest tonnage of 60 tons made it suitable for regional trade, particularly for carrying essential goods like lumber, a critical commodity for construction and heating during the mid-19th century.

History

Constructed in 1847 in Oakville, Ontario, the Belvidere was valued at $1,000 at the time of its construction. Owned and captained by Captain Burnside, the Schooner served Lake Ontario’s trade routes for nearly a decade.

On the night of December 14, 1856, while en route to Oakville with a cargo of wood, the Belvidere was caught in a severe gale. The Schooner capsized off the coast of Oakville, leading to the tragic loss of all lives on board, including Captain Burnside and four crew members. Despite recovery efforts, the bodies of the crew were never found, and the vessel was declared a Total Loss.

The loss of the Belvidere was widely reported in local newspapers, underscoring the perilous conditions faced by Great Lakes mariners, particularly during the winter months when weather conditions could deteriorate rapidly.

Final Disposition

The Belvidere capsized during a violent storm on Lake Ontario on December 14, 1856, leading to the complete loss of the vessel and its crew. The wreckage was never located, and the Schooner was removed from the list of Canadian vessels in the following year.

Notices & Advisories

• NOTMARs: No specific Notices to Mariners are associated with the Belvidere wreck.

Located By & Date

• Discovery: The wreckage of the Belvidere has not been recovered or identified.

• Date of Sinking: December 14, 1856

Current Condition & Accessibility

• Condition: Unknown, as the wreck has not been located.

• Accessibility: Not applicable due to the absence of a confirmed wreck site.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes

• David Swayze Shipwreck File

• C. Patrick Labadie Collection – Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library

• Buffalo Commercial Advertiser – January 31, 1857

• Toronto Globe – December 16, 1856

• Buffalo Daily Republic – December 19, 1856

• List of Canadian Vessels for 1856

Analysis

The sinking of the Belvidere illustrates the grave challenges faced by schooners navigating the Great Lakes during the 19th century. The December 1856 gale, a deadly but common occurrence in the region, was a stark reminder of the dangers of winter shipping. The loss of the Belvidere, along with its entire crew, underscores the precarious nature of maritime trade during this period and highlights the risks inherent in transporting goods across the often unpredictable waters of the Great Lakes.

Keywords

• Belvidere Schooner

• 1856 Shipwreck

• Oakville, Ontario

• Lake Ontario Maritime History

• Captain Burnside

• Great Lakes Maritime Disaster

• Wood Cargo Transport

• 19th-Century Great Lakes Schooners