IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

Vessel Name: W.W. Grant

Type: Wooden Schooner

Year Built: 1867

Builder: David Foster and Elijah McConnell

Construction Site: Port Burwell, Ontario

Dimensions:

•Length: 100 feet (30.5 meters)

•Beam: 21.6 feet (6.6 meters)

•Depth: 7.1 feet (2.2 meters)

Net Tonnage: 163 tons

Number of Masts: Two

Decks: Single

Home Ports: Port Burwell, Port Elgin, Napanee, Wolf Island, and Ernestown, Ontario

Owners (Chronological):

Location: Lake Ontario (exact coordinates unknown)

The ownership history of the W.W. Grant is a fascinating reflection of the dynamic and often turbulent nature of Great Lakes maritime commerce during the late 19th century. The vessel’s successive transfers of ownership reveal shifts in regional trade demands, the challenges of maintaining profitability in the face of operational hazards, and the broader economic landscape of the Great Lakes. Below is an expanded account of its owners:

1867: David Foster and Elijah McConnell, Port Burwell, Ontario

David Foster and Elijah McConnell, the Schooner’s original builders, were prominent figures in the burgeoning shipbuilding industry of Port Burwell, Ontario. The duo built the W.W. Grant as a durable and versatile two-masted Schooner designed for transporting grain, lumber, and other cargo. The vessel represented a significant investment for its time, serving local merchants and connecting Port Burwell to major trade hubs on the Great Lakes.

1868: E. McConnell and Elijah Titus

Elijah McConnell retained part ownership of the vessel but brought in a new partner, Elijah Titus. This partnership likely reflected the need for additional capital or expertise to expand the Schooner’s operations. The vessel continued to serve regional trade routes, but by this time, its expanding operations necessitated deeper partnerships to maintain its competitiveness in the growing shipping market.

1869: George Craig and Associates, Port Elgin, Ontario

By January 20, 1869, ownership had passed to George Craig and other investors in Port Elgin, Ontario. Port Elgin was emerging as a vital trade hub on Lake Huron, particularly for grain shipments. Under Craig’s ownership, the W.W. Grant began transporting bulk cargo like barley, solidifying its reputation as a reliable workhorse for the burgeoning agricultural trade. However, the Schooner faced its first significant incident under Craig’s ownership when it grounded at Port Elgin in 1870.

1871: David Foster and W. McBooney

David Foster, one of the Schooner’s original builders, reacquired the vessel in partnership with W. McBooney. The reasons for this reacquisition are unclear, but it likely stemmed from the vessel’s established trade routes and profitability despite its early incidents. The Schooner continued its service under this ownership, albeit with additional challenges, including a stranding on Chantry Island, Lake Huron, in late 1871.

1872: A. McDermond (Diamond) and Alfred Eccles, Napanee and Wolfe Island, Ontario

In August 1872, the Schooner passed to A. McDermond (or Diamond) of Napanee and Alfred Eccles of Wolfe Island, Ontario. This ownership shift marked the Schooner’s integration into the growing timber and grain trades in eastern Ontario. Wolfe Island, located near Kingston, Ontario, was a strategic location for ships transporting goods to and from Lake Ontario ports.

During this period, the Schooner suffered another grounding, this time on the east shore of Lake Michigan, which required substantial repairs. Despite these setbacks, McDermond and Eccles likely saw value in the vessel’s continued use for transporting bulk goods.

1875: A.M. Diamond, Eccles, and Simpson

In 1875, the Schooner came under the joint ownership of Diamond, Eccles, and a new partner, Simpson. The vessel’s continued profitability likely necessitated this broader partnership to share operational costs and risks. It continued operating on Lake Ontario and Lake Huron trade routes.

1879: McDiamond, Hicks, and Simpson

By 1879, the Schooner’s ownership expanded to include Hicks alongside the existing partners, McDiamond (a likely variation of McDermond or Diamond) and Simpson. This shift reflects the vessel’s increasing use in larger shipping operations, likely tied to the burgeoning grain trade in Ontario and the United States. The vessel’s aging structure may also have necessitated increased investment to maintain its seaworthiness.

1880: McDiamond and Hicks

In May 1880, Simpson’s share was likely sold, leaving McDiamond and Hicks as the sole owners. The Schooner was still functional but required continued maintenance and repairs due to its age and frequent incidents, including groundings and weather-related damage. The vessel remained an active participant in the competitive Great Lakes shipping industry.

1881: T.S. Burley and Associates, Ernestown, Ontario

The final recorded ownership transfer occurred in April 1881, when T.S. Burley and his associates from Ernestown, Ontario, acquired the Schooner. Ernestown, located near modern-day Bath, Ontario, was a growing hub for agricultural and timber trade along Lake Ontario. Burley’s investment in the vessel suggests confidence in its ability to continue serving these vital trade routes despite its age.

Under Burley’s ownership, the Schooner faced its final years of service. By the early 1880s, the vessel was nearing the end of its operational life, plagued by ongoing maintenance challenges and competition from more modern ships.

Final Years and Sinking

In June 1885, the W.W. Grant met its end, sinking in Lake Ontario under circumstances that remain poorly documented. Its sinking marked the conclusion of a nearly two-decade career in which it played a pivotal role in the Great Lakes’ maritime economy, enduring numerous incidents and ownership transitions.

ANALYSIS OF OWNERSHIP PATTERNS

The frequent ownership changes of the W.W. Grant highlight the Schooner’s enduring utility despite its age and operational challenges. Each transfer likely stemmed from a combination of economic opportunity, regional trade needs, and the inherent risks of operating on the Great Lakes. The vessel’s long service life is a testament to the resilience of wooden schooners in an era when maritime trade was both lucrative and perilous.

LEGACY

The W.W. Grant’s history is emblematic of the Great Lakes shipping industry’s evolving landscape during the late 19th century. Its enduring role in regional commerce, despite numerous incidents and ownership changes, underscores the critical importance of schooners in the development of North American trade networks. Today, its story serves as a window into the challenges and opportunities faced by maritime entrepreneurs of the era.

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The W.W. Grant was a two-masted wooden Schooner constructed in Port Burwell, Ontario, in 1867. With a single Deck and a Net Tonnage of 163 tons, it was designed to carry bulk goods such as grain and lumber across the Great Lakes. Schooners like the W.W. Grant were versatile vessels, relied upon for regional trade during the 19th century, when waterways were critical for economic activity.

HISTORY

Launch and Early Service

The W.W. Grant began its service in 1867 under the ownership of its builders, David Foster and Elijah McConnell. Initially operating between Ontario and U.S. ports, the Schooner quickly became a part of the bustling trade routes of the Great Lakes. By 1869, it had been sold to George Craig and others in Port Elgin, Ontario, and began carrying larger cargoes, such as barley and lumber.

Notable Incidents

•1870: Ran aground at Port Elgin while carrying 5,000 bushels of barley but was successfully refloated.

•1871: Stranded on Chantry Island, Lake Huron, during a voyage to Oswego, New York. Salvaged and returned to service.

•1872: Ran aground on the east shore of Lake Michigan.

•1878: Grounded in Oswego, New York, further adding to its list of challenges.

Ownership Changes

The W.W. Grant underwent numerous ownership changes throughout its operational life, moving from individual proprietors to partnerships. These shifts often reflected the Schooner’s ability to adapt to the economic needs of its owners, such as carrying grain, lumber, or other bulk goods.

Final Years

By the 1880s, the Schooner was owned by T.S. Burley and others from Ernestown, Ontario. Despite its troubled history, it continued to operate on the lakes until its final sinking in 1885.

FINAL DISPOSITION

On a voyage in June 1885, the W.W. Grant sank in Lake Ontario. The specific circumstances of the sinking remain unclear, but no record of loss of life has been noted. The Schooner’s long history of accidents and repairs likely contributed to its eventual demise, a common fate for aging wooden vessels in the competitive and hazardous Great Lakes shipping industry.

LEGACY

The W.W. Grant is emblematic of the life cycle of a 19th-century Schooner on the Great Lakes: built to meet the demands of a growing economy, enduring frequent groundings and salvage operations, and ultimately succumbing to the challenges of its environment. Its history is a reflection of the resilience of Great Lakes vessels and their crews, as well as the dynamic nature of maritime commerce in the region.

RESOURCES & LINKS

•Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Comprehensive records of vessels, incidents, and shipwrecks.

•Great Lakes Ships: Details on ship ownership, trade routes, and maritime incidents.

KEYWORDS

W.W. Grant, Schooner, Lake Ontario Shipwreck, Great Lakes Maritime History, Port Burwell Shipbuilding, 19th-Century Wooden Ships, Chantry Island Stranding, Port Elgin Maritime Trade.