Shipwreck Report: Schooner Wave (1854–1858)

Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: Wave
• Other Names: Unknown
• Official Number: None (Pre-dates official U.S. vessel registration system)
• Vessel Type: Wooden Schooner
• Built: 1854, Fairport, Ohio
• Home Port: Unknown (Likely Fairport, OH, or another Great Lakes port)
• Owner & Captain: Thomas Warwick (deceased in wreck)
• Specifications Length: 57 feet (17.4 meters) Beam: 15 feet (4.6 meters) Depth: 2 feet (0.6 meters)
• Tonnage: 16 tons (old measurement)

Operational History

The Wave was a small wooden Schooner built in Fairport, Ohio, in 1854. It was primarily used for:

• Cargo transport of grain, wheat, flour, and other agricultural products across the Great Lakes.
• Short-haul freight shipments between Ontario, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin ports.
• Possible fishing or local trade duties when not carrying bulk goods.

Typical Trade Route

Likely operated along the Lake Erie and Lake Huron shipping lanes.  Transported wheat and flour from Ohio grain-producing regions to Ontario markets.

Final Voyage and Loss

•  Date of Loss: October 7, 1858
• Location: Off Inverhuron, Ontario, Lake Huron
• Cause: Storm
• Cargo at Loss: Wheat and flour
• Loss of Life: 2 (Captain Thomas Warwick and one crew member)

Incident Details

The Wave was caught in a storm off Inverhuron, Ontario, while carrying wheat and flour  The storm overwhelmed the small vessel, and she Foundered, sinking with the loss of two lives. The captain, Thomas Warwick, an Orkney Islander, and one crewman perished.The remaining crew members (if any) may have survived, but no details are available.

Legacy and Significance

Small Trade Schooners and Their Risks  The Wave was one of many small schooners used in Great Lakes bulk freight trade These small, lightly built vessels were extremely vulnerable to storms, especially in autumn when weather conditions worsened.

Tragic Loss of Captain Thomas Warwick The death of Captain Warwick and his crewman highlights the dangers of early Great Lakes shipping. The Orkney Islanders, like Warwick, were known for their seafaring skills, yet even experienced sailors could not always overcome severe lake storms.

Shipwrecks Near Inverhuron, Ontario The Inverhuron shoreline is known for numerous shipwrecks due to its rocky coast and exposure to Lake Huron storms. Many schooners, steamers, and barges were lost in the region over the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Wreck Site and Potential Remains

• Location: Near Inverhuron, Ontario, Lake Huron
• Current Condition: Given the small size and wooden construction, most of the Wave’s structure would have deteriorated. Some metal fastenings, cargo remnants (barrel hoops, milling equipment), or ballast stones may still exist on the lakebed.
• Potential for Discovery:
• Sonar or magnetometer surveys near Inverhuron Provincial Park may locate scattered debris from the wreck. No known dives or recovery efforts have documented her remains.

Further Research and Resources

• Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston https://www.marmuseum.ca Archives on 19th-century schooners and shipwrecks in Ontario waters.
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.caHolds records on small Great Lakes schooners and early maritime fatalities.Ontario Marine Heritage CommitteeWorks on documenting and preserving shipwreck sites in Ontario’s Great Lakes.
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society Focuses on wreck discovery and conservation efforts.
• Wikipedia – Inverhuron

Conclusion

The Wave (1854–1858) was a small but hardworking wooden Schooner that carried grain and flour across the Great Lakes. She sank in a storm off Inverhuron, Ontario, with the loss of her captain and one crew member. Though her wreck has never been found, she remains a reminder of the dangers faced by 19th-century sailors, particularly those navigating Lake Huron’s unpredictable waters.