Identification & Site Information

• Name: WILLIAM F. P. TAYLOR (also seen as W.F.P. TAYLOR)
• Official Number: None (pre-dates official registration systems)
• Type at Loss: Sidewheel Steamer, Wood-Hulled
• Builder: John McGowan
• Place Built: Silver Creek, New York
• Year Built: 1835
• Specifications: Length: 88 ft (26.8 m) Beam: 18 ft (5.5 m) Depth: 7 ft (2.1 m)
• Tonnage: 95 tonnage (Old Style)
• Date of Loss: September 1838 (some sources suggest 1842, though 1838 is supported by enrollment documents)
• Place of Loss: Near Michigan City, Indiana
• Lake: Michigan
• Type of Loss: Storm (Stranded and broke in two)
• Loss of Life: None
• Carrying: Unknown (likely general cargo or passengers, as she operated in commercial service)

Vessel Type

The WILLIAM F. P. TAYLOR was a Sidewheel Steamer, a common design in the early steam era on the Great Lakes. These vessels featured large paddle wheels mounted on either side of the Hull, driven by steam engines. They were popular for their speed and ability to navigate shallow harbors, making them ideal for passenger and package freight service during the expansion of commerce around the Great Lakes.

Description & History

Built in 1835 by John McGowan at Silver Creek, New York, the WILLIAM F. P. TAYLOR represented an early generation of Great Lakes steamers. She was relatively small, at just 95 tons, and designed for regional transportation of passengers and freight, likely operating routes along Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, and their connecting waterways.

In 1836, the vessel suffered her first major disaster when she burned at Cattaraugus Creek, along the Lake Erie shoreline, resulting in the loss of one life. Despite the damage, she was repaired and returned to service, demonstrating the resilience and economic importance of steam vessels during this period.

Following the loss of the Steamer Detroit in 1837, a group of Chicago entrepreneurs chartered the WILLIAM F. P. TAYLOR to maintain vital shipping connections in the rapidly growing region. This reflects the vessel’s versatility and the growing demand for reliable transportation to support the settlement and trade boom in the Midwest.

Her final voyage ended tragically in September 1838 when she was caught in a violent storm near Michigan City, Indiana. The vessel was stranded just outside the pier and ultimately broke in two, leading to her being declared a Total Loss. Some historical accounts suggest that she may have experienced a fire aboard either during or after the incident, although this detail remains uncertain.

Final Disposition

The WILLIAM F. P. TAYLOR was considered beyond recovery after breaking apart near Michigan City. Early Great Lakes shipwrecks like hers were often left in place, salvaged only for valuable machinery or fittings. The wreck site’s exact location remains undocumented, and there’s no known record of later recovery efforts.

Resources & Links

• Wikipedia – Silver Creek
• Inland Seas Journal (IS)
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Historic Great Lakes (HGL)
• Lloyd’s Register of Lake Vessels (LHL)
• Western Lakes Maritime History (WL)
• Toronto Maritime Heritage (TCMH)
• Historical Collections of the Great Lakes (HCGL)

Conclusion

The WILLIAM F. P. TAYLOR exemplifies the early era of steam navigation on the Great Lakes, a time when steam technology was transforming transportation and commerce. Despite suffering two catastrophic incidents—a fire in 1836and her final wreck in 1838—the vessel’s career reflects both the opportunities and perils faced by early mariners. Her loss near Michigan City underscores the vulnerability of wooden sidewheel steamers to the region’s unpredictable weather and challenging navigation conditions.