IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

• Vessel Name: Frontenac
• Year of Build: 1678
• Vessel Type: Brigantine (Possibly a shallop)
• Length: Estimated around 30 feet (9.14 meters)
• Beam: Estimated around 9 feet (2.74 meters)
• Depth: Estimated around 5 feet (1.52 meters)
• Tonnage: 10 tons
• Final Location: Cape Enrage, near the mouth of the Niagara River, Lake Ontario
• Date: 8 January 1679
• How:  Dragged anchors and went ashore
• Final Cargo:  Ironwork and supplies for building the Griffon
• Deaths: None reported

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The Frontenac was a wooden vessel constructed at Fort Frontenac (modern-day Kingston, Ontario) in 1678 under the direction of Sieur de LaSalle, a prominent French explorer and trader. Rigged as a Brigantine, though some sources suggest she may have been a shallop, the Frontenac was built to support LaSalle’s ambitious plans for exploration and trade across the Great Lakes. As one of the earliest known European vessels on the Great Lakes, the Frontenac played a critical role in LaSalle’s efforts to extend French influence in North America.

HISTORY

The Frontenac embarked on a significant voyage from Fort Frontenac on November 18, 1678, carrying materials intended for the construction of a larger vessel, the Griffon. The Frontenac sought shelter at the mouth of the Humber River, near present-day Toronto, from November 26 to December 5, 1678. During this time, the crew traded with local Indigenous peoples for provisions, notably Indian corn, while they waited for favorable winds to continue their journey.

On December 5, 1678, Frontenac departed from the Humber River, heading towards Niagara. The vessel anchored within five leagues of the shore, enduring harsh weather conditions. The following day, the Frontenac became the first recorded European ship to enter the Niagara River. The Iroquois inhabitants, particularly the Seneca, were astonished by the ship, referring to it as a “great wooden canoe.”

After navigating up the Niagara River, the Frontenac was berthed near present-day Lewiston, New York, on December 15, 1678. Unfortunately, the vessel’s voyage ended tragically on January 8, 1679, when the Frontenac dragged her anchors during a storm and went ashore at Cape Enrage, near the mouth of the Niagara River. The wreck resulted in the loss of the ironwork and supplies intended for the construction of the Griffon, making the Frontenac the first decked vessel lost on the Great Lakes.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The Frontenac was wrecked on the southern shore of Lake Ontario on January 8, 1679. The vessel dragged her anchors during a storm and went ashore at Cape Enrage, near the mouth of the Niagara River. The Frontenac was carrying critical supplies for the construction of the Griffon, but all were lost in the wreck. There were no lives lost in the incident.

LOCATED BY & DATE

Located by: Not specified; the exact location of the vessel’s remains is not documented.
Date of Discovery: Not applicable.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES

There are no specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the Frontenac wreck site. The exact location of the wreck is unknown, and it is not marked on navigational charts.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY

The remains of the Frontenac have not been definitively located. Given the passage of time and the fact that the vessel was lost in 1679, it is unlikely that any significant parts of the ship remain intact. The site, if it exists, is not accessible to divers or researchers.

RESOURCES & LINKS

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Provides detailed historical context and data on the Frontenac and other early Great Lakes vessels.
• David Swayze Shipwreck File: A comprehensive resource for researching shipwrecks in the Great Lakes, including the Frontenac.
• Great Lakes Maritime Database: Offers extensive information on historical vessels that operated on the Great Lakes, including the Frontenac.
• Steamboat Era in the Muskokas – by Richard Tatlen: Provides insights into early maritime history on the Great Lakes, including references to the Frontenac.
• Toronto Telegram (Toronto, ON), 20 Dec 1947: Historical newspaper coverage of Great Lakes maritime history, including the Frontenac.
• Schooner Days DCCCXXVI (826) by C. H. J. Snider: A detailed account of early Great Lakes vessels, including the story of the Frontenac.
• CONCLUSION

The Frontenac is a significant vessel in the history of Great Lakes exploration and trade, marking one of the earliest European voyages on these waters. Built under the direction of Sieur de LaSalle, the Frontenac played a crucial role in the early French efforts to establish trade and influence in North America. The vessel’s tragic end on the southern shore of Lake Ontario in 1679 underscores the challenges faced by early explorers and traders as they navigated the unpredictable and often perilous waters of the Great Lakes. The Frontenac‘s legacy is preserved in historical records, offering valuable insights into the early days of European exploration in North America.

The story of the Frontenac highlights the ambitious and often perilous nature of early European exploration and trade on the Great Lakes. As one of the earliest known vessels to navigate these waters, the Frontenac played a pivotal role in the expansion of French influence in North America. The vessel’s loss near the mouth of the Niagara River in 1679 is a poignant reminder of the challenges and dangers faced by those who sought to explore and trade in these vast and uncharted territories. The Frontenac‘s history offers a fascinating glimpse into the early days of European maritime activity on the Great Lakes, contributing to our understanding of the broader narrative of North American exploration and settlement.