Shipwreck Report: PLOW BOY

Identification & Site Information

• • Name: PLOW BOY
• • Type: Wooden Schooner
• • Builder: Unknown, built in Genesee, New York
• • Year Built: 1816
• • Dimensions:
• • Original: 70 feet (21.3 meters) in length
• • Updated (1821): 58 feet (17.7 meters) in length, 16 feet (4.9 meters) in width, 3 feet 7 inches (1.1 meters) in depth
• • Tonnage:
• • 31 tons (old measurement style)
• • Updated: 29 25/95 tons
• • Number of Decks: 1
• • Number of Masts: 2
• • Owner: E. L. Clark
• • Home Ports: Oswego, New York (1816); Genesee, New York (1821)
• • Final Location: Near Six Town Point, New York, Lake Ontario
• • Coordinates: Not disclosed
• • Depth: Undisclosed

Vessel Type Description

The PLOW BOY was a small wooden Schooner designed for cargo transport, typical of early 19th-century Great Lakes vessels. With its modest size and two-mast rigging, it was well-suited for navigating the often unpredictable conditions of Lake Ontario and transporting bulk goods like salt.

History

Construction and Early Career

• • Built in 1816, the PLOW BOY was enrolled in Oswego, New York, the same year. It was among the many schooners that supported the bustling trade on Lake Ontario.
• • By 1821, the vessel was re-enrolled in Genesee, New York, with updated dimensions, reflecting modifications likely made to improve its cargo capacity or seaworthiness.

Final Voyage

• • On December 15, 1822, the PLOW BOY, under the command of Captain Eadus, was transporting a cargo of salt from Oswego to the Bay of Quinte.
• • While navigating near Six Town Point, a tragic incident caused the Schooner to wreck. The entire cargo was lost, but all crew members were reported to have survived the ordeal.
• • The wreck and its loss were reported in the Ontario Repository, a Canandaigua, New York newspaper, documenting the perilous conditions of early Great Lakes navigation.

Discovery

• In 2021, Art Trembanis and his team from the University of Delaware discovered the wreck while testing equipment in Lake Ontario. This marked a significant addition to the underwater cultural heritage of the region.

Final Disposition

The wreck of the PLOW BOY lies near Six Town Point in Lake Ontario. The vessel’s modest size and historical significance make it an important artifact representing early 19th-century Great Lakes shipping.

Current Condition & Accessibility

• • The current state of the wreck remains largely unknown. Given its wooden construction and the passage of nearly 200 years, significant deterioration is expected.
• • The wreck has not been disclosed for public diving, and its exact location and depth remain confidential.

Resources & Links

• • Ontario Repository, Canandaigua, New York: Historical accounts of the wreck.
• • Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Contextual information on early 19th-century Great Lakes schooners.
• • NOAA Reports: Contributions to Lake Ontario’s underwater heritage.
• • University of Delaware: Research and documentation by Art Trembanis and his team.

Analysis

The PLOW BOY encapsulates the challenges faced by early maritime commerce on the Great Lakes. Its loss during a routine cargo trip underscores the hazards of navigating Lake Ontario’s waters. The vessel’s discovery by modern researchers bridges the historical and archaeological understanding of Great Lakes trade in the early 19th century, highlighting the evolving connection between technology and maritime history preservation.