Shipwreck Report: Schooner Mary Watson (1853)

Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: Mary Watson
• Other Names: None
• Official Number: None (Canadian vessel)
• Vessel Type: Two-masted wooden Schooner
• Built: 1853, by G. Ford, Goderich, Ontario
• Owners at Time of Loss: The Seymour family, Goderich, Ontario
• Specifications Length: 72 feet (21.9 metres) Beam: 17 feet (5.2 metres) Depth: 8 feet (2.4 metres)
• Tonnage: 69 tons

Operational History

The Mary Watson was a small, two-masted Schooner built in Goderich, Ontario, in 1853. She was used for general cargo transport on Lake Huron, serving coastal trade routes between Ontario and Michigan.

Primary Cargo: Transported coal and salt, both of which were key commodities in the Great Lakes trade network.

Home Port: Goderich, Ontario, a major shipping hub for grain, lumber, and salt exports in the mid-19th century.

Final Voyage and Loss

• Date of Loss: October 10, 1858
• Location: Off Goderich, Ontario, Lake Huron
• Cause: Storm
• Cargo at Loss: Coal and salt
• Loss of Life: None mentioned

Incident Details

The Mary Watson was caught in a severe storm while navigating off Goderich. She was driven ashore near the “north pier” and wrecked. By the end of October 1858, the vessel was reported as a Total Loss.The crew is not mentioned, suggesting that they survived the wreck.

Legacy and Significance

Contribution to the Great Lakes Trade The Mary Watson was part of a fleet of small schooners that supported the coal and salt trade, essential industries for heating, manufacturing, and food preservation in the mid-19th century. Her homeport of Goderich was the site of Canada’s largest salt deposits, making vessels like the Mary Watson key to exporting the resource.

Common Fate of Wooden Schooners The loss of the Mary Watson highlights the dangers faced by early Great Lakes sailors, particularly from violent autumn storms. Many wooden schooners met similar fates, driven ashore by unpredictable weather and rough lake conditions.

Historical Importance of Goderich The wreck occurred near the north pier of Goderich, an area that was a major shipping point on Lake Huron.

Goderich’s maritime history is rich with wrecks, making it a potential site of interest for underwater archaeology and historical research.

Wreck Site and Potential Remains

• Location: Near the north pier, off Goderich, Ontario, Lake Huron.
• Current Condition: The Mary Watson was a Total Loss by the end of October 1858. Given its wooden construction, much of the vessel has likely disintegrated over time. However, artifacts such as iron fittings, ballast, or cargo remnants (coal/salt) may still be present.
• Potential for Discovery: The shallow location near Goderich means any remains could be accessible to divers and archaeological surveys.
• Local divers or historians may have records of past explorations near the north pier.

Further Research and Resources

• Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston https://www.marmuseum.ca Holds historical records on Great Lakes schooners and shipwrecks.
• Huron County Museum & Historic Gaol (Goderich, Ontario) https://www.huroncountymuseum.ca Features exhibits on Goderich’s maritime history, including shipwrecks and trade.
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca A searchable archive of shipwreck records, newspapers, and historical documents.
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society Works to document and preserve historically significant shipwrecks in the Great Lakes region.

Conclusion

The Mary Watson (1853) was a small but important Schooner that played a role in Lake Huron’s coal and salt tradebefore being wrecked in a storm near Goderich in 1858. Though no lives were lost, the incident reflects the harsh conditions of Great Lakes navigation in the 19th century. While her remains are likely scattered or buried, the wreck site near the north pier of Goderich could still hold historical and archaeological significance.