Shipwreck Report: Brig T. Wyman (1845–1855)

Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: T. Wyman (also seen as Wiman)
• Other Names: None
• Official Number: None (pre-registration era)
• Vessel Type: Wooden Brig (Two-Masted Sailing Vessel) (sometimes mistakenly listed as a Steamer)
• Built: 1845, Oswego, New York
• Final Location: Pointe Aux Barques, Lake Huron
• Date Lost: October 4, 1855
• Cause: Storm – Ran aground on a reef
• Final Cargo: Unknown
• Loss of Life: None
• Specifications  Length: 100 feet (30.5 meters)  Beam: 24 feet (7.3 meters)  Depth: 9 feet (2.7 meters) Tonnage: 197 tons (old measurement)
• Hull Material: Wood
• Propulsion: Sail-powered, Brig Rig (Two Masts)
• Owner: Unknown
• Master at Loss: Captain Bartlett

Operational History

The T. Wyman was a wooden Brig built in 1845 in Oswego, New York, a major shipbuilding center on Lake Ontario. As a Brig-rigged sailing vessel, she was likely used for general cargo transport, carrying grain, lumber, coal, or manufactured goods between ports on the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River trade routes.

Brigs like the T. Wyman were fast, maneuverable vessels, well-suited for both open-water sailing and coastal trading. However, they were gradually being replaced by larger schooners and steam-powered ships by the 1850s.

Final Voyage & Loss (October 4, 1855)

Departure & Route:  The T. Wyman was sailing on Lake Huron, likely heading between Michigan and Ontario ports when she encountered a severe storm.

Weather Conditions: A strong gale swept through Lake Huron, creating high waves and heavy winds.  Navigation near Pointe Aux Barques was treacherous, with hidden reefs and shallow waters.

Incident Details:

The T. Wyman was driven onto a reef at Pointe Aux Barques, Michigan. Initially, it was believed she could be salvaged, but the storm battered her Hull over the next few days. The crew managed to escape unharmed. Within a week, the ship was declared a Total Loss, stripped of valuables, and Abandoned.

Wreck Site and Potential Remains

• Location: Near Pointe Aux Barques, Lake Huron
• Current Condition:
  • The wooden Hull likely deteriorated over time, as most mid-19th-century shipwrecks made of wood do.
  • However, iron fastenings, anchors, and cargo remnants may still exist on the lakebed near the reef.
• Potential for Discovery: Given Lake Huron’s shipwreck history, divers or sonar scans could potentially locate remnants of the T. Wymannear known wreck zones off Pointe Aux Barques.

Legacy and Significance

A Classic Example of Mid-19th Century Great Lakes Shipping The T. Wyman represents an era when brigs were essential cargo vessels, bridging sailing ships and steam-powered transportation.  By the late 19th century, brigs had disappeared from the lakes, replaced by schooners and early bulk freighters.

Pointe Aux Barques – A Shipwreck Graveyard The Pointe Aux Barques area is one of the most dangerous locations on the Great Lakes, with dozens of shipwrecks recorded there.

Other notable shipwrecks in the area:

• SS Daniel J. Morrell (1966)
• Steamer Wyoming (1904)
• Barge John Wesley (1905)

A Reminder of the Transition from Sail to Steam By 1855, many ships were transitioning to steam propulsion, making brigs like the T. Wyman increasingly obsolete. The loss of the T. Wyman in 1855 highlights how wooden sailing vessels continued to operate but were at increasing risk from unpredictable weather conditions.

Further Research and Resources

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes  http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca Contains historical records on Brig losses in the Great Lakes.
•  Michigan Shipwreck Research Association https://www.michiganshipwrecks.orgProvides information on shipwrecks near Pointe Aux Barques and Lake Huron.
• Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary  https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/thunderbay/ Focuses on preserving and researching Great Lakes shipwrecks.
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum  https://www.shipwreckmuseum.com Archives shipwrecks and maritime disasters in Michigan waters.

Conclusion

The T. Wyman (1845–1855) was a two-masted wooden Brig built in Oswego, New York, serving in the general cargo trade on the Great Lakes. She was lost in a storm on October 4, 1855, after running aground on a reef near Pointe Aux Barques, Michigan.

Although initially considered salvageable, she was stripped and Abandoned within a week. Like many brigs of her time, she was eventually replaced by larger schooners and steamers, marking the transition from sail to powered vessels on the Great Lakes.

Her exact wreck site remains undiscovered, but potential remains may still exist off Pointe Aux Barques, adding to the rich shipwreck history of Lake Huron.