Identification & Site Information

• Name: Henry Young
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: C74070 (Canada), previously U.S. Official Number 11759
• Date Built & Launched: 1866
• Builder: Burns, Lakeport, Michigan (or possibly J. Schaller, Port Huron, Michigan)
• Specifications: 64 ft x 18 ft x 5 ft (19.5 m x 5.5 m x 1.5 m), 40 gross tons, 40 net tons
• Vessel Type: Wooden two-masted scow-Schooner
• Date Lost: 1881
• Place of Loss: Unreported location
• Cause of Loss: Storm (presumed)
• Loss of Life: Unknown
• Cargo: Unknown
• Port of Registry: Originally U.S., sold to Canada in 1879, operated out of Windsor, Ontario

Vessel Type

The Henry Young was a scow-Schooner, a type of flat-bottomed sailing vessel often used for hauling bulk cargoes such as lumber, stone, and grain. These vessels were common on the Great Lakes, as their shallow Draft allowed them to navigate rivers, small harbors, and coastal waters more easily than deep-Draft ships.

Description & History

Built in 1866, the Henry Young served as a working cargo vessel for over a decade. It was originally registered in the United States before being sold to Canadian ownership in 1879, operating out of Windsor, Ontario.

The vessel sank in Lake Erie in 1870 but was apparently salvaged and returned to service.

In 1881, the Henry Young was reported wrecked, though no details of the incident—including its exact location, cargo, or possible casualties—have been found in historical records.

Final Disposition

The Henry Young was declared a wreck in 1881, but no confirmed wreckage has been found.

Located By & Date Found

• No documented discovery of the wreck exists.
• Possible remains may be buried under sediment or lost in an uncharted area.

NOTMARs & Advisories

• If lost in Canadian waters, any remains would fall under Canadian maritime heritage protection laws.
• No known modern navigational hazards linked to this wreck exist.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• NOAA Great Lakes Shipwrecks

Conclusion

The Henry Young was a small but hardworking scow-Schooner, serving both U.S. and Canadian owners. Its sinking in 1870 and later wrecking in 1881 highlight the dangers faced by these lightly built cargo vessels. Due to limited records on its final voyage, the location of its wreck remains unknown, leaving it a mystery in Great Lakes maritime history.

Keywords & Categories

Keywords: Great Lakes schooners, scow-schooners, Lake Erie shipwrecks, Windsor maritime history, 19th-century wooden vessels

Categories: Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes, 19th-century shipwrecks, wooden schooners, storm-related losses

Glossary Terms: Scow-Schooner, Flat-Bottomed Vessel, Great Lakes Cargo Transport, Shipwreck Mystery