dentification & Site Information

• Name: York
• Official Number: British registry
• Vessel Type at Loss: Wooden Schooner
• Builder: Unknown, built in 1792, Toronto (then York, Upper Canada)
• Specifications: 80 GT
• Date Lost: December 1799
• Location of Loss: Devil’s Nose, near Pultneyville, New York, Lake Ontario
• Cause of Loss: Stranding during a storm
• Loss of Life: None
• Cargo at Time of Loss: Unknown

Vessel Description & History

The York was a small British Schooner built in 1792 in Toronto (then called York, Upper Canada). This places her among the earliest recorded commercial sailing vessels on the Great Lakes. As an 80-ton wooden Schooner, she was likely involved in early trade and transport between British settlements in Upper Canada and the United States along Lake Ontario.

The late 18th century was a period of growth and expansion in the region, with British authorities encouraging commerce and shipbuilding to solidify control over the Great Lakes. The York was part of this early wave of maritime activity, helping to establish supply lines for settlers and military outposts.

Final Disposition

In December 1799, the York encountered a storm on Lake Ontario and was driven onto a rock near Devil’s Nose, a treacherous point on the New York shoreline near Pultneyville.

Other vessels reportedly sighted her stranded on the rocks, with no hope of refloating her. Given the harsh winter conditions of Lake Ontario, it is likely that she was broken apart by ice and waves soon after.

Located By & Date Found

There is no known discovery of the wreck, and given the era, her remains are likely long destroyed or buried under sediment.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No modern navigational hazards associated with this vessel are documented. However, Devil’s Nose remains a known hazard for mariners on Lake Ontario, with shallow, rocky waters that have claimed multiple ships over the centuries.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
• Great Lakes Maritime Database (GLMD): https://greatlakeships.org
• David Swayze Shipwreck File: https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org

Conclusion

The York was one of the earliest schooners built in Toronto, playing a role in the development of trade on Lake Ontario in the late 18th century. Her stranding at Devil’s Nose in 1799 is a reminder of the harsh conditions faced by the first generation of Great Lakes mariners. With no loss of life but no hope of recovery, she became one of the earliest shipwrecks recorded on Lake Ontario.