Identification & Site Information

• Name: York Packet (also seen as York Packett or York)
• Other Names: York (possibly the same vessel as another York lost on Lake Ontario)
• Official Number: None (British registry)
• Vessel Type at Loss: Wooden Schooner
• Builder: Unknown
• Year Built & Launched: Unknown
• Specifications: Unknown
• Date Lost: April 7, 1798
• Location of Loss: Near Presqu’ile, Ontario, Lake Ontario
• Cause of Loss: Storm and alleged sabotage
• Loss of Life: None
• Cargo at Time of Loss: Passengers and general freight

Vessel Description & History

The York Packet was a British-owned Schooner operating on Lake Ontario in the late 18th century. She was owned by S. Heron and A. Miles of York (now Toronto, Ontario) and was primarily used for passenger and cargo transportbetween settlements along the lake.

During this period, maritime trade was still developing in Upper Canada, and schooners like the York Packet played a vital role in connecting outposts such as Genesee River (now Rochester, NY) and York (Toronto, ON). Transporting settlers, mail, and goods, these small vessels were often at the mercy of Lake Ontario’s unpredictable weather.

Final Voyage & Alleged Sabotage

On April 7, 1798, the York Packet was en route from Genesee River to York when she was caught in a storm near Presqu’ile, Ontario. However, sworn statements given to a justice of the peace suggest that her captain and mate deliberately ran her ashore instead of trying to save the vessel.

After intentionally beaching the ship, they allowed her to be wrecked in the storm. Meanwhile, the crew and passengers escaped to shore using a small boat. Instead of attempting to salvage the ship properly, the captain and mate allegedly stole valuable parts of the cargo and disappeared.

The exact fate of the stolen goods and whether the captain and mate were ever caught remains unknown.

Connection to Another York

Some historical sources suggest that this vessel may be the same as the Schooner York, reportedly lost in December 1799at Devil’s Nose, near Pultneyville, NY. If this is true, it would indicate that the York Packet was salvaged after the 1798 wreck and returned to service, only to be lost again the following year. However, no firm evidence confirms this connection.

Located By & Date Found

No known discovery of the wreck has been documented. Given the time period and the nature of the loss, it is likely that no remains of the vessel exist today.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No known modern navigational hazards related to this vessel are documented.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
• David Swayze Shipwreck File: https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org
• Great Lakes Vessel Database (BGSU): https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/vessels

Conclusion

The York Packet is one of the earliest recorded shipwrecks on Lake Ontario and may be the first known case of deliberate shipwreck for theft on the Great Lakes. While storms were a constant threat, the alleged actions of her captain and mate suggest that not all shipwrecks were purely accidental. Whether she was salvaged and lost again or disappeared after her wrecking in 1798 remains a mystery.