Schooner Twin Brothers (1848–1860)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: Twin Brothers
• Other Names: None
• Official Number: None (pre-registration era)
• Vessel Type at Loss: Wooden, two-masted Schooner
• Builder: G. Barber, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Year Built & Launched: 1848
• Specifications: Length: 91 ft (27.7 m) Beam: 21 ft (6.4 m) Depth: 8 ft (2.4 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 144 T
• Date Lost: March 11, 1860
• Location of Loss: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Lake Michigan
• Cause of Loss: Storm, driven onto the south pier
• Loss of Life: None
• Cargo at Time of Loss: Unknown

Vessel Description & History

The Twin Brothers was a two-masted wooden Schooner, constructed in 1848 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by G. Barber.

During the mid-19th century, schooners like the Twin Brothers were the backbone of Great Lakes trade, transporting lumber, grain, and general cargo between Midwestern ports such as Milwaukee, Sheboygan, and Chicago.

The vessel was known as a “hard-luck ship,” suffering at least five serious accidents over its career, indicating multiple groundings, collisions, or heavy weather damage before her final wreck in 1860.

Final Voyage & Loss

On March 11, 1860, the Twin Brothers left Milwaukee, bound for Sheboygan. Shortly after departure, the ship began to leak, forcing the captain to turn back toward Milwaukee for repairs.

 Before she could safely return, a storm struck, driving her onto the south pier of the Straight Cut (a dredged harbor channel in Milwaukee). The vessel was destroyed by the pounding waves, leaving her beyond recovery. Despite the severe damage, all crew members survived.

Final Disposition & Salvage

• Declared a Total Loss after the wreck.
• No records of salvage efforts.
• No known remains, likely due to deterioration, removal, or harbor expansion over time.

Located By & Date Found

No confirmed modern discovery of the wreck.  Any remnants would likely be buried under Milwaukee’s harbor developments.

NOTMARs & Advisories

• Milwaukee’s Straight Cut was notorious for shipwrecks in the 19th century, as storms could drive vessels into the piers or shallow bars at the harbor entrance.

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
• Great Lakes Vessel Database (BGSU): https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/vessels

Conclusion

The Twin Brothers was a typical Great Lakes Schooner of her era, serving regional trade routes for over 12 yearsbefore her final wreck in Milwaukee in 1860. Known for a history of bad luck, her final voyage ended when she was driven onto a pier and destroyed by a storm. Today, no known remains exist, but her story is a reminder of the dangers of early sailing on the Great Lakes.