J.F. TRACY Identification & Site Information

• Other Names: None (also seen as J.P. TRACY)
• Official No.: 12774
• Type at Loss: Schooner, wood, 2-mast
• Build Info: 1855, F.N. Jones, Buffalo, NY
• Specs: 102x24x8 ft, 139 gross tons, 132 net tons
• Date of Loss: 1886, September 4
• Place of Loss: West side of Beaver Island, Lake Michigan

History and Description

The J.F. TRACY was a 2-mast wooden Schooner built in 1855 by F.N. Jones in Buffalo, New York. The ship was 102 feet (31 meters) long, with a beam of 24 feet (7 meters) and a depth of 8 feet (2.4 meters), and had a Gross Tonnage of 139 tons. In her early years, the J.F. TRACY had a reputation for being difficult to handle and was considered unseaworthy by the time of her loss. In fact, she was un-insurable due to her condition, and her history was marked by struggles in heavy weather. In 1866, the TRACY became notorious for taking 11 days to travel from Detroit to Conneaut, Ohio in stormy conditions, leading some to believe she had been lost during that voyage.

Final Disposition

On September 4, 1886, the J.F. TRACY went aground just offshore on the west side of Beaver Island, Lake Michigan, during a storm. The Schooner became wrecked and was considered a Total Loss. Due to her already precarious condition, she was Abandoned as unseaworthy and was not salvaged. Despite her difficulties, no lives were lost in this final incident.

Master and Ownership

The J.F. TRACY operated out of Chicago, Illinois, during her final years. She had experienced several issues over her lifetime, leading to her eventual abandonment.

Sources & References

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Offers details on the Schooner’s struggles and ultimate wrecking
• Great Lakes Ships
• Wikipedia
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Bowling Green State University
• Great Lakes Historical Society: Maintains records of the J.F. TRACY and similar vessels.
• Shipwreck Data: Lists wrecks and other incidents involving 19th-century schooners like the TRACY.

Conclusion

The J.F. TRACY, though a significant part of Lake Michigan’s maritime history, was marked by misfortune, with her final fate coming in 1886. Her unseaworthiness and un-insurability before her loss highlight the challenges of 19th-century shipping on the Great Lakes, and her wreck near Beaver Island adds to the mystique of the lake’s many shipwrecks.