Identification & Site Information

•  Name: John Tibbetts
• Other Names: Built on the Hull of the Canadian Schooner Perseverance, which was formerly Scotia
• Official Number: 13299
• Type at Loss: Schooner, wood, 2-mast
• Builder: Clayton, New York (Hull of Perseverance, previously Scotia)
• Date Built: 1863
• Specifications: Length: 93 feet (28.35 m) Beam: 23 feet (7.01 m) Depth: 10 feet (3.05 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 149 tons (135.6 m³)
• Date of Loss: July 11, 1888
• Place of Loss: Clear Creek, approximately 7 miles west of Port Rowan, Ontario
• Lake: Erie
• Type of Loss: Storm
• Cargo: Coal
• Owner at Loss: Robert Munsey, Cleveland

Vessel Type & Design

The John Tibbetts was a 2-mast Schooner, a common type of sailing vessel used for cargo transport on the Great Lakesin the 19th century. The ship had originally been constructed using the Hull of the Canadian Schooner Perseverance, which was also formerly known as Scotia, built in 1855 at Port Robinson, Ontario, by J. & J. Abbey. The Hull was repurposed in 1863 to form the John Tibbetts, which was used for bulk cargo transportation, primarily coal.

Final Voyage & Loss

On July 11, 1888, the John Tibbetts Foundered in the shallows near Clear Creek, approximately 7 miles west of Port Rowan, Ontario, during a violent storm on Lake Erie. The vessel was swept by storm waves, and eventually, it broke up as it was battered by the force of the waves. Most of the crew managed to make it to shore in a Yawl, while two crew members were rescued by a crew from the Port Rowan lifeboat station. The vessel was reported to be completely gone to pieces by September of that year.

The John Tibbetts had a history of mishaps, including incidents in 1873 and 1883 when the vessel was previously sunk in Lake Huron and near Muskegon, respectively. The vessel underwent major repairs in 1874 and 1879, with rebuilding carried out in 1867 on the Canadian side.

Final Disposition & Recovery

The wreck of the John Tibbetts was reported to have broken up completely by September 1888. No attempts at salvage or recovery were noted in historical records. The ship’s destruction was total, and no significant remains are believed to have survived the storm’s impact.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Clear Creek and the surrounding area are characterized by shallow waters, which can become hazardous during stormy conditions. Mariners should exercise caution when navigating these areas, particularly during inclement weather. Port Rowan and nearby areas along the shore of Lake Erie can experience strong winds and waves, making them prone to vessel foundering during storms.

Resources & Links

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

Conclusion

The John Tibbetts was a 2-mast Schooner that Foundered and broke up during a storm on Lake Erie on July 11, 1888, near Clear Creek, Ontario. The vessel had a tumultuous history, having been repurposed from the Hull of the Perseverance (formerly Scotia) and enduring several previous incidents, including sinkings in Lake Huron and near Muskegon. Despite these setbacks, the John Tibbetts continued to be a reliable coal transport vessel until its final loss in the storm. Fortunately, no lives were lost, though the ship was completely destroyed by the storm’s fury.

Keywords & Categories

Keywords: Great Lakes schooners, Lake Erie shipwrecks, storm losses on the Great Lakes, 19th-century sailing vessels

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Erie, 1888 Great Lakes shipwrecks, 19th-century schooners, Coal transport on the Great Lakes

Glossary Terms: Schooner, Storm Loss, Yawl, Lake Erie