Identification & Site Information

• Name: Fred L. Wells
• Former Names: None documented
• Official Number: 9162
• Date Built and Launched: 1856
• Builder: Fred L. Wells, Port Huron, Michigan
  • Constructed on the Hull of the former Canadian Schooner John L. Ranney, built by Louis Shickluna in St. Catharines, Ontario, in 1849
• Specifications: Length: 98 ft (29.87 m) Beam (Width): 19 ft (5.79 m) Depth of Hold: 8 ft (2.44 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 118 tons
• Date Lost: November 2, 1868
• Place of Loss: Near Port Bruce, Ontario, Lake Erie
• Type of Loss: Driven ashore and wrecked during a storm
• Loss of Life: None reported
• Cargo at Time of Loss: Unknown
• Ownership at Time of Loss: Cash & Dingman, Buffalo, New York
• First Skipper: Captain Edmund Fitzgerald (not to be confused with the namesake of the famous SS Edmund Fitzgerald lost in 1975)

Vessel Type

The Fred L. Wells was a two-masted wooden schooner, a versatile vessel type used extensively on the Great Lakes during the mid-19th century for transporting bulk cargo such as grain, lumber, coal, and other commodities. Schooners were favored for their speed, efficiency, and ease of handling with small crews, making them economical for regional trade.

Description

Built in 1856 in Port Huron, Michigan, the Fred L. Wells was constructed on the repurposed Hull of the Canadian schooner John L. Ranney, originally built in 1849 by the renowned shipbuilder Louis Shickluna of St. Catharines, Ontario. This practice of rebuilding or repurposing older hulls was common in the 19th century, especially when the original structure remained sound but required modernization to meet evolving shipping demands.

At 98 feet in length, with a 19-foot beam and an 8-foot depth of hold, the Schooner had a modest size, suited for navigating both open waters and narrower canals or rivers. Her Gross Tonnage of 118 tons indicates a vessel capable of carrying significant, though not exceptionally large, cargo loads.

Operational History

Owned by Cash & Dingman of Buffalo, New York, the Fred L. Wells operated primarily on Lake Erie and connected waterways, transporting cargo between American and Canadian ports. Her operations likely included the movement of goods such as grain, coal, or lumber, though specific records of her cargoes are limited.

Notably, her first captain was Edmund Fitzgerald, a name later immortalized by the ill-fated SS Edmund Fitzgerald, which sank in Lake Superior in 1975. While unrelated beyond the shared name, this historical coincidence adds an intriguing connection within Great Lakes maritime lore.

Final Voyage and Loss

On November 2, 1868, the Fred L. Wells encountered a severe storm while navigating Lake Erie near Port Bruce, Ontario, a small harbor along the lake’s northern shoreline. The vessel was driven ashore by strong winds and high waves, a common fate for schooners caught in sudden gales on the Great Lakes.

Despite the ship’s grounding and eventual wreck, there are no reports of loss of life, suggesting the crew either escaped before the vessel broke apart or was rescued shortly after the incident. The absence of detailed accounts regarding her cargo implies it may not have been a high-value load or was completely lost with the wreck.

Final Disposition

The Fred L. Wells was declared a Total Loss following the wreck. Given the vessel’s wooden construction and the nature of her grounding, any salvage efforts would have focused on recovering usable materials such as rigging, hardware, and possibly parts of the cargo. The remains of the Hull likely deteriorated rapidly, as was typical for wrecks exposed to the elements along Lake Erie’s shorelines.

Located By & Date Found

Nil – There are no confirmed records of the wreck’s discovery or formal archaeological documentation. Any remnants may exist near Port Bruce, though likely buried under sediment or scattered due to shifting lake conditions over the years.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil – The wreck is not marked as a navigational hazard, and there are no specific maritime advisories associated with the site.

Related Vessels

• A second Schooner named Fred L. Wells was built in 1875, likely honoring the original vessel’s name, a common practice in Great Lakes maritime tradition.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU)
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Port Bruce Historical Society
• Louis Shickluna and the Shickluna Shipyard

Suggested Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms

Keywords: Fred L. Wells, Schooner, Lake Erie shipwreck, Port Bruce wreck, Cash & Dingman, Edmund Fitzgerald captain, John L. Ranney, Louis Shickluna

• Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Erie, 19th Century Maritime Disasters, Great Lakes Schooners, Storm-related Shipwrecks

Glossary Terms:

• Schooner: A sailing vessel with two or more masts, rigged fore-and-aft, commonly used for cargo transport on the Great Lakes.
• Driven Ashore: A maritime term describing a vessel pushed onto land or a shallow area by strong winds and waves, often resulting in wreckage.
• Rebuilt Hull: The practice of constructing a new vessel on the existing framework or Hull of an older ship.
• Louis Shickluna: A prominent 19th-century shipbuilder based in St. Catharines, Ontario, known for constructing many Great Lakes vessels.

Conclusion

The Fred L. Wells represents the dynamic history of Great Lakes schooners, embodying both the resourcefulness of 19th-century shipbuilders—through her reconstruction from the Hull of the John L. Ranney—and the ever-present risks faced by mariners navigating the volatile waters of Lake Erie. Her connection to Captain Edmund Fitzgerald adds a fascinating footnote to Great Lakes lore, bridging generations of maritime history. Though lost to the waters near Port Bruce in 1868, her story continues to reflect the enduring legacy of Great Lakes commerce and the sailors who braved its unpredictable storms.