Identification & Site Information
- Name: Western Trader
- Former Names: None
- Official Registration Number: None
- Date Built and Launched: Built in 1836 by W. Treat in Conneaut, Ohio
- Measurements: 59 ft (18 m) length x 18 ft (5.5 m) beam x 6 ft (1.8 m) depth; 53 tonnage (Old Style)
- Date Lost: November 22, 1845
- Place of Loss: Approximately 9 miles west of Buffalo, New York
- Lake: Lake Erie
Vessel Type
The Western Trader was a wooden, two-masted schooner, a common type of vessel used for cargo transport on the Great Lakes during the early 19th century.
Description
Built in 1836, the Western Trader was a relatively small Schooner designed to carry goods across the Great Lakes. At just under 60 feet in length, she was part of the early wave of merchant schooners that played a crucial role in supplying growing communities around the lakes with essential provisions such as flour and other staples.
History
The Western Trader had a checkered operational history, facing several significant incidents before her final loss. Shortly after her launch, she capsized near Cleveland in 1837, an event that hinted at potential stability issues or challenges in handling under rough conditions. Despite this, she continued to operate and encountered further mishaps, including running ashore near Chicago in 1839 and again near Grand River (Fairport), Ohio, in 1842.
Owned possibly by the firm of Treat, McHarry & O’Conner of Buffalo, New York, and under the command of Captain Banta or Barton, the Western Trader was engaged primarily in transporting flour and provisions—key commodities in the growing settlements around the Great Lakes.
On November 22, 1845, the Schooner met her end during a gale on Lake Erie, about nine miles west of Buffalo. Details about the exact circumstances of her wreck are sparse, and no loss of life was mentioned in contemporary reports, suggesting that the crew may have survived. The wreck underscored the hazards faced by early Schooner operators navigating the often unpredictable waters of Lake Erie, particularly during the storm-prone autumn months.
Final Disposition
The Western Trader was wrecked in a storm west of Buffalo in 1845. No recovery or salvage efforts were recorded, and the wreck likely deteriorated over time, typical of early wooden vessels lost in the mid-19th century.
Located By & Date Found
Nil return.
NOTMARs & Advisories
No specific navigational warnings or obstructions related to the wreck of the Western Trader have been issued.
Resources & Links
Conclusion
The Western Trader reflects the challenging conditions faced by early Schooner operators on the Great Lakes. Despite multiple incidents throughout her short career, she remained in service until her final loss in 1845. Her history of capsizing and running aground illustrates the difficulties of navigating early maritime trade routes, where weather, limited navigation aids, and vessel design played critical roles in the success—or failure—of voyages.
Suggested Keywords: Western Trader, Lake Erie schooner, 19th-century Great Lakes shipwrecks, early Great Lakes commerce, Buffalo shipwrecks, Conneaut-built schooners.
Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Erie, Early 19th Century Maritime History, Wooden Schooners of the Great Lakes.
Glossary Terms: Two-Masted Schooner, Old Measurement Tonnage, Capsize, Grounding, Provisions Cargo.
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