Identification & Site Information

• Name: ADVENTURE
• Former Names: Unknown
• Official Number: None (Canadian vessel)
• Type at Loss: Wooden Schooner
• Date Built and Launched: Unknown
• Builder: Unknown
• Measurements: Described as “small” (specific dimensions not available)
• Date Lost: October 1848
• Place of Loss: Off Grand River, Ontario
• Lake: Lake Ontario

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Vessel Type

Small wooden Schooner.

Description

The ADVENTURE was a small wooden Schooner operating on Lake Erie, engaged in the coastal cargo trade common in the mid-19th century. While specific details about her construction and dimensions are unknown, schooners of this type were typically used for transporting bulk materials, like stone, timber, or grain, between the many growing port communities along the Great Lakes.

History

Details about the early history of the ADVENTURE are scarce, which is typical for smaller, workaday vessels of the mid-18th century that were not formally registered or extensively documented. Schooners were the backbone of commerce on the Great Lakes during this time, providing vital links between settlements and facilitating the movement of materials necessary for construction and development in the rapidly expanding towns and cities.

In October 1848, the ADVENTURE was carrying a load of stone when she Foundered off the coast of Grand River, Ontario, on Lake Erie. “Foundered” typically refers to a vessel filling with water and sinking due to rough weather, structural failure, or overloading. The incident resulted in the tragic loss of all three crew members aboard. Given the vessel’s small size and the nature of her cargo, it’s possible that she was overwhelmed by sudden adverse weather conditions or compromised by the heavy load.

Final Disposition

Foundered and sank off Grand River, Ontario; Total Loss of vessel and crew.

Located By & Date Found

Nil (No records confirming the discovery or recovery of the ADVENTURE wreck site).

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil (No navigational obstructions or maritime advisories related to this wreck in the Grand River area).

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Great Lakes Shipwreck File
• Great Lakes Ships Database – Bowling Green State University

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Suggested Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms

• Keywords: ADVENTURE Schooner, Grand River shipwreck, Lake Erie Schooner wreck, 19th-century maritime disaster, small cargo Schooner
• Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Erie, Early Great Lakes Maritime Disasters, Foundered Vessels, Small Schooner Losses
• Glossary Terms:
  • Schooner: A sailing vessel with two or more masts, commonly used for cargo transport on the Great Lakes in the 19th century.
  • Foundered: A maritime term indicating that a vessel sank due to taking on water, often caused by adverse weather or structural failure.
  • Stone Cargo: Refers to quarried stone transported by ship, often for construction purposes in rapidly developing settlements.

Conclusion

Though little is known about the ADVENTURE, her loss highlights the hazards faced by small cargo schooners navigating the unpredictable waters of Lake Erie in the mid-19th century. Her sinking off Grand River serves as a reminder of the dangers inherent in Great Lakes commerce, particularly for smaller vessels burdened with heavy cargoes like stone.