IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

• Vessel Name: ACORN
• Type: Schooner
• Year Built: 1844
• Builder: H. Hacker, Port Hope, Ontario
• Material: Wood
• Decks: 1
• Masts: 2
• Tonnage:
  • Original (1844): 48 tonnage (Old Style)
  • Rebuilt (1855): 92 tonnage (Old Style), 165 net tons
  • Final (1865): 75 gross tons
• Final Fate: Wrecked
• Date of Wreck: October 26, 1869
• Location: Approximately 1 mile east of Oswego harbour, near Fort Ontario, Lake Ontario
• Cargo: Lumber

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The ACORN was a wooden, two-masted Schooner designed for cargo transport, primarily lumber. Built with a single Deck, it was typical of mid-19th-century schooners serving the Great Lakes trade routes. In 1855, the vessel underwent a significant Rebuild to enhance its tonnage and cargo capacity, adapting to increasing demands for freight transport.

HISTORY

• 1844 Construction: Built in Port Hope, Ontario, the ACORN began its service as a modest cargo carrier with a tonnage of 48 tons, primarily hauling lumber across Lake Ontario.
• 1855 Rebuild: The Schooner was Rebuilt, increasing its capacity to 92 tons under the old measurement style (165 net tons), extending its operational life.
• 1856: Owned by Robert McIntyre of Port Hope.
• 1863: Transferred to William Chant, also from Port Hope.
• August 1864: The ACORN lost its fore top gallant sail during a squall on Lake Ontario.
• November 12, 1866: Ran ashore at Oswego, New York, sustaining significant damage.
• 1865:Updated tonnage to 75 gross tons, reflecting changes in measurement standards and potential repairs.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The ACORN met its end on October 26, 1869, when it was driven ashore during a gale. The Schooner wrecked approximately 1 mile east of Oswego harbour, near Fort Ontario, while carrying a cargo of lumber. The vessel sustained severe damage and was ultimately Abandoned.

RESOURCES & LINKS

• Great Lakes Ships Database
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, October 27, 1869
• Buffalo Daily Courier, October 28, 1869, October 30, 1869
• Wikipedia – Fort Ontario Port Hope

KEYWORDS #ACORN #Lake Ontario Shipwreck #Schooner #Oswego Harbour #Fort Ontario #Great Lakes Maritime History #19th Century Shipwreck

CONCLUSION

The ACORN, a two-masted wooden Schooner built in 1844, played an essential role in the lumber trade on Lake Ontario. Over its 25-year career, the vessel endured several incidents and underwent significant modifications to remain operational. The Schooner’s final wreck in 1869 near Oswego harbor underscores the challenges of navigating the Great Lakes, particularly during severe weather. Though largely forgotten today, the ACORN’s story is a testament to the resilience of 19th-century vessels and the crews who braved the unpredictable waters of the Great Lakes.