IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

Name: Samuel Amsden (also known as SAM AMSDEN)

Type: Schooner

Built: 1862, Dunnville, Ontario

Builder: W. Quidder

Original Owner: McBirney of Port Dover

Hull Material: Wood

Hull Dimensions:

•Length: 75.9 feet (23.1 meters)

•Beam: 20.4 feet (6.2 meters)

•Depth: 8.2 feet (2.5 meters)

•Tonnage: 100 tons

Final Location:

•Resting Place: 3.5 miles north of the Saugeen River, Ontario, Lake Huron

•Status: Total wreck

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The Samuel Amsden was a two-masted wooden Schooner built in 1862, designed for bulk cargo transportation. Robust and dependable, it played a key role in the timber trade, hauling lumber across the Great Lakes. Its design, typical of mid-19th century schooners, reflected the demands of the lumber industry, requiring sturdy vessels capable of navigating both open waters and tight harbor channels.

HISTORY

Built by W. Quidder in Dunnville, Ontario, the Samuel Amsden was initially owned by McBirney of Port Dover. Its sturdy construction and cargo capacity made it well-suited for the rigorous demands of the Great Lakes timber trade. The vessel was a familiar sight on Lake Huron, often loaded with lumber bound for regional markets.

In 1873, the Schooner underwent a significant Rebuild at the hands of Shaw & Small in Dunnville. The Rebuild reduced the vessel’s tonnage to 82 tons but ensured its continued viability in an increasingly competitive trade environment.

The Final Voyage:

On November 7, 1880, the Samuel Amsden set out from Michael’s Bay on Manitoulin Island, destined for Goderich, Ontario, with a load of lumber. However, a fierce storm swept across Lake Huron, subjecting the vessel to relentless winds and towering waves. The Schooner was driven ashore 3.5 miles north of the Saugeen River. Despite the catastrophic wreck, all aboard survived, a remarkable feat given the intensity of the storm.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The Samuel Amsden became a Total Loss after grounding near the Saugeen River. Its remains were left scattered along the shoreline, battered by waves and gradually claimed by the elements. No attempts at salvage or restoration were recorded, and the vessel was Abandoned to the lake’s mercy.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES

There are no specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the Samuel Amsden wreck. Mariners should exercise caution in the general vicinity due to the region’s history of hazardous conditions, including storms and shallow waters.

LOCATED BY & DATE

The wreck site of the Samuel Amsden is known to lie 3.5 miles north of the Saugeen River in Lake Huron. No formal locating expedition or precise discovery date has been documented.

RESOURCES & LINKS

•David Swayze Shipwreck File: Historical database of Great Lakes shipwrecks.

•Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Comprehensive resource for ship histories and incidents.

•Great Lakes Ships: Database documenting vessels of historical significance.

•John Weichel Research Files Index (A2006.179): Archival information on maritime history.

•Sims History of Elgin County, Vol. 2: Reference for regional history and shipbuilding.

KEYWORDS

•Samuel Amsden

•Schooner

•Lake Huron shipwreck

•Lumber transport

•Saugeen River

•19th-century maritime history

•Great Lakes Schooner

CONCLUSION

The Samuel Amsden represents a chapter in the rich Maritime History of the Great Lakes. As a workhorse of the lumber trade, it endured nearly two decades of service before succumbing to the ferocity of Lake Huron’s weather. Its grounding near the Saugeen River in 1880 serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by sailors and vessels navigating these inland seas. Though the Schooner is lost to time, its legacy endures as a testament to the resilience and determination of the maritime community during a transformative period in Great Lakes history.