IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATIONVESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION
The Sweet Home was a wooden-hulled Schooner-Barge, originally built as a fore-and-aft Schooner with a single Deck. It featured two masts and a square Stern, typical of vessels used during the mid-19th century for transporting cargo across the Great Lakes. The Sweet Home was rigged as a carvel-built Schooner, meaning its planks were flush, giving it a smoother Hull.
HISTORY
The Sweet Home was constructed in 1853 by Savillon S. Little in Jordan, Ontario, and quickly became a part of the maritime trade on the Great Lakes. Over its years of service, the vessel underwent several significant repairs and changes in ownership.
Key Ownership Timeline:
- 1855: Owned by Edmund Boyle & Co., Kingston, Ontario
- 1860: Owned by Hugh Ross of Kingston and Thomas Bolley of Amherst Island
- 1861: Ownership transferred to Joshua J. Nichol and Soloman Sylvester of Toronto
- 1865: Underwent significant repairs, increasing its Gross Tonnage to 144 tons
- 1866: Owned by J.J. Nichol of Kingston
- 1871: Owned by Campbell of Kingston
- 1872: Sank near Wolfe Island, St. Lawrence River; ownership by McClelland and others
- 1874: Major repairs undertaken
- 1878: Owned by J.H. Radford of Wolfe Island; later that year, ownership transferred to Benjamin Barney of Kingston
Throughout its operational life, the Sweet Home was actively engaged in the transportation of goods across the Great Lakes, a critical part of the regional economy. The vessel’s tonnage and dimensions were adjusted over time, reflecting the repairs and modifications it underwent to remain seaworthy.
FINAL DISPOSITION
On either November 22 or 29, 1878, the Sweet Home met its tragic end when it drifted ashore just east of the life-saving station in Oswego, New York. Despite the sea not being particularly rough, the vessel quickly began to break apart upon grounding and was declared a Total Loss. The cargo, owned by E.W. Rathbun & Co., was uninsured, resulting in an estimated damage of $1,000.
IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATIONVESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION
The Sweet Home was a wooden-hulled Schooner-Barge, originally built as a fore-and-aft Schooner with a single Deck. It featured two masts and a square Stern, typical of vessels used during the mid-19th century for transporting cargo across the Great Lakes. The Sweet Home was rigged as a carvel-built Schooner, meaning its planks were flush, giving it a smoother Hull.
HISTORY
The Sweet Home was constructed in 1853 by Savillon S. Little in Jordan, Ontario, and quickly became a part of the maritime trade on the Great Lakes. Over its years of service, the vessel underwent several significant repairs and changes in ownership.
Key Ownership Timeline:
- 1855: Owned by Edmund Boyle & Co., Kingston, Ontario
- 1860: Owned by Hugh Ross of Kingston and Thomas Bolley of Amherst Island
- 1861: Ownership transferred to Joshua J. Nichol and Soloman Sylvester of Toronto
- 1865: Underwent significant repairs, increasing its Gross Tonnage to 144 tons
- 1866: Owned by J.J. Nichol of Kingston
- 1871: Owned by Campbell of Kingston
- 1872: Sank near Wolfe Island, St. Lawrence River; ownership by McClelland and others
- 1874: Major repairs undertaken
- 1878: Owned by J.H. Radford of Wolfe Island; later that year, ownership transferred to Benjamin Barney of Kingston
Throughout its operational life, the Sweet Home was actively engaged in the transportation of goods across the Great Lakes, a critical part of the regional economy. The vessel’s tonnage and dimensions were adjusted over time, reflecting the repairs and modifications it underwent to remain seaworthy.
FINAL DISPOSITION
On either November 22 or 29, 1878, the Sweet Home met its tragic end when it drifted ashore just east of the life-saving station in Oswego, New York. Despite the sea not being particularly rough, the vessel quickly began to break apart upon grounding and was declared a Total Loss. The cargo, owned by E.W. Rathbun & Co., was uninsured, resulting in an estimated damage of $1,000.
The Sweet Home had a valuation of $2,000 at the time of its loss, and it was rated B 2 with a dash in the shipping register. The Detroit Post & Tribune reported the vessel’s loss, emphasizing the unexpected nature of the grounding and the rapid destruction of the ship.
LOCATED BY & DATE
There is no specific modern record of the wreck’s discovery or identification, so no individuals or dates are associated with locating the remains of the Sweet Home.
Discover more from Shotline Diving - The Great Lakes Goto
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
