Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: Margaret

• Type: Stonehooker Schooner

• Year Built: Mid-1800s (Exact year unknown)

• Builder: Likely Port Credit, Ontario

• Dimensions: Not documented

• Tonnage: Not specified

• Home Port: Likely Port Credit, Ontario

• Primary Route: Lake Ontario, nearshore areas for stone collection

• Final Disposition: Lost or disappeared under unknown circumstances, last mentioned in historical records in the mid-1800s

• Current Condition: Wreck not identified; location unknown

• Significance: Represents the hardworking stonehooker schooners essential to the infrastructure development of Upper Canada in the 19th century.

Vessel Type Description

The Margaret was a stonehooker Schooner, a vessel designed specifically to extract and transport stone from shallow nearshore areas of Lake Ontario. Stonehookers like the Margaret were integral to the 19th-century construction industry, gathering stones directly from the lakebed and shores. These stones were then used to construct buildings, roads, and harbors across Upper Canada, supporting the rapid growth of the region’s cities and infrastructure.

With sturdy builds, these schooners were shallow-drafted to navigate close to shore and equipped for hauling heavy stone loads. The Margaret, like other stonehookers, likely operated with a small crew under demanding conditions, transporting loads of stone several times a week.

History

Launched in the mid-1800s from Port Credit, Ontario, the Margaret worked tirelessly under Captain McArthur and his crew. As a stonehooker, it was part of an industry that supplied essential raw materials to growing settlements and industries in the area. Stonehooking was a challenging occupation, with thin profit margins and long hours as crews worked from dawn to dusk. Despite this, the Margaret and its crew were known for their reliability and resilience, often contending with harsh weather conditions to complete their journeys.

As steam-powered vessels began to replace sail-driven schooners and alternative construction materials became more widely available, the demand for stonehooking declined. By the late 19th century, stonehookers like the Margaret were increasingly rare. Records suggest that the vessel was still operational in the mid-1800s, but its ultimate fate remains a mystery. It is possible the Margaret was lost in one of Lake Ontario’s frequent storms, which often claimed the lives of many 19th-century vessels, or was dismantled and forgotten.

Final Disposition

The Margaret is presumed lost under unknown circumstances, with the last documented references placing it in operation during the mid-1800s. The discovery of the wreck has yet to be made, leaving the precise details of its final voyage unknown.

Legacy and Historical Significance

The Margaret is emblematic of the stonehooking trade that played a foundational role in building the infrastructure of early Upper Canada. The unsung work of vessels like the Margaret helped create the cities and transportation routes that facilitated the region’s growth. Although no wreckage has been conclusively identified as the Margaret, the vessel is remembered as part of the essential, yet often overlooked, fleet of schooners that toiled to meet the area’s infrastructure needs.

The Margaret represents the resilience of Great Lakes mariners who faced the demands of a physically taxing trade in unpredictable lake conditions. Its mysterious disappearance is a reminder of the many vessels whose fates remain unknown, symbolizing the risks inherent in Great Lakes navigation.

Searching for the Margaret

Maritime historians and divers continue to search for clues about the Margaret’s last voyage. Its story is a compelling chapter in the Great Lakes’ history of stonehooking and maritime labor, with modern underwater archaeology and archival research slowly uncovering more about this industry and the many vessels that supported it.

Resources & Links

For additional information on the Margaret and the stonehooking industry:

• Schooner Days MIII (1003) by C. H. J. Snider: Historical account that provides insight into the stonehooking trade on Lake Ontario, mentioning vessels like the Margaret

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Comprehensive resource documenting shipwrecks and maritime incidents on the Great Lakes (Maritime History of the Great Lakes)

• David Swayze Shipwreck File: Includes details on shipwrecks and lost vessels, offering context for vessels like the Margaret

• Great Lakes Ships Database: Repository of information on ships that sailed the Great Lakes, potentially including the Margaret