dentification & Site Information:

• Name: Bark Clayton

• Date Built: 1854

• Builder: John Oades

• Port of Construction: Clayton, New York

• Dimensions: Length 136 feet (41.5 meters), weight approximately 208 tons

• Date Lost: June 5, 1868

• Location of Loss: Lake Huron, near Pointe aux Barques, Michigan

• Depth of Wreck: Approximately 50 fathoms (91 meters or 300 feet)

Vessel Type:

The Clayton was a wooden, three-masted Bark designed for cargo transport across the Great Lakes.

Description:

The Bark Clayton was a sizable and sturdy vessel for her time, often engaged in transporting goods across the Great Lakes. Built by John Oades, a prominent shipbuilder of the mid-19th century, the Clayton was crafted with durability in mind to withstand the challenges of the Great Lakes’ sometimes unforgiving waters. The ship’s large cargo capacity was vital for transporting goods between various lake ports.

History:

The Clayton’s journey came to a tragic end on June 5, 1868, when she collided with the Bark Erastus Corning in dense fog. On that fateful morning, Visibility was severely limited, and despite sounding fog horns, both vessels could not avoid the collision. The Corning, also a large Bark, rammed into the Clayton midships, dealing a fatal blow. Within two minutes, the Clayton sank, although, miraculously, no lives were lost. The crew, evacuated safely to the Corning, survived the ordeal. The Erastus Corning sustained damage as well but managed to rescue the Clayton’s crew before limping to safety.

Final Disposition:

Efforts to locate and salvage the Clayton soon followed the sinking. However, due to the significant depth and the lack of advanced recovery technology at the time, salvage operations were unsuccessful. Only fragments, including the main boom and pieces of the sail, were found floating on the surface. Over time, it became evident that the Clayton would remain in her final resting place, a symbol of the inherent risks of Great Lakes navigation during the 19th century.

Located By & Date Found:

Despite salvage attempts immediately after the sinking, the wreck of the Clayton has not been conclusively located, and it remains one of the deeper, unrecovered shipwrecks in Lake Huron.

NOTMARs & Advisories:

The wreck is not marked on any modern navigational maps, given the depth and lack of recent surveys in the area.

Resources & Links:

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes – Clayton

• Library and Archives Canada for potential historical records and salvage attempt documentation.

• NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary for ongoing preservation efforts in Lake Huron