Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: Dover
• Other Names: None recorded
• Vessel Type: Schooner
• Date Built: Exact date unknown — likely built circa 1810
• Builder: Unknown, but believed to have been built in Upper Canada
• Place Built: Exact yard unknown — likely built along the north shore of Lake Erie
• Dimensions: Estimated based on similar craft of the period:
• Length: 40-50 feet (12-15 metres)
• Beam: 12-15 feet (3.6-4.5 metres)
• Tonnage: 20 tons
• Registry Number: None recorded (pre-dates formal registry in Upper Canada)
• Date Lost: October 1813
• Final Location: Thames River, Ontario
• Coordinates: Exact coordinates unknown — estimated vicinity near present-day Chatham-Kent, around 42°24’N, 82°11’W

Vessel Type

Schooner

The Dover was a small, shallow-Draft Schooner, well-suited for navigating Lake Erie, the Detroit River, and inland waterways like the Thames River. These versatile vessels could serve in multiple roles — trading, troop transport, and logistical support — and were commonly used by both civilian and military operators in Upper Canada.

History

The Dover was part of the British fleet of small vessels tasked with supporting supply and communication lines between British forts, settlements, and Indigenous allies during the War of 1812. Schooners like Dover were essential for moving supplies, weapons, provisions, and dispatches through the complex waterways of southwestern Upper Canada.

In October 1813, following the British defeat at the Battle of the Thames, Major General Henry Procter led a hasty and disorganized retreat up the Thames River, abandoning and destroying valuable military supplies to prevent them from falling into American hands.

As part of this retreat, the Schooner Dover was deliberately burned by British forces at a strategic point on the river. The destruction was ordered because the advancing American troops, led by William Henry Harrison, were in pursuit, and the Schooner could not be evacuated upriver in time. Burning the Dover denied the Americans use of the vessel and ensured its stores could not be captured.

Final Disposition

• Cause of Loss: Intentionally burned by retreating British forces.
• Final Resting Place: Thames River, Upper Canada (modern-day Ontario), likely somewhere near present-day Chatham-Kent.
• Status: Completely destroyed, with no significant wreckage believed to survive.

Site Description

⚠️ No confirmed archaeological discovery of the Dover has ever been made.

If any remains exist, they would likely be:

• Charred wood fragments buried deep in the riverbank sediment.
• Isolated iron fastenings, nails, or fittings.
• Possibly some small artifacts (cargo remnants, tools, or weapons), though these would likely have been recovered by locals after the war or lost to river erosion.

The Thames River has undergone significant environmental and hydrological changes since 1813, including flooding, dredging, and modern development, all of which further obscure any potential remains.

Experience Rating

⚠️ Not a recreational dive site — Historical Archive Listing Only

This is a lost-to-time listing; no confirmed dive site exists.

NOTMARs & Advisories

• No current NOTMARs apply to the Dover.
• Any future discovery would fall under the jurisdiction of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport and would be protected under Ontario’s Heritage Act.

Located By & Date Found

• Never officially located.
• Historical accounts indicate she was burned and scuttled in October 1813 during Procter’s retreat following the Battle of the Thames.

Current Condition & Accessibility

• Depth: Variable, but likely 1-3 metres (3-10 feet) given the shallow nature of the Thames River near Chatham.
• Bottom Composition: Soft mud and clay, with areas of gravel and sand.
• Visibility: Typically very poor (<1 metre / 3 feet), depending on river flow and sediment load.
• Condition: Presumed entirely destroyed, with only isolated subsurface fragments potentially surviving.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Great Lakes Shipwreck File
• Library and Archives Canada
• Historical Collections of the Great Lakes – Bowling Green
• War of 1812 – Library of Congress Collection

Conclusion

The loss of the Dover is part of the larger story of chaos and defeat that marked Procter’s retreat. This retreat not only cost the British forces valuable supplies and vessels, but also marked the end of effective British and Indigenous resistance in southwestern Upper Canada.

Though physically lost, the story of the Dover serves as a reminder of how naval power and waterborne supply chains shaped the outcome of the War of 1812. Her destruction highlights the desperation of the British forces after the Battle of the Thames, and the importance of controlling inland waterways in the conflict.

Keywords & Categories

Dover, Schooner, War of 1812, Thames River, Battle of the Thames, Procter’s Retreat, Upper Canada, Henry Procter, William Henry Harrison, Great Lakes Naval History, Historical Shipwrecks, Burned Vessels, Canadian Maritime Heritage