Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: Ellen (or Eleanor)
• Other Names: None confirmed; historical sources list both names interchangeably
• Vessel Type: Schooner (Transport)
• Date Built: Unknown — likely circa 1805-1810
• Builder: Unknown, but presumed built in Upper Canada or possibly on the American side of Lake Erie
• Place Built: Uncertain — possibly Detroit River region, Amherstburg, or Niagara
• Dimensions:
• Length: Estimated 60-70 feet (18-21 metres)
• Beam: 18-20 feet (5.5-6 metres)
• Tonnage: 59 tons
• Registry Number: None recorded (pre-dates Upper Canada’s formal registry system)
• Owner(s): Richard Parkinson (civilian owner until impressed into British service)
• Date Lost: October 1813
• Final Location: Thames River, Upper Canada (now Ontario)
• Coordinates: Exact coordinates unknown — historically believed to be near Chatham-Kent, along Procter’s retreat route. Approximate vicinity: 42°24’N, 82°11’W

Vessel Type

Schooner (Transport)

The Ellen (or Eleanor) was a larger Schooner, capable of transporting substantial cargo for its size. These vessels were indispensable for frontier supply operations, especially in the Great Lakes theatre where roads were non-existent and navigable waterways were the primary transport routes.

The vessel’s size and construction suggest it was a general-purpose cargo carrier, well-suited to the Upper Lakes fur trade, timber, and general freight transport. Converted into a military transport in 1813, it carried supplies, munitions, provisions, and potentially troops for Major General Henry Procter’s campaigns.

History

Ellen (or Eleanor) was privately owned by Richard Parkinson until purchased by the British Army in 1813 for £500, a substantial sum reflecting the vessel’s good condition and capacity. The purchase occurred amid the escalating War of 1812, as British forces in Upper Canada urgently required reliable transport to supply forward positions, including Fort Malden and the western frontier along the Detroit River and the Thames River.

The vessel was used extensively during the campaign against Fort Meigs and in the broader operations supporting British and Indigenous allies in the region. After the British defeat at the Battle of the Thames in October 1813, Procter’s retreating force Abandoned and burned several vessels, including the Ellen (or Eleanor), to prevent their capture by advancing American troops under General William Henry Harrison.

Final Disposition

• Cause of Loss: Deliberately burned by retreating British forces to prevent capture by the Americans.
• Date Lost: October 1813.
• Final Resting Place: Somewhere along the Thames River, likely near Chatham-Kent, Ontario.
• Status: Completely destroyed, with no known archaeological identification.

Site Description

⚠️ No confirmed archaeological discovery of Ellen (or Eleanor) exists.

Any surviving evidence would likely consist of:

• Charred wood fragments embedded in the riverbed.
• Scattered iron fastenings, possibly some brass or copper fittings from her rigging.
• Potential military or cargo artifacts associated with her final use as a transport.
• Remains are almost certainly deeply buried under river sediment after two centuries of flooding, erosion, and land-use change.

Experience Rating

⚠️ Not a recreational dive site — Historical Archive Listing Only

This is a historical record entry only. The vessel’s remains, if any, are believed to be inaccessible under modern riverbanks or in areas altered by agriculture and development.

NOTMARs & Advisories

• No current NOTMARs apply to the wreck.
• Any future discovery would fall under the jurisdiction of:
• Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport under the Ontario Heritage Act.
• Potential designation as part of War of 1812 commemorative sites, if located and confirmed.

Located By & Date Found

• Never officially located.
• Historical references place her destruction along Procter’s retreat route in October 1813, near the Battle of the Thames site.

Current Condition & Accessibility

• Depth: Likely 1-3 metres (3-10 feet), consistent with the shallow sections of the Thames River.
• Bottom Composition: Soft mud and clay, with shifting silt layers due to seasonal flooding.
• Visibility: Very poor (<1 metre / 3 feet) due to the natural turbidity of the Thames River.
• Condition: Presumed completely burned and fragmented, with any surviving components deeply buried.

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 Official Records – Library of Congress
• Canadian War Museum – War of 1812 Archive

Conclusion

The destruction of Ellen (or Eleanor) highlights the desperate state of British logistics during Procter’s retreat, a period marked by panic, disorganization, and the deliberate destruction of vital military assets to deny them to the enemy.

This vessel’s fate mirrors that of several others in the retreat fleet, demonstrating how the narrow inland waterways of Upper Canada were essential battlegrounds in the War of 1812. Though small, Ellen (or Eleanor) played a critical role in the British supply chain — her loss was one more step toward British defeat in the western theatre.

Keywords & Categories

Ellen, Eleanor, Schooner, Transport, 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