Identification & Site Information

• Name: J. Harbridge
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: None
• Date Built & Launched: 1847
• Builder: Sackett’s Harbor, New York
• Measurements: 94 ft x 21 ft x 10 ft (28.7 m x 6.4 m x 3 m)
• Tonnage: Originally 149 tons, increased to 160 tons after 1854 Rebuild
• Date Lost: October 1862
• Place of Loss: Near Kewaunee, Wisconsin, Lake Michigan
• Type of Loss: Storm
• Loss of Life: None mentioned
• Cargo: Unknown

Vessel Type

The J. Harbridge was a two-masted wooden schooner, a common type of sailing vessel used on the Great Lakes for cargo transport in the mid-19th century.

Description

Built in 1847 at Sackett’s Harbor, New York, the J. Harbridge was initially 149 tons. After sustaining significant fire damage in Oswego, New York, during a citywide fire in 1853, the vessel was Rebuilt and enlarged to 160 tons in 1854. Like many Great Lakes schooners of the period, it was designed for transporting bulk goods such as lumber, grain, and other essential commodities between growing ports.

History

The J. Harbridge had a long and eventful service history, experiencing multiple incidents before its final wrecking:

• 1851: Went ashore in Maumee Bay, Ohio.
• December 1854: Went ashore near the mouth of the Genesee River, New York.
• 1856: Stranded and damaged in another incident.
• 1860: Damaged in a collision on Lake Michigan.
• July 1862: Damaged in yet another collision off Grosse Point, Lake Michigan.

Despite these repeated accidents, the Schooner continued operating until its final loss in October 1862.

During a storm near Kewaunee, Wisconsin, the J. Harbridge stranded and became a Total Loss. The crew survived, but the vessel was Abandoned. Given its history of repeated damage and repairs, it is possible that the Schooner was already in a weakened state before the storm ultimately destroyed it.

Final Disposition

Declared a Total Loss after stranding near Kewaunee. There are no records of salvage attempts, and any remains of the vessel have likely long since deteriorated or been buried by shifting sands.

Located By & Date Found

There is no confirmed modern discovery of the wreck.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No known navigational hazards associated with the wreck site.

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Maritime Database – Bowling Green State University
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Shipwreck File

Conclusion

The J. Harbridge had a notably troubled career, surviving multiple accidents before finally succumbing to a storm in 1862. As a Chicago-based Schooner, it was part of the bustling mid-19th-century trade network on the Great Lakes. Despite its durability in the face of repeated damage, the vessel ultimately met the same fate as many wooden schooners of its era, lost to the unpredictable waters of Lake Michigan.

Suggested Keywords & Categories

• Keywords: J. Harbridge shipwreck, Kewaunee shipwrecks, Great Lakes schooners, Lake Michigan shipwrecks, 19th-century maritime disasters
• Categories: Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Lake Michigan History, Storm-Related Wrecks, 19th-Century Schooners
• Glossary Terms: Schooner, Ship Stranding, Lake Michigan Navigation, Vessel Rebuild, Collision Damage