The American Eagle was a schooner built in 1816 in Ashtabula, Ohio. It had a length of 54.9 feet, a beam of 17 feet, a depth of 6.1 feet, and a tonnage of approximately 68 tons. The vessel had two masts and was primarily used for carrying cargo on Lake Erie.
On November 26, 1820, the American Eagle was bound for the Erie Islands when it encountered a southwesterly gale near Grand River, Ohio. The storm proved too powerful, and the schooner was driven ashore near the future site of Fairport, Ohio. Prior to this incident, the vessel had already been ashore near Cleveland the previous week.
The master of the American Eagle at the time of the loss was Captain J. Manchester. Tragically, the shipwreck resulted in the loss of five lives, including Captain Manchester and four sailors. The vessel was carrying a light load at the time of the accident.
The American Eagle had changed ownership over the years and was owned by several pioneer lake men, including Sheldon Thompson, Nathaniel Sill, Augustus Porter, and Alvin Bronson. The ship had been enrolled in Presque Isle, Pennsylvania, in 1816, and later operated out of Cleveland, Ohio.
News accounts from the time describe the American Eagle as a valuable vessel that had safely landed most of its cargo, including salt and merchandise, before the gale struck. However, the ship ultimately suffered damage to its hull when it parted its cable and beached near the mouth of the river.
Another report states that the American Eagle, under the ownership of the estate of Captain William Gaillard and Sill, Thompson & Co., left port in ballast (empty) but encountered a sudden gale from the southwest. The vessel was driven ashore near the mouth of Grand River, where it overturned. Sadly, all five individuals on board, including the captain and four sailors, lost their lives in the accident.
The sinking of the American Eagle in 1820 serves as a tragic reminder of the dangers that sailors and vessels faced during storms on Lake Erie during that era.
