BYTOWN (1836)

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IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #

Name:
Type:
Built:
Location of Build:
Tonnage:
Final Location:
Date of Wreck:

Bytown
Sidewheel Steamer
1836
Kingston, Ontario
123 tons
Counter’s Wharf, Kingston, Lake Ontario
- October 25, 1837

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #

The Bytown was a sidewheel steamer, a common type of vessel in the early 19th century, used primarily for passenger and freight transportation. Sidewheel steamers were powered by steam engines that drove large paddle wheels mounted on either side of the hull, providing propulsion. The Bytown was built in 1836 in Kingston, Ontario, and served the Great Lakes region.

HISTORY #

The Bytown was constructed in Kingston, Ontario, in 1836, with a tonnage of 123. It was utilized mainly for transporting passengers and goods along the Great Lakes. The vessel was well-regarded in its service until October 25, 1837, when it encountered a severe storm while docked at Counter’s Wharf in Kingston.

During the storm, the Bytown was driven ashore by the gale and was heavily damaged. The pounding from the waves turned the vessel into a wreck. Fortunately, there were no casualties reported from the incident. The captain, Captain Bowen, suffered a significant personal loss of nearly £200 that was in his trunk. Additionally, a parcel containing about £1,000, belonging to the Commercial Bank, was lost in the wreck.

Following the incident, the Bytown was hauled out on the Kingston Marine Railway between August and November 1837 for repairs. Although the extent of the damage was considerable, the vessel’s machinery was reported to have remained uninjured. The repairs were successful, and the Bytown continued its service on the Great Lakes.

The storm that wrecked the Bytown also caused damage to other vessels in the vicinity of Kingston. A barge owned by the Ottawa Company was sunk but later recovered, and the steamboat Commodore Barrie suffered minor damage, including the loss of one of its paddles. The total property damage in Kingston Harbor due to the storm was estimated to be around £5,000.

FINAL DISPOSITION #

The Bytown was repaired and returned to service after being hauled out on the Kingston Marine Railway. Despite the severe damage it sustained during the storm, the vessel’s machinery remained intact, allowing it to be restored for further use.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #

The current condition of the Bytown following its repairs and eventual end of service is not documented. The site at Counter’s Wharf where the wreck occurred is historically significant, but no substantial remains of the Bytown are known to exist today.

RESOURCES & LINKS #

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Bytown, sidewheel steamer, Kingston Ontario, Great Lakes shipwrecks, 1837 storm, Counter’s Wharf, Kingston Marine Railway, Lake Ontario maritime history.