- Schooner
- Still Missing
- Lake Ontario
History
The schooner Picton, registered in Picton, Ontario in July 1867, underwent a major rebuild in 1878, possibly carried out by Robinson. After the reconstruction, the vessel measured 98.75 feet in length, 22.75 feet in width, and had a depth of 9.58 feet, with a tonnage of 160 tons. On February 11, 1878, ownership of the Picton was transferred to J. D. Arterhout of Hillier, Ontario. Subsequently, on October 1, 1879, the ownership changed again, this time to John Walters of South Marysburg, Ontario. Another transfer occurred on April 29, 1881, when Robert Charles Smith Jr. of Port Hope, Ontario became the new owner.
In 1883, the Picton encountered a wreck but was later repaired in 1886. However, on July 1, 1900, tragedy struck as the schooner foundered in Lake Ontario. News clippings from the time indicate that the crew of the steamer Acacia believed that the Picton had sunk during a strong gale while en route from Oswego to Belleville, Ontario, carrying a load of coal. The captain of the Acacia reported that the Picton was struggling in heavy waves and eventually disappeared from sight. Despite a vigilant search, no traces of the vessel or its crew were found. It was believed that all hands, including Captain Sidley, the owner, his three children, and crew members J. Laves, James Martin, J. K. Nalley, and G. Warner, had perished in the incident.
The loss of the Picton was further confirmed by the crew of the schooner Annie Minnes, who witnessed the foundering from a close distance but were unable to provide assistance. Captain Sidley and his son Sylvester, along with crew members Frank Smith, Walter Dunn, Wm. Bligh, and Bernard Myers, all from Belleville, Ontario, were among the victims. The Picton, with an official Canada number of 71206 and a gross tonnage of 160 tons, had been owned by R.C. Smith of Port Hope, Ontario.
The ship registration records indicate that the Picton was officially registered as a schooner in Port Hope in 1881. However, following its foundering on July 20, 1900, the registration was closed as per the Annual List of 1900.
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