AGNES HOPE C71168

Schooner
120ft 40m Length
0 – 10ft 3m depth
N43.4425656 W76.6041231
Ford Shoal, Lake Ontario

Built in 1869 by A. Robertson in Hamilton, Ontario, the Agnes Hope measured 120 feet in length, 24 feet in beam, and 10 feet in depth, with a weight of 220 tons. She primarily carried lumber and was registered out of Port Hope, Ontario, owned by Clark, and commanded by Captain Savage.

On that fateful day, as the ship sailed towards Oswego from Belleville, Ontario, it encountered a severe storm near Ford Shoals, close to Oswego, New York, on Lake Ontario. The vessel was laden with a deckload of green lumber, causing it to become waterlogged and unmanageable. Despite the crew’s valiant efforts, the Agnes Hope succumbed to the relentless waves, breaking up and stranding on the shoals.

In a remarkable display of courage and survival, the crew managed to lower the yawl-boat, which hung across the stern on davits, before the ship rolled over on its side. Captain Savage ordered everyone into the yawl-boat, fearing the sinking of the vessel. As they abandoned ship, a line was thrown from the passing schooner Jessie McDonald, allowing one of the crew members, William McCrimmon, to catch it on his oar, ensuring their safe passage.

Meanwhile, the Agnes Hope, with its lumber cargo and what buoyancy remained, washed ashore on Ford Shoals, becoming a half-tide rock. The pounding of the waves disintegrated the ship, scattering its ribs, planks, and cargo along the shores of Oswego County. Though she was only fifteen years old, the Agnes Hope met a tragic end.

The story doesn’t end there, as the brave crew members, including young Will Savage, went on to forge their own seafaring paths. Will, who showed tremendous courage during the shipwreck, became a seasoned sailor and eventually served as mate on various vessels, including the William Elgin.

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