IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION
The schooner ANN was a typical wooden-hulled sailing vessel used extensively on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. These vessels were primarily employed for transporting bulk goods, such as grain, lumber, and other essential commodities, between ports across the Great Lakes. The ANN was rigged with sails designed to harness wind power, making it a vital part of the economic lifeblood that connected various communities along the lakes.
HISTORY
The schooner ANN, owned by Charles Gunn of Hamilton, Upper Canada, was actively engaged in transporting a substantial cargo of 2,257 bushels of wheat owned by A.T. Kirby of Flamboro, U.C., from Hamilton to Kingston. On Sunday, November 29, 1840, the vessel set sail from Hamilton at 2:00 PM, embarking on what was expected to be a routine voyage across Lake Ontario.
However, the journey took a disastrous turn when a fierce squall struck the schooner while she was off the coast of Cobourg around 2:00 PM on Monday, November 30. The sudden and violent storm tore away the ANN’s foresail boom, jibbs, bulwarks, and stanchions, leaving the vessel severely compromised. The crew battled the elements as they fought to keep the schooner afloat, but by 10:30 PM, it was discovered that the ANN had sprung a leak and lost her yawl, leaving her vulnerable to the unforgiving waves.
By the next day, Tuesday, December 1, 1840, the helpless schooner drifted closer to shore, coming within six miles of land near the mouth of Big Sandy Creek. A group of brave individuals—Wm. Smith, S. Wood, J.G. Ireland, S. Smith, and E. Wood—ventured out in a small boat to rescue the stranded crew. The men aboard the ANN were exhausted, having been at the pumps and tossing cargo overboard since the previous day in a desperate attempt to lighten the ship.
After a perilous four-hour ordeal in treacherous conditions, the rescuers managed to bring the crew ashore by 6:00 PM. The survivors, who included Captain Robert Eclin, John Beedal, John McHanery, Thomas Smith, and Thomas Heslipe, narrowly escaped with their lives, thanks to the courage and determination of their rescuers.
FINAL DISPOSITION
The final fate of the schooner ANN remains uncertain. It is presumed that the vessel was lost to the depths of Lake Ontario, either sinking after being abandoned or breaking apart in the continued storm. The exact location of the wreck, if it exists, has never been confirmed.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES
There are no active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the ANN, as the vessel is likely lost to history, with its exact location unknown.
LOCATED BY & DATE
The schooner ANN was discovered by land observers as it drifted helplessly offshore near Big Sandy Creek. A rescue operation was initiated on December 2, 1840, but the vessel itself was not salvaged or relocated.
CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY
The current condition of the ANN is unknown, as the wreck has never been located. It is presumed to be at the bottom of Lake Ontario, making it inaccessible to divers or researchers.
RESOURCES & LINKS
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Great Lakes Ships
- Kingston Chronicle & Gazette, January 5, 1841.
Keywords:
Schooner ANN, Lake Ontario shipwreck, 1840 storm, Cobourg Ontario, Big Sandy Creek, wheat cargo, shipwreck rescue, Great Lakes maritime history, lost schooner.
