Identification & Site Information:
•Vessel Name: BELLCHAMBERS, ANNA
•Year of Build: 1864
Construction and Ownership
•Built at: Frenchman’s Bay, Ontario
•Vessel Type: Schooner
•Hull Materials: Wood
•Number of Decks: 1
•Builder Name: William Bellchambers
•Original Owner: William Bellchambers, Frenchman’s Bay
Power and Masts
•Number of Masts: 2
Hull Dimensions
•Length: 52 feet
•Beam: 13.6 feet
•Depth: 5 feet
•Tonnage (Old Style): 31 tons
Vessel Type
The Anna Bellchambers was a two-masted wooden schooner built in 1864 at Frenchman’s Bay, Ontario, by William Bellchambers, who was also the original owner. Schooners of this size were frequently used for local transport of bulk goods, such as cordwood, grain, or other materials, and were essential for short-distance trade across Lake Ontario.
History
The Anna Bellchambers primarily operated in Lake Ontario, transporting goods between local ports. On October 30, 1873, the schooner was carrying a cargo of cordwood from Frenchman’s Bay to Toronto when it encountered trouble and foundered in a bay near Toronto. The vessel was lost during this voyage, and reports indicate that 2 or 3 crew members were killed in the incident.
The specific cause of the foundering is not well-documented, but it may have been related to weather conditions or structural failure. Given the vessel’s small size and the unpredictable weather on Lake Ontario during the late fall, such incidents were not uncommon.
Final Disposition
The Anna Bellchambers sank on October 30, 1873, near Toronto, Ontario, while transporting cordwood. Despite efforts to reach Toronto, the schooner foundered, resulting in the tragic loss of life. The wreck was a total loss, and no records suggest any significant recovery efforts.
Located By & Date
There are no known records of the wreck of the Anna Bellchambers being located or recovered. The ship likely remains at the bottom of Lake Ontario, near Toronto.A
