WILSON, ELIZA (1855, Schooner)
Identification & Site Information:
•Vessel Name: WILSON, ELIZA
•Year of Build: 1855
Construction and Ownership
•Built at: Port Nelson, Ontario
•Vessel Type: Schooner
•Hull Materials: Wood
•Number of Decks: 1
•Builder Name: Alexander McClere
•Original Owner: J. Wilson Esq., (firm Wilson & Keighley), Toronto, Ontario
Power and Masts
•Number of Masts: 2
Hull Dimensions
•Length: 7’ 6”
•Beam: 20 feet
•Depth: 7 feet
•Tonnage (Old Style): 93 tons
Vessel Type
The Eliza Wilson was a two-masted wooden schooner built in 1855 at Port Nelson, Ontario. Schooners like the Eliza Wilson were integral to the Lake Ontario trade network, transporting goods such as lumber, grain, and other bulk cargoes between Canadian and American ports. The vessel was owned by J. Wilson Esq. of Toronto, part of the firm Wilson & Keighley.
History
•1855, May 24: The Eliza Wilson was launched and began serving the Lake Ontario trade routes.
•1856, November 19: The schooner helped rescue the cargo of the propeller Northern Michigan after it filled with water while sailing on Lake Ontario.
•1863, November: The Eliza Wilson met her end when she stranded and went aground near Gibraltar Point, close to Toronto, Ontario, while carrying a cargo of wood. The ship was declared a total loss.
Final Disposition
In November 1863, the Eliza Wilson was stranded at Gibraltar Point near Toronto, Ontario, on Lake Ontario. The schooner went aground during poor weather conditions and could not be salvaged. The ship was carrying a cargo of wood at the time of the incident, which was also lost.
Located By & Date
There is no modern record of the wreck of the Eliza Wilson being located or explored. Its remains likely lie near Gibraltar Point, but no formal efforts to recover the vessel have been documented.
Notmars & Advisories
There are no current navigation hazards associated with the wreck of the Eliza Wilson, though the area around Gibraltar Point has historically seen numerous shipwrecks due to its proximity to Toronto’s busy harbor and frequent storms.
Resources & Links
For further exploration of the Eliza Wilson’s history, consider these resources:
•Maritime History of the Great Lakes
The Eliza Wilson’s grounding highlights the challenges schooners faced while navigating the often dangerous waters of Lake Ontario, where sudden storms and difficult navigational conditions frequently claimed ships.
