WILLIAMS, G.T. (1846, Schooner)
Identification & Site Information:
•Vessel Name: WILLIAMS, G.T.
•Year of Build: 1846
Construction and Ownership
•Vessel Type: Schooner
•Hull Materials: Wood
•Number of Decks: 1
Power and Masts
•Number of Masts: 2
Hull Dimensions
•Tonnage (Old Style): 167.04 tons
Vessel Type
The G.T. Williams was a two-masted wooden schooner built in 1846. Schooners like the G.T. Williams were commonly used for transporting bulk cargo such as wheat, coal, and timber across the Great Lakes, and this vessel was no exception. It played a key role in moving goods between key ports like Buffalo and Sandusky.
History
The G.T. Williams had an eventful career, enduring several accidents during its time on the Great Lakes:
•1847, November 14: The vessel lost its head rigging and flying jibboom in a gale following a collision with another vessel.
•1848: Ran wheat from Buffalo, New York, to Sandusky, Ohio, as part of its regular trade route.
•1851, November 30: The schooner was damaged in a collision between the steamer Niagara and the brig Lucy A. Blossom near Malden, Ontario.
•1854, December 11: The vessel was damaged by ice and went ashore on the Canadian shore, opposite Buffalo, New York.
Despite the damage it sustained during its service life, the G.T. Williams continued to operate on the Great Lakes until its final voyage in 1856.
Final Disposition
The G.T. Williams was wrecked in November 1856 near Stoney Creek, Lake Ontario. The schooner encountered severe weather or navigational difficulties, leading to its destruction. No details about potential loss of life are documented, but the ship was declared a total loss.
Located By & Date
There are no modern records indicating the discovery or recovery of the wreck of the G.T. Williams. The remains of the schooner are likely submerged in the waters near Stoney Creek, Lake Ontario.
Notmars & Advisories
No navigational hazards or wreck markers are currently associated with the G.T. Williams. The area near Stoney Creek is a historical site of shipwrecks, but no specific advisories for this wreck exist.
Resources & Links
For further research and historical context:
•Maritime History of the Great Lakes
The G.T. Williams represents the many schooners that navigated the Great Lakes, facing both the dangers of collisions and the harsh winter conditions that often led to shipwrecks.
