IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION
The YORK PACKET, originally known as the COMET, was a wooden-hulled vessel designed for the transport of passengers and cargo across Lake Ontario. Packet ships like the YORK PACKET were integral to early 19th-century transportation on the Great Lakes, often carrying mail, goods, and passengers between key ports such as Kingston, York (now Toronto), and Niagara. The vessel’s conversion from a schooner into a packet ship reflected its adaptation to the growing demands of inter-lake communication and trade.
HISTORY
The vessel began its life as the schooner COMET, a name it carried until it was rechristened as the YORK PACKET. While details of the COMET’s early years are scarce, it likely served the bustling trade routes on Lake Ontario, playing a critical role in the movement of goods and people during a period of significant economic expansion in Upper Canada.
The vessel’s rechristening as the YORK PACKET signaled its new role as a packet ship, specifically intended to carry cargo and passengers between York and other important settlements around the lake. Packet ships were known for their regular schedules, reliability, and ability to navigate the sometimes treacherous waters of the Great Lakes.
FINAL DISPOSITION
Tragedy struck the YORK PACKET on November 21, 1820, when the vessel was driven ashore during a severe storm at Niagara. The Kingston Chronicle reported that both the YORK PACKET and another vessel (likely another ship involved in the incident) were driven onto the beach. The YORK PACKET suffered extensive damage, with the report suggesting that the vessel might have been rendered “wholly irreparable.” The vessel’s severe injuries likely marked the end of its service, leaving its remains either buried in the sands of Niagara or destroyed by the relentless forces of Lake Ontario.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES
There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the YORK PACKET. The wreckage has not been definitively located, and thus, there are no current advisories for the area.
LOCATED BY & DATE
The YORK PACKET has not been definitively located. The wreck was noted on the shore near Niagara following the storm in November 1820.
CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY
The condition of the wreck is largely unknown. It is highly likely that the remains have either been buried by shifting sands or were destroyed by subsequent storms. The site is not accessible for diving or recovery, as the exact location and condition of the wreck remain undetermined.
RESOURCES & LINKS
- Kingston Chronicle (November 21, 1820)
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
Keywords:
YORK PACKET shipwreck, COMET schooner, Lake Ontario maritime history, Niagara shipwreck, 19th-century packet ship, Great Lakes vessels, shipwreck investigation, storm damage on Lake Ontario, early 1800s Great Lakes shipping, Kingston maritime history.
