B.W. FOLGER

Other Names #

• CAROLINE – Rebuild

Site Orientation #

#

The B.W. FOLGER, originally built as the CAROLINE, underwent a significant reconstruction in 1871, resulting in new dimensions of 83 feet in length, 24 feet in beam, and 9 feet in depth. The vessel had a gross tonnage of 152 tons and a net tonnage of 117 tons. The rebuilding was carried out by Wm. Powers in Kingston, Ontario. Following the reconstruction, the B.W. FOLGER encountered several incidents over the years.

In September 1871, the schooner ran aground in Port Colborne, Lake Erie while carrying a load of coal. However, it was successfully released from its predicament. Ownership of the vessel was transferred to S. Fraser in 1873, and the following year, on July 3, 1874, the B.W. FOLGER struck a shoal and stranded near Belleville in Lake Ontario.

Ownership changed hands again in 1876 when S. Fraser sold the vessel to Wm. Dandy of Kingston. By 1880, the schooner found itself in another grounding situation, this time near Main Duck Island in Lake Ontario while carrying coal. It was eventually freed from its grounding.

A rebuilding of the B.W. FOLGER took place in 1881, and ownership was now held by Swift & Dandy, based in Kingston. In 1893, the vessel faced the loss of its main gaff topsail and flying jib during a severe gale in Lake Ontario. Tragically, on November 24, 1894, the schooner burned in the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario, marking the end of its maritime service.

The casualty list for 1874 reported that the B.W. FOLGER had sprung a leak and sunk in the Bay of Quinte in July of that year, resulting in a loss of $900. Additional records from various sources provide further details about the vessel. According to the National Board of Lake Underwriters Lake Vessel Register from 1873, the B.W. FOLGER was a wooden schooner registered in Montreal, Quebec, with a gross tonnage of 116 and a net tonnage of 116.

The Association of Canadian Lake Underwriters Lake Vessel Register from 1873 describes the B.W. FOLGER as a schooner of 152 tons, originally built in Prince Edward in 1854 by Minikin. It was rebuilt in 1871 and owned by Fraser, with its home port listed as Montreal. The British Whig newspaper in Kingston reported on October 27, 1880, that the schooner was missing, causing concern among its owners and the community. The fate of the vessel remained uncertain, and various theories were proposed regarding its disappearance.

The B.W. FOLGER had an eventful history, marked by rebuildings, groundings, and ultimately a tragic fire. It served as a testament to the challenges and risks faced by vessels navigating the Great Lakes during the 19th century.

External Links #

• David Swayze Shipwreck File – CAROLINE – B.W. FOLGER