Site Description #
History #
The schooner James Coleman met its tragic end on November 1, 1864, when it went ashore at Poplar Point on Lake Ontario. Initially reported by the Toronto Globe on November 9, 1864, the situation appeared dire, with the vessel having run aground. Just two days later, on November 11, 1864, the same newspaper confirmed the worst—James Coleman was declared a total loss.
Constructed in 1847 in Dundas, Ontario, the James Coleman was a topsail schooner with a gross tonnage of 232 tons (later recorded as 294 tons). The vessel was built by Lummerce, under the ownership of Norris & Co., and was registered at the port of St. Catharines. Initially valued at £1,500 and classified as A1 in the Register of British Shipping for Inland Waters in 1854, the vessel was praised for being “well built.”
The James Coleman had a turbulent history leading up to its demise. On November 4, 1863, the vessel ran aground on Nicholson’s Island but was successfully refloated and sold to Mr. McGuire in July 1864. This earlier incident explains the “stranded at present” note in the 1864 Register of the Ships of the Lakes and River St. Lawrence.
The schooner had been actively engaged in the transport of goods on the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario. Over the years, it changed ownership several times, including being owned by M.W. Browne of Hamilton in 1851 and later by Norris & Neelon of St. Catharines in 1860. The vessel had survived multiple incidents, such as running aground on Gull Island Reef in October 1858, before finally succumbing at Poplar Point in 1864.
Final Disposition #
The James Coleman was permanently lost when it ran aground at Poplar Point, marking the end of its nearly two-decade-long service. The vessel was a total loss, and no efforts for salvage were reported following the incident.
Resources & Links #
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes – Database of shipwrecks and maritime incidents on the Great Lakes, including the James Coleman.
- Wikipedia – Great Lakes Ships – Information on shipwrecks in the Great Lakes, including Lake Ontario.
- The Toronto Globe Archives – Historical records and reports, including the sinking of the James Coleman.
Tags #
- Type: Schooner
- Location: Lake Ontario, Poplar Point
- Depth: Ashore
- Year Built: 1847
- Year Sunk: 1864
- Purpose: Cargo transport
- Construction: Wooden, topsail schooner
Analysis #
The story of the James Coleman serves as an illustration of the dangers faced by maritime vessels in the 19th century. Despite being well-constructed and initially praised for its build quality, the schooner encountered multiple challenges throughout its operational life. The vessel’s numerous groundings and its final, fatal stranding at Poplar Point highlight the unpredictability of navigation on Lake Ontario during that era. The loss of the James Coleman is a testament to the harsh realities of shipping on the Great Lakes, where even the most robust vessels could meet untimely ends due to the forces of nature.
