- Ford Shoal
METEOR (1856, Schooner)
The Schooner METEOR, constructed in 1856 by S. Little in Wilson, New York, was a wooden-hulled vessel that played a significant role in the maritime history of the Great Lakes. Originally owned by S. Little and based in Wilson, the METEOR had a tonnage of 61 tons and operated with two masts.
In 1860, the METEOR suffered damage to its wheat cargo, and in 1862, it was sold to a Canadian owner, registered under the number C33569. Over the years, the ownership of the vessel changed hands multiple times, including owners such as D. Parmentier, McNelly & Hicks, and Hunt & Co. The METEOR was primarily engaged in transporting goods and commodities across the Great Lakes.
One significant incident involving the METEOR occurred in May 1866 when it collided with the schooner KATE HINCHMAN off Oswego in Lake Ontario. However, the vessel continued its operations despite the collision.
On April 12, 1874, tragedy struck the METEOR when it foundered in a storm while en route from Oakville, Ontario, to Ogdensburg, New York. The vessel, carrying a cargo of 2,500 bushels of wheat, sank approximately four miles from Oswego in Lake Ontario. Fortunately, the crew members were rescued by the steamer MILWAUKEE.
In a legal case known as “Brown v. The British American Assurance Company,” F.J. Brown, the owner of the METEOR, canceled the insurance policy with one company and attempted to insure the vessel with another company. However, unbeknownst to Brown, the METEOR had already sunk. The court ruled in favor of Brown, stating that the cancellation of the policy was invalid because the insurance company was aware of the loss while Brown remained unaware. Brown was awarded $1,940 in damages based on a $2,000 policy.
The sinking of the METEOR was recorded in the casualty list for 1874, with the loss of the vessel estimated at $2,200. This unfortunate event marked the end of the METEOR’s career, leaving behind a legacy of both resilience and tragedy in the maritime history of Lake Ontario.
