IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
The Two Brothers was a schooner, a type of sailing vessel widely used during the 19th century for transporting goods across the Great Lakes. Schooners were typically rigged with two or more masts and were well-suited to the varying wind conditions on the lakes. The Two Brothers was under the command of Captain Stevenson and was engaged in the transportation of wheat and apples from Pultneyville, New York.
HISTORY #
On November 12th (exact year unspecified), the Two Brothers set sail from Pultneyville, New York, bound for a port (likely Oswego, New York) with a cargo of wheat and apples. The schooner, commanded by Captain Stevenson, was expected to complete its voyage without incident. However, after its departure, no further news was received about the vessel, raising concerns about its fate.
FINAL DISPOSITION #
The Two Brothers is believed to have met a tragic end during a severe gale that struck on the night of its departure. Evidence of the vessel’s loss began to surface when a barrel of apples, the captain’s hat, and the ship’s tiller were discovered washed ashore near Nine Mile Point, along the southern shore of Lake Ontario. These discoveries heightened fears that the schooner had foundered in the storm.
The loss of the Two Brothers was compounded by the disappearance of another schooner, the Three Brothers, also under Captain Stevenson’s command, which departed from Pultneyville on the same day, carrying wheat, supplies, and cider destined for Oswego. It is believed that the Three Brothers was wrecked between 10 and 12 o’clock that same day, although no definitive information about its fate or that of its crew has been found.
The individuals presumed lost with the Two Brothers include:
- Captain John Stevenson from Williamson
- Cephas Field from Sodus
- William Bastian from Mexico, Oswego County
- Amos Gloyed from French Creek, Jefferson County (passenger)
The cargo of the Two Brothers included approximately 700 bushels of wheat, belonging to Taylor & Co. of Oswego. The schooner was owned by A. & B. Todd of Pultneyville, along with Captain Stevenson.
LOCATED BY & DATE #
There is no specific modern record of the wreck’s discovery or identification, but the area near Nine Mile Point, Lake Ontario (coordinates: 43.52178, -76.57229), is where wreckage from the schooner was discovered.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES #
There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the wreck of the Two Brothers.
RESOURCES & LINKS #
-
- Palmyra Sentinel (Historical Newspaper)
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Great Lakes Ships
- www.sonarguy.com
