- Tug converted from Schooner Barge
- 10ffw
- 100ft Lengths
- Picton Harbour, Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario
Chronological History #
Robert McDonald, initially owned by Hyatt, McDonald & Matthews, had a history marked by ownership changes throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. On July 22, 1892, the vessel was owned by Hyatt, McDonald & Matthews, and later, on June 16, 1899, it came under the ownership of J.W. Hyatt and Alonzo Matthews. On January 14, 1902, Alonzo Matthews became the sole owner of the ship, with its home port listed as Charlotte, Ontario.
Subsequently, on October 27, 1906, the Robert McDonald came under the ownership of Stirling Orr and J. Eves, based in Kingston, Ontario. In 1907, the ship underwent a significant transformation when it was rebuilt as a tugboat. The rebuilt vessel had dimensions of 96 feet in length, 19 feet in beam, and 6 feet in depth. Its gross tonnage was recorded as 97, with a net tonnage of 50.
Tragedy struck the Robert McDonald in 1919 when it sank in the harbor of Picton, Ontario, on Lake Ontario. After the sinking, the ship was abandoned, marking the end of its seafaring days. The vessel, originally built in 1890 in Picton, Ontario, was primarily used as a schooner-barge. It was later converted to steam propulsion in 1907. The ship’s specifications were recorded as 96 feet in length, 19 feet in beam, and 97 tons.
According to the Mills Listing, the Robert McDonald underwent multiple rebuilds throughout its existence. The first rebuild occurred in 1907 in Kingston, Ontario, where it was transformed into a propeller vessel. The second rebuild took place in 1908, which further altered the ship’s dimensions to 96 feet in length, 19 feet in beam, and 97 tons.
Registry records indicate that the Robert McDonald was initially registered as a wooden schooner in 1890 under the official number 94921. Its home port was Picton, Ontario, and it had a gross tonnage of 52 and a net tonnage of 44. However, the registry was closed on October 14, 1907. The ship’s history suggests that it may have been formerly known as the schooner Parthenon.
Additional sources, such as the Shipwreck File and historical newspaper articles, provide further details about the Robert McDonald’s activities and the events surrounding its sinking. The vessel played a role in the grain rush of 1890, transporting Canadian barley to American elevators before the implementation of the McKinley tariff duties. During this time, the Robert McDonald made profitable trips between Oswego and Prince Edward County, despite its limited carrying capacity.
