WEEDEN, JOHN (1857, Schooner)
Identification & Site Information:
•Vessel Name: WEEDEN, JOHN
•Year of Build: 1857
•Official Number: 12792
Construction and Ownership
•Built at: Huron, Ohio
•Vessel Type: Schooner
•Hull Materials: Wood
•Number of Decks: 1
•Builder Name: J.F. Squires
Hull Dimensions
•Tonnage (Old Style): 296 tons
Vessel Type
The John Weeden was a large wooden schooner built in 1857 at Huron, Ohio. Schooners like the John Weeden were heavily used on the Great Lakes for transporting bulk cargoes such as grain, iron ore, and lumber. The ship’s substantial size, at nearly 300 tons, allowed it to carry significant loads, contributing to the regional trade network.
History
The John Weeden had an eventful career filled with collisions and repairs, highlighting the challenges faced by schooners on the Great Lakes:
•1858, May 15: Collided with the schooner Kate L. Bruce near Turtle Island, Lake Erie.
•1858, October: Lost anchors and suffered damage to its mainsail during a gale at Point Pelee, Lake Erie.
•1860: Owned by Lane & Hand of Sandusky, Ohio; grounded with a load of iron ore on Elk Island in the St. Clair River on July 18.
•1863: Underwent extensive repairs to maintain its operability.
•1865: Re-measured at 214.43 gross tons; struck by lightning, losing its mainsail while sailing on Lake Superior in July.
•1866: Partially rebuilt with a new deck, bulwarks, and stanchions under the ownership of A. Cheesbrough of Toledo, Ohio.
•1867, April: Went ashore on West Sister Island, Lake Erie.
•1868: Owned by interests in Detroit, Michigan.
•1869, October 15: Collided with the bark Favorite off Sheboygan, Wisconsin, on Lake Michigan; later repaired.
Final Disposition
On October 27, 1869, the John Weeden was wrecked during a blizzard after a collision with the schooner Drion off Devil’s Nose, near Fairbanks’ Point, two miles east of Pultneyville, New York, on Lake Ontario. The vessel was en route from Chicago, Illinois, to Ogdensburg, New York, with a cargo of corn when the accident occurred. After the collision, the ship was blown ashore and wrecked. Fortunately, the crew was rescued by the schooner Orion.
Located By & Date
There are no records of any modern efforts to locate or recover the wreck of the John Weeden. Its remains likely rest near Fairbanks’ Point, but no formal discovery has been documented.
Notmars & Advisories
There are no known navigational hazards related to the wreck of the John Weeden, though the area off Devil’s Nose has seen multiple shipwrecks due to the challenging navigation and frequent storms.
Resources & Links
For further exploration of the history of the John Weeden and similar vessels, consider these resources:
•Maritime History of the Great Lakes
The John Weeden’s history illustrates the dangers faced by schooners on the Great Lakes, where frequent collisions and severe weather often led to shipwrecks, despite efforts to repair and maintain the vessels.
