The schooner Britannia was built in 1819 at Wellington Square, Ontario. It had a wooden hull with one deck and was powered by two masts. The vessel had a tonnage of 100, according to the old measurement system.
The original owner of the Britannia was M. Brooks, and it was built by a builder named Roberts. In 1841, the ownership of the vessel transferred to Colvin, Cook & Counter, as well as T. Dodge & Co., both based in Kingston, Ontario.
Tragically, on November 4, 1841, the Britannia foundered in Lake Ontario. The exact location of the incident was off Rochester County. It is believed that five or six lives were lost in the sinking. The vessel was carrying a cargo of staves from Hamilton to Montreal at the time of the disaster.
News reports from the time confirmed the identity of the wrecked vessel that came ashore on the coast of Lake Ontario. Pieces of the Britannia’s wreckage, as well as some of the staves from its cargo, were discovered. It was determined that the vessel had likely foundered during a gale on Sunday, October 4, 1841.
The Britannia’s sinking serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by ships navigating the Great Lakes during the 19th century. The loss of life and the wreckage that washed ashore highlighted the risks associated with maritime trade in those times.
