ANNA M FOSTER C71276

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Schooner
82ft 26m Lengths
Lake Ontario
Missing

The schooner FOSTER, named the Anna M. Foster after its original owner, was built in 1875 in Port Burwell, Ontario. Constructed with wood, it had a single deck and two masts. The builder of the vessel was David M. Foster, and its first owners were Robert Abbott, David Foster, and Titus, all from Port Burwell, Ontario.

The dimensions of the FOSTER were 82 feet in length, 20.3 feet in beam, and 8.8 feet in depth. It had a gross tonnage of 77.6 tons. Throughout its history, ownership of the schooner changed hands multiple times. James Parsons and John Craig of Goderich, Ontario, became the owners in June 1876, followed by Theophilus Allen of Kingston, Ontario, in May 1878. T.A. Allen of Port Burwell owned the vessel in 1879, and William Ryan of Kingston acquired ownership in April 1881. The FOSTER underwent various ownership changes over the years, with Allan Chadwick, William and James Kennedy, and William Kennedy all having ownership at different times.

On August 31, 1889, tragedy struck the Anna M. Foster. While bound for Kingston, Ontario, carrying a cargo of coal, the schooner collided with and was sunk by the steam yacht Siesta. The incident occurred 25 miles off the coast of Charlotte, Ontario, in Lake Ontario. The crew of four, including the woman cook, were rescued by the Siesta and brought to safety. They managed to save only the belongings they had with them, and a Newfoundland dog on board was also saved. The Siesta sustained no damage in the collision.

The records indicate that the FOSTER had previously encountered difficulties. In November 1884, it ran aground in Colbourg, Lake Ontario, resulting in partial damage amounting to $1,000. However, the incident in August 1889 proved to be the final and devastating one for the schooner, leading to its sinking. The FOSTER’s official number was 71276, and its home port remained Port Burwell, Ontario, throughout its existence.