The schooner Royal Albert had a varied history of ownership and unfortunate incidents. On September 26, 1861, it was owned by Thomas C. Chisholm, Benjamin Hagaman, and Noah Brinhest, all from Toronto, Ontario. The vessel had a tonnage of 165 tons. However, just a few months later, on December 4, 1861, the Royal Albert ran ashore at Long Point, Ontario, on Lake Erie.
In October 1865, ownership of the schooner transferred to John Dench of Trenton, Ontario, and its gross tonnage increased to 174 tons. Another ownership change occurred on October 24, 1866, when Robert G. Post of Pickering, Ontario, became the owner. Unfortunately, on August 7, 1868, the Royal Albert was wrecked while under the ownership of H.C. Bolland of Oswego, New York. At the time of the incident, the vessel had a gross tonnage of 159 tons.
The final demise of the Royal Albert took place on August 7, 1868, when it foundered in Lake Ontario, approximately 10 miles off Little Sodus, New York. The ship experienced split seams, causing it to fill with water and sink. Fortunately, the crew managed to escape in the boats and reached the shore safely. The vessel, valued at $10,000, proved to be a total loss, despite being insured for $7,000. Speculations arose regarding the improper loading of the railroad iron cargo as a possible cause for the tragic event.
The Royal Albert was built in Oakville, Ontario, in 1858 by John Simpson. It measured 216 tons and was considered a safe and sturdy vessel. The ship was initially owned by John Simpson & Company of Oakville. Over the years, it underwent ownership changes until it ended up in the possession of H.C. Bolland. The vessel was registered as a schooner with two masts and a single deck. It had a length of 103 feet and 8/12ths, a breadth of 23 feet, and a depth of hold of 8 feet and 10/12ths.
The loss of the Royal Albert was reported in various newspapers, highlighting the sudden sinking and the crew’s fortunate escape. The vessel’s sinking remains a tragic and mysterious event, with no clear explanation for the cause, other than speculation about the way the cargo was loaded.
