Other Names #
- CHARLTON
History #
Step back in time and explore the history of the schooner CHARLESTON on Lake Ontario. This wooden, two-masted vessel was built in 1837 at Sackets Harbor , New York. With dimensions of 84 feet in length, 20 feet in beam, and 8 feet in depth, she boasted a tonnage of 118 tons.
However, the story of CHARLESTON took a dramatic turn on November 23, 1844, when she encountered a fierce storm off the coast of Sodus, New York. Bound for Oswego from the Welland Canal, the schooner sought shelter but struck a treacherous bar and was ultimately wrecked. Despite the valiant efforts of her crew, the vessel bilged and filled with water. Fortunately, there were no reports of loss of life.
At the time of the incident, CHARLESTON was owned by Fitzhugh & Co. of Oswego, a prominent figure in the maritime industry. The schooner was carrying a cargo of 4,200 bushels of flour and other goods, destined for Oswego. The unfortunate grounding on the bar led to expectations that the vessel would become a total loss.
Sources and External Links #
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Oswego County Whig, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 1844
- Lake Disasters in 1844
- Buffalo Commercial Advertiser February 8, 1845
- David Swayze Shipwreck FIle
- Certificates of Enrolment, Oswego 1842 – 1844
- Great Lakes Ships C. Patrick Labadie
- Notes Donald V. Baut
- Steamboat Era in the Muskokas by Richard Tatley
