History
The ANN was a schooner built in 1819 in Black River, Ohio. The vessel had one deck and was constructed with wood as its hull material. It was equipped with two masts.
The dimensions of the ANN were recorded as 53 feet in length, 16.5 feet in beam, and 5.1 feet in depth. Its tonnage was reported as 38 tons in the old style of measurement.
The vessel went through several changes in ownership and registrations during its history. It had enrollments in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1819-20 and in Detroit, Michigan, in 1820 and 1823. It was also enrolled in Mackinac, Michigan, in 1823 and Portland, Ohio, in 1824. On October 8, 1824, it was enrolled in Buffalo, New York, under the ownership of Smith D. Baldwin from Huron County, Ohio.
On November 6, 1827, the ANN met its final fate. It was wrecked in a gale off Long Point, Lake Erie. The vessel was carrying a cargo of salt and general merchandise at the time of the incident. Unfortunately, the storm claimed the lives of five passengers out of the total of thirteen on board. The remaining survivors, including the crew, experienced great hardships before reaching safety.
The ANN was owned by H.H. Wilcoxon & Co. of Sandusky, Ohio, at the time of its loss. The master of the vessel was Captain Levi Allen.
Newspaper reports from that time provide additional details of the tragic event. The vessel struck Long Point after mistaking the sound of breakers for a squall. It soon filled with water and drifted towards the shore. Several passengers and crew members drowned, while others clung to the foremast until it fell. Six individuals managed to swim to the shore, enduring harsh conditions and traveling through woods and swamps before reaching help.
