Other Names
- Anna Maria
- Annie Maria
History
The schooner Ann Maria, also spelled Anna Maria or Annie Maria, was a two-masted wooden schooner built by Marshall Capron in Conneaut, Ohio, in 1864. The vessel had an official number of 387. It measured approximately 131.2 feet in length, 26.3 feet in beam, and had a depth of 11.3 feet. Its gross tonnage was recorded as 256 tons, while its net tonnage was 243 tons.
Throughout its history, the Ann Maria changed owners and operated under various individuals. It was initially enrolled in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1865 and later reenrolled in Conneaut. From 1871 to 1879, it was owned by M. Capron of Conneaut. In 1880, the schooner was reported wrecked with the loss of seven lives. However, it was rebuilt in 1884.
On October 7, 1902, the Ann Maria was stranded near Kincardine, Ontario, on Lake Huron. It had been carrying a cargo of coal from Cleveland, Ohio, to Kincardine when it struck a bar while attempting to enter the harbor. The vessel became unmanageable in the heavy weather conditions. A volunteer lifesaving crew attempted to rescue the crew members, but the lifeboat capsized, resulting in the loss of four of the six crew members, including Captain Alexander Gordon. The schooner was ultimately wrecked, and the remaining crew members were saved later that night.
The Ann Maria’s final location was reported as Kincardine, Ontario, on Lake Huron. It met its demise on October 7, 1902, as a result of the stranding on the piers during the storm. The final cargo it carried was coal.
