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- IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION:
- Vessel Name: ADELAIDE
- Year Built: Not specified, but operational in the 1830s
- Vessel Type: Schooner with a centerboard and square sails (early example of centerboard usage)
- Owner: H. and S. Jones of Brockville
- Captain: Not explicitly named in this voyage, but previously Capt. John Atkinson
- Final Location: Grand River shoals, southeast of Gull Island, Lake Erie
- VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION:
- The ADELAIDE was a schooner, built at Brockville, Ontario, likely designed for cargo transport across the Great Lakes. Notable for its early use of a centerboard, the vessel also carried square sails, which were typical of small vessels during this period but later replaced by gaff topsails.
- HISTORY:
- After successfully completing a voyage to Manitoulin Island and returning with military supplies to Toronto in 1838, the ADELAIDE embarked on what would be her final voyage. She was loaded with wheat at Ryerson’s Creek and Port Dover, intended for delivery to Hamilton Merritt at St. Catharines. During this trip, the vessel encountered a severe southwest gale and snowstorm on Lake Erie.
- The ADELAIDE ran aground on the Grand River shoals near Gull Island due to thick fog and poor navigation. Despite attempts to free the vessel, she ultimately filled with water and was pounded heavily by the sea. The crew abandoned ship and sought refuge on Gull Island.
- FINAL DISPOSITION:
- The ADELAIDE was driven by the wind and waves towards the shore near Farrier’s Point, about twelve miles above Port Colborne. The ship eventually came to rest on the beach, upright but stripped of her cargo of wheat. The vessel was not insured, leading to a protracted legal battle between the ship’s owners and Hamilton Merritt over the loss of the cargo. The case was eventually settled by arbitration after three years of legal proceedings.
- NOTMARs & ADVISORIES:
- N/A
- RESOURCES & LINKS:
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION: #
The ADELAIDE was an early example of a centerboard schooner, a type of vessel that became more common on the Great Lakes after 1850. The schooner also had square sails, which were typical of smaller vessels in the early 19th century. Centerboards allowed vessels to navigate shallower waters and provided additional stability, which was especially important for cargo transport.
FINAL VOYAGE: #
In the autumn of 1838, after loading wheat at Ryerson’s Creek and Port Dover, the ADELAIDE encountered severe weather while attempting to navigate Lake Erie. The vessel ran aground on the Grand River shoals due to thick fog and poor visibility. Despite efforts to save the ship, including setting sails aback to assist in freeing the vessel from the shoal, the ADELAIDE was battered by the gale and ultimately filled with water.
The crew took refuge on Gull Island and later witnessed the vessel being driven ashore by the storm. The ADELAIDE came to rest near Farrier’s Point, where she was stripped of any remaining valuable materials. The loss of the cargo led to a lengthy legal battle between the vessel’s owners, H. and S. Jones of Brockville, and the cargo’s owner, Hamilton Merritt of St. Catharines.
LEGAL BATTLE: #
The loss of the wheat cargo aboard the ADELAIDE sparked a legal dispute that lasted for several years. Initially, the court ruled in favor of Hamilton Merritt, but the decision was appealed, and the case was eventually settled by arbitration. Alexander Muir, who was aboard the ADELAIDE during the wreck, provided testimony during the legal proceedings. Muir’s account of the legal battle serves as a cautionary tale about the uncertainties and costs associated with litigation.
SOCIAL AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT: #
Muir’s narrative not only describes the perilous conditions of maritime navigation on the Great Lakes during the 19th century but also highlights the legal and social challenges faced by shipowners and merchants. The loss of the ADELAIDE and the subsequent legal battle illustrate the complexities of early Canadian commerce and the difficulties of seeking justice through the courts during this period.
