TRENTON (1864, Schooner)
Identification & Site Information:
•Vessel Name: TRENTON
•Year of Build: 1864
Construction and Ownership
•Built at: Trenton, Ontario
•Vessel Type: Schooner
•Hull Materials: Wood
•Number of Decks: 1
•Builder Name: John Simpson
Hull Dimensions
•Tonnage (Old Style): 287 tons
Vessel Type
The Trenton was a wooden schooner built in 1864 in Trenton, Ontario, by John Simpson. Like many schooners of the era, the Trenton was designed for carrying bulk cargo such as grain, coal, and timber across the Great Lakes, with its primary routes likely on Lake Ontario and neighboring waters.
History
The Trenton had an active career with several ownership changes and repairs throughout its lifetime:
•1866: Owned by Gilmore & Dench of Trenton, Ontario.
•1866: Sold to parties in Oswego, New York, indicating its involvement in cross-border trade on Lake Ontario.
•1868: Registered under US number 24395.
•1871: Owned by Hagerman and others from Trenton, Ontario, and measured at 217.34 gross tons.
•1874: Repaired to maintain its seaworthiness.
•1876: Owned by F. Brown and others from Cleveland, Ohio.
•1877: Further repairs were made to extend the vessel’s service life.
•1879: Owned by J. & J. Mathews from Cleveland, Ohio, and once again underwent repairs.
Final Disposition
On November 12, 1879, the Trenton foundered near the mouth of Presque Isle Bay, Ontario, on Lake Ontario. The sinking blocked the mouth of the bay for a time, indicating that the wreck had some impact on navigation in the area. While the specific cause of the foundering is not documented, the vessel was likely overwhelmed by severe weather, as November storms on the Great Lakes were notorious for causing shipwrecks.
Located By & Date
There are no modern records indicating that the wreck of the Trenton has been located or salvaged. Its remains likely rest near the mouth of Presque Isle Bay, but no formal recovery has been documented.
Notmars & Advisories
The wreck of the Trenton blocked the mouth of Presque Isle Bay temporarily following the foundering, but there are no current navigation hazards associated with the vessel. The area is known for its historical shipwrecks, but no specific advisories related to the Trenton remain in effect today.
Resources & Links
For more historical details or research on similar vessels, consider these resources:
•Maritime History of the Great Lakes
The sinking of the Trenton highlights the risks faced by schooners operating on the Great Lakes, where storms and challenging navigation frequently led to shipwrecks, especially in November when gales were common.
