HENRY ROOP

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IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #

Cell 1

Wreck Name: Sloop H. Roop
Type: Wooden Sloop (in one incident, referred to as a schooner)
Date of Incident: October 19, 1843
Location:
- First Incident: Unspecified location, drifted ashore near Cattaraugus, Lake Erie.
- Second Incident: Near Sandusky, Ohio, Lake Erie.
Condition:
- First Incident: Grounded, with significant loss of cargo.
- Second Incident: Capsized due to a squall, but the vessel and crew were saved.

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #

The H. Roop was a wooden sloop used for transporting goods and produce across Lake Erie. Sloops like the H. Roop were common in the mid-19th century, serving both as cargo vessels and passenger carriers. The ship was later described as a schooner in the second incident, which suggests it may have been rigged differently or described differently under various circumstances.

HISTORY #

The H. Roop was active in the bustling trade on Lake Erie during the mid-1800s. This sloop was responsible for transporting goods and produce between various ports along the lake. On October 19, 1843, the vessel faced two separate incidents on the same day—highlighting the unpredictable and treacherous conditions that mariners often faced on the Great Lakes.

FINAL DISPOSITION #

First Incident: The H. Roop broke adrift from its moorings in an unspecified location and drifted ashore near Cattaraugus, Lake Erie. The grounding resulted in a substantial loss of goods and produce, valued between $10,000 and $12,000, but no loss of life was reported.

Second Incident: On the same day, the H. Roop, described as a schooner in this case, encountered a severe squall near Sandusky, Ohio. The vessel capsized in the storm, but the crew managed to save themselves, and there were no fatalities. The vessel itself was not reported to have been lost, although it likely suffered damage.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES #

No current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) are related to this wreck site.

LOCATED BY & DATE #

No specific records indicate that the exact location of the H. Roop’s grounding or capsizing has been identified or marked since the incidents.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #

The current condition of the H. Roop is unknown. The vessel was not reported as lost, and there is no evidence to suggest it remains in Lake Erie as a shipwreck. However, due to the lack of detailed records, it is possible that remnants of the vessel may still exist in the areas mentioned.

RESOURCES & LINKS #

Primary Sources: Historical newspaper reports from the Erie Gazette and Democratic Free Press, as well as other contemporary records.
Further Reading: Great Lakes Ships, David Swayze Shipwreck File.

CONCLUSION #

The incidents involving the H. Roop on October 19, 1843, serve as a reminder of the challenges and dangers faced by sailors on Lake Erie in the 19th century. The dual incidents highlight both the physical hazards of the lake and the financial risks inherent in maritime trade during this period. While the crew’s survival in the second incident is a fortunate outcome, the substantial loss of cargo from the first incident reflects the precarious nature of shipping on the Great Lakes.