Identification & Site Information

• Name: WILLIAM HUNTER
• Other Names: None reported
• Official Number: 26671
• Date Built and Launched: 1863
• Builder: Doville Bros., Sodus, New York
• Measurements:Length: 93 ft (28.35 m)Beam: 23 ft (7.01 m)Depth: 9 ft (2.74 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 124 tons
• Date Lost: October 24, 1876
• Place of Loss: Niagara Reef, near Middle Sister Island, Lake Erie
• Lake: Erie

Vessel Type

Two-masted wooden Schooner, primarily used for bulk freight transport on the Great Lakes, particularly grain.

Description

The WILLIAM HUNTER was a mid-sized two-masted wooden schooner built in 1863 by the Doville Brothers in Sodus, New York, a known shipbuilding location on the southern shore of Lake Ontario. The Schooner measured 93 feet in length and was designed to carry bulk cargo as grain, a staple commodity of Great Lakes shipping during the 19th century.

The vessel was owned and operated by its builders, the Doville Bros., out of Cleveland, Ohio, with Captain Doville serving as its master. The Schooner was representative of the many small cargo vessels that facilitated trade between ports on Lake Erie, connecting agricultural producers with larger commercial centers like Buffalo and Toledo.

History

Throughout its operational life, the WILLIAM HUNTER served as a reliable cargo carrier on Lake Erie. The Schooner was engaged in transporting grain, one of the key exports of the Great Lakes region during this era. Its routes typically connected Toledo, Buffalo, and other significant ports along Lake Erie.

By 1876, the Schooner had spent over a decade navigating the often-treacherous waters of the Great Lakes, and like many vessels of its size and build, it was vulnerable to sudden storms and shifting lake conditions.

Final Disposition

On October 24, 1876, while en route from Toledo to Buffalo with a cargo of grain, the WILLIAM HUNTER encountered a severe storm on Lake Erie. The vessel was driven ashore on Niagara Reef, near Middle Sister Island, a location notorious for shipwrecks due to its shallow, rocky conditions.

The Schooner became jammed tightly on the reef, and despite attempts by tugboats to salvage the vessel, it remained firmly lodged. Over the following week, the relentless wave action and exposure to the elements caused the WILLIAM HUNTER to break in two. By October 31, 1876, the ship was declared a Total Loss and was subsequently Abandoned.

Remarkably, no lives were lost in the incident, and the crew managed to escape safely, a fortunate outcome considering the perilous conditions.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return. There is no documented discovery of the wreck of the WILLIAM HUNTER. Given the vessel’s breakup and abandonment on Niagara Reef, remnants may still lie in the area, though likely scattered or degraded.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil return. No current navigational hazards related to this wreck are reported, but Niagara Reef remains a known obstruction area for mariners on Lake Erie.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Great Lakes Shipwreck File

Conclusion

The WILLIAM HUNTER‘s loss is emblematic of the numerous schooners that met their fate on Lake Erie during the 19th century, a time when sudden storms and hazardous reefs claimed many vessels. Despite the crew’s safe escape, the Schooner’s grounding on Niagara Reef and subsequent breakup underscore the ever-present dangers of navigating the Great Lakes. Although some records continued to list the vessel after its sinking, this was likely due to clerical errors, as the ship was clearly lost and Abandoned by late 1876.