Ainsworth (1835)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Ainsworth
• Type: Wooden Schooner
• Year Built: 1835
• Builder: Cape Vincent, New York
• Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage: 110 tons
• Location: Near the west pier of Oswego Harbor
• Coordinates: Near the west pier of Oswego Harbor (exact coordinates not documented)

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Ainsworth was a wooden schooner, a quintessential vessel for the Great Lakes during the 19th century. Schooners like the Ainsworth were valued for their ability to carry bulk cargoes such as salt, lumber, and general merchandise efficiently across the Great Lakes. At 110 tons, the Ainsworth was a medium-sized schooner, built for durability and reliability in the often harsh conditions of Lake Ontario and surrounding waterways.

Description

The Ainsworth was built in 1835 at Cape Vincent, New York, and served the bustling trade routes of Lake Ontario for over a decade. It transported goods crucial to the regional economy, connecting ports and facilitating commerce in the Great Lakes.

History

On its final voyage, the Ainsworth was moored in Oswego Harbor, loaded with salt bound for Cleveland, Ohio. A sudden and fierce gale originating from the northwest swept across Lake Ontario, transforming the harbor into a violent maelstrom.

The storm’s power quickly overwhelmed the Ainsworth. The gale tore the vessel’s masts away, rendering it defenseless. Waves battered the schooner, and it was driven onto its beam ends, ultimately grounding on the rocks at the base of Fort Ontario. The schooner was completely wrecked, its cargo lost to the lake, and the vessel declared a total loss.

Significant Incidents

• The Ainsworth was wrecked on November 20, 1846, due to a severe gale that caused dismasting and grounding on rocks.
• The crew was rescued without loss of life by the Revenue Cutter Service.

Final Disposition

The wreck of the Ainsworth marked the end of its 11-year career. Driven ashore by the storm and reduced to wreckage, the schooner and its cargo of salt were lost. While the ship’s remains may have settled in the shallow waters near Oswego, the exact location has not been documented.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The Ainsworth‘s wreck serves as a poignant chapter in the rich maritime history of Lake Ontario, highlighting the risks faced by mariners in the region.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”ainsworth-1835″ title=”References & Links”]

The Ainsworth‘s wreck near Fort Ontario is a testament to the unforgiving conditions faced by mariners on the Great Lakes. Despite its robust construction and years of reliable service, the schooner succumbed to the violent storm of November 1846. Thanks to the heroic efforts of the Revenue Cutter Service, the lives of the Ainsworth‘s crew were spared, preserving their stories of resilience and survival.