Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Buffalo, Catherine, Sophia
- Type: Provincial Marine Gunboats
- Year Built: 1792
- Builder: Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard, Point Frederick
- Dimensions: Length ~55-65 ft (17-20 m); Beam ~15-20 ft (4.5-6 m); Depth of hold ~6-7 ft (1.8-2.1 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 30-60 tons
- Location: Kingston, Ontario
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Provincial Marine Gunboats — Buffalo, Catherine, Sophia
Description
Due to the lack of surviving hull plans or detailed dockyard records, these vessels are estimated as follows:
- Tonnage: 30–60 tons (burthen) — typical for early Great Lakes Provincial Marine gunboats.
- Length Overall: Approximately 55–65 ft (17–20 m)
- Beam: Roughly 15–20 ft (4.5–6 m)
- Draft: Around 6–7 ft (1.8–2.1 m)
Comparable craft such as HMS Speedy (1798) built at Kingston measured ~55 ft overall with draft near 7 ft, providing a baseline for size expectations.
History
None of the three vessels left formal wreck records. After the 1813 reorganization and the Rush-Bagot Treaty (1817), all were decommissioned, likely dismantled or broken up in Kingston.
Significant Incidents
- No known shipwreck site; all presumed to have been broken and disposed of on land.
Final Disposition
Documentary evidence: Kingston dockyard logs and Provincial Marine inventories (1789–1834) may include specifications or disposal notes.
Archaeological potential: Dockyard slip deposits at Point Frederick could contain fragments if parts were scuttled there.
Current Condition & Accessibility
These gunboats exemplify early Canadian wooden naval architecture—shallow draft, low-profile vessels built for coastal defense and logistics rather than open-lake combat. Lacking surviving plans or wreck sites, their dimensions remain estimates based on analogous vessels and general Provincial Marine standards.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”buffalo-catherine-sophia-1792″ title=”References & Links”]
These gunboats exemplify early Canadian wooden naval architecture—shallow draft, low-profile vessels built for coastal defense and logistics rather than open-lake combat. Lacking surviving plans or wreck sites, their dimensions remain estimates based on analogous vessels and general Provincial Marine standards.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
Provincial Marine Gunboats — Buffalo, Catherine, Sophia
Identification & Construction
- Built: 1792, Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard, Point Frederick
- Three sister Provincial Marine gunboats commissioned amidst growing tensions along Lake Ontario (Wikipedia).
Vessel Type and Dimensions
Due to the lack of surviving hull plans or detailed dockyard records, these vessels are estimated as follows:
- Tonnage: 30–60 tons (burthen) — typical for early Great Lakes Provincial Marine gunboats (Wikipedia, Wikipedia)
- Length Overall: Approximately 55–65 ft (17–20 m)
- Beam: Roughly 15–20 ft (4.5–6 m)
- Draft: Around 6–7 ft (1.8–2.1 m)
Comparable craft such as HMS Speedy (1798) built at Kingston measured ~55 ft overall with draft near 7 ft, providing a baseline for size expectations (Wikipedia, lcps-stamps.org).
Summary Table
| Vessel | Approx. Tonnage | Length (est.) | Beam (est.) | Draft (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | 30–60 tons | ~55–65 ft | ~15–20 ft | ~6–7 ft |
| Catherine | 30–60 tons | ~55–65 ft | ~15–20 ft | ~6–7 ft |
| Sophia | 30–60 tons | ~55–65 ft | ~15–20 ft | ~6–7 ft |
Operational Role
- Purpose: Coastal patrolling, supply, and militia support under the Provincial Marine command.
- Armed modestly with swivel guns or small cannons—adequate for supply escort rather than ship-to-ship combat (cnrs-scrn.org, Wikipedia).
Fate
- None of the three vessels left formal wreck records.
- After the 1813 reorganization and the Rush-Bagot Treaty (1817), all were decommissioned, likely dismantled or broken up in Kingston.
- No known shipwreck site; all presumed to have been broken and disposed of on land.
Research Gaps
- Documentary evidence: Kingston dockyard logs and Provincial Marine inventories (1789–1834) may include specifications or disposal notes.
- Archaeological potential: Dockyard slip deposits at Point Frederick could contain fragments if parts were scuttled there.
Conclusion
These gunboats exemplify early Canadian wooden naval architecture—shallow draft, low-profile vessels built for coastal defense and logistics rather than open-lake combat. Lacking surviving plans or wreck sites, their dimensions remain estimates based on analogous vessels and general Provincial Marine standards.
buffalo-catherine-sophia-1792 1830-07-29 09:03:00