Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Dread
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1823
- Builder: Huron, Ohio
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Aground at Long Point, Lake Erie
- Coordinates: View approximate area on Google Maps
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Dread was a classic two-masted schooner—built for cargo and passenger service—representative of early 19th-century lake commerce before steam propulsion had taken hold. It was one of the earliest vessels enrolled at multiple ports in the year of its launch, indicating rapid commissioning for inter-port service.
Description
Constructed in 1823 in Huron, Ohio, the Dread was a typical early wooden schooner used to carry settlers and freight between Great Lakes ports. Her enrollment at Portland, New York three times in the same year points to intense early activity, possibly in settler transport.
In early September 1823, while sailing from Buffalo to Detroit with approximately 30 emigrants from Ontario County, New York, the vessel encountered a violent gale. It was driven ashore at Long Point—a notoriously dangerous projection into Lake Erie that had already claimed other vessels by that time.
History
Although little is known about her operational details, the Dread appears to have had a brief career. The loss occurred during one of her earliest voyages, transporting settlers westward—a common and hazardous undertaking on the lakes in that era. The vessel was reported “aground” on 7 September 1823. Period accounts claim she was “dashed to pieces” by the surf, but remarkably, all emigrants and crew survived the incident. Her registration reappears in 1832 at Black Rock (Buffalo), suggesting confusion in records or reuse of the name.
Significant Incidents
- Aground and broken apart on 7 September 1823 at Long Point, Lake Erie.
- All 30+ passengers survived the incident.
- No record exists of salvage, and she was likely abandoned.
Final Disposition
Aground and broken apart on 7 September 1823 at Long Point, Lake Erie. The wreck was a total loss. All 30+ passengers survived. No record exists of salvage, and she was likely abandoned.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No modern wreck discovery or diver documentation is available. The vessel was almost certainly destroyed on shore, with scattered remnants buried or eroded by time near Long Point National Wildlife Area.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”dread-1823″ title=”References & Links”]
The wreck of the Dread in 1823 is one of the earliest documented emigrant-carrying shipwrecks on Lake Erie. Although her physical remains have not been located, the incident serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers faced by settlers and sailors navigating the Great Lakes during the early expansion period. Her survival story amid destruction highlights both the severity of lake storms and the resilience of early American lake travel.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Dread
- Date Built & Launched: 1823
- Built At: Huron, Ohio
- Vessel Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
- Construction: Wood hull, single deck
- Power: Sail
- Number of Decks: 1
- Number of Masts: 2
- Date Lost: 7 September 1823
- Final Location: Aground at Long Point, Lake Erie
View approximate area on Google Maps
Vessel Type
The Dread was a classic two-masted schooner—built for cargo and passenger service—representative of early 19th-century lake commerce before steam propulsion had taken hold. It was one of the earliest vessels enrolled at multiple ports in the year of its launch, indicating rapid commissioning for inter-port service.
Description
Constructed in 1823 in Huron, Ohio, the Dread was a typical early wooden schooner used to carry settlers and freight between Great Lakes ports. Her enrollment at Portland, New York three times in the same year points to intense early activity, possibly in settler transport.
In early September 1823, while sailing from Buffalo to Detroit with approximately 30 emigrants from Ontario County, New York, the vessel encountered a violent gale. It was driven ashore at Long Point—a notoriously dangerous projection into Lake Erie that had already claimed other vessels by that time.
History
Although little is known about her operational details, the Dread appears to have had a brief career. The loss occurred during one of her earliest voyages, transporting settlers westward—a common and hazardous undertaking on the lakes in that era. The vessel was reported “aground” on 7 September 1823. Period accounts claim she was “dashed to pieces” by the surf, but remarkably, all emigrants and crew survived the incident. Her registration reappears in 1832 at Black Rock (Buffalo), suggesting confusion in records or reuse of the name.
Final Disposition
Aground and broken apart on 7 September 1823 at Long Point, Lake Erie. The wreck was a total loss. All 30+ passengers survived. No record exists of salvage, and she was likely abandoned.
Located By & Date Found
No modern wreck discovery or diver documentation is available. The vessel was almost certainly destroyed on shore, with scattered remnants buried or eroded by time near Long Point National Wildlife Area.
Notations & Advisories
Long Point continues to be recognized as a graveyard for ships due to its shifting sands and unmarked shoals. While no hazard is charted for Dread, wreckage from other ships continues to be found in the area.
Conclusion
The wreck of the Dread in 1823 is one of the earliest documented emigrant-carrying shipwrecks on Lake Erie. Although her physical remains have not been located, the incident serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers faced by settlers and sailors navigating the Great Lakes during the early expansion period. Her survival story amid destruction highlights both the severity of lake storms and the resilience of early American lake travel.
Suggested Keywords & Glossary Terms: schooner, Lake Erie storm, Long Point, early emigrant transport, 1823 Great Lakes shipwreck
Suggested Categories:
- Early Great Lakes Shipwrecks
- Lake Erie Maritime History
- Emigrant Vessels
- Pre-steam Navigation Incidents