Ellington US 7235

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Ellington
• Type: Wooden two-masted schooner
• Year Built: 1847
• Builder: J. Keating, Vermilion, Ohio
• Dimensions: 102 × 22 × 9 ft (Approx. 31.1 × 6.7 × 2.7 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 143 tons
• Location: Buffalo Harbor, Lake Erie
• Official Number: 7235
• Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Cargo Vessel / Schooner
Primarily used for handling bulk freight—in this case, hauling stone blocks.

Description

Ellington was a mid-19th century wooden-hulled schooner, featuring two masts and a modest cargo hold built to transport heavy cargo such as stone. Her frame and planking were robust enough for this service but subject to deterioration over time.

History

• Career Highlights:
  • Built in 1847; originally part of the Bradley fleet.
  • Damaged in the Chicago Fire of 1871; repaired and returned to service.
  • Reported damaged from a collision near Toledo in 1869; again rebuilt.
• Loss Details:
  • Occurred in late October 1873, during a severe storm at Buffalo Harbor, Lake Erie.
  • Fully loaded with stone blocks, Ellington struck the breakwater amid gale-force winds.
  • Sank at the harbor entrance and deemed “too overaged to rescue”, resulting in complete loss.
  • All crew were lost; no survivors reported.

Final Disposition

• Sunken: Struck breakwater and sank at harbor mouth.
• Salvage/Inquiry: None recorded; old age contributed to loss.
• Insurance/Legal: No specific records found—likely total loss.

Current Condition & Accessibility

• Site Location: Remains presumably lie at the harbor entrance at Buffalo. No confirmed modern surveys publicly documented.
• Condition Status: Unknown; due to age and harbor activity, wreck may be buried or fragmented. Potential for remains beneath harbor sediments.

Resources & Links

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Although Ellington‘s remains remain largely lost to time, her documented final voyage during a violent storm and her repeated repairs make her historically significant. A targeted underwater survey would clarify her preservation state and contribute to Buffalo’s maritime archaeology portfolio.