Emigrant (1843)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Emigrant
• Type: Propeller (brig-rigged, package freighter)
• Year Built: 1843
• Builder: George Washington Jones
• Dimensions: Length 117 ft 10 in (35.9 m); Beam 25 ft 6 in (7.8 m); Depth of hold 9 ft 1 in (2.8 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 249 94/95 tons
• Depth at Wreck Site: 2.8 m / 9.1 ft
• Location: Near Avon Point, Ohio, Lake Erie
• Official Number: [unrecorded due to pre-registration era]
• Original Owners: Sheldon Pease, William F. Allen, Abner Stone, Cleveland, OH
• Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Emigrant was a pioneering Great Lakes propeller steamer, intended for package freight with a brig-rigged sail plan. She is historically notable as one of the earliest screw-propelled steamers on the Great Lakes and the first steamer built in Cleveland.

Description

A wooden-hulled, brig-rigged screw steamer with two decks, Emigrant represented the cutting edge of 1840s technology, blending traditional sail power with steam propulsion. Her two-cylinder engine with a single propeller was forward-looking for its time.

History

Launched on 22 April 1843, Emigrant cost $15,000 and was the first steamer to be built in Cleveland. Her registry was recorded at Cleveland on 17 May 1843.

She operated on Lake Erie and Lake Huron, carrying package freight and general goods. Like many early steamers, she suffered mechanical issues and navigational mishaps. In September 1844, she damaged her wheel on the St. Clair River, requiring repairs at Detroit. The following month, in October 1844, she stranded at Goderich on Lake Huron.

In 1845, Emigrant‘s steam machinery was removed, and she was converted to a brig to continue trading under sail. However, she continued to encounter difficulties; in May 1845 she was dismasted near Point au Sable on Lake Michigan and underwent repairs.

Her final loss occurred on 9 October 1845, when she stranded near Avon Point, close to Cleveland, with a cargo of iron.

Significant Incidents

• September 1844: Damaged wheel on the St. Clair River, requiring repairs at Detroit.
• October 1844: Stranded at Goderich on Lake Huron.
• May 1845: Dismasted near Point au Sable on Lake Michigan.
• 9 October 1845: Stranded near Avon Point, Ohio, with a cargo of iron.

Final Disposition

• Final Location: Near Avon Point, Ohio, Lake Erie
• Date Lost: 9 October 1845
• Final Cargo: Iron
• Cause: Stranded

Current Condition & Accessibility

There is no record of a modern survey or discovery of the Emigrant wreck site.

Resources & Links

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The Emigrant was an innovative vessel for her time, representing an important step forward in Great Lakes steam navigation. As one of the region’s first screw-propelled steamers, she helped pave the way for later developments in propulsion technology. Despite a short and troubled operational career, she stands out in maritime history for her pioneering role.