Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Forfar
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1855
- Builder: J. Phillips
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: Approx. 119 tons post-1865 rebuild
- Location: Off Muskegon, Michigan
- Official Number: 9197
- Original Owners: James Bowen of Chicago
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A mid–19th-century Great Lakes schooner built for bulk cargo transport. The 1865 rebuild likely restored sailing capability following earlier damage.
Description
The Forfar was a wooden schooner originally built in 1855 in Chicago, Illinois. It was designed for transporting bulk cargo across the Great Lakes. After suffering damage early in its service, it underwent a significant rebuild in 1865, which likely restored its sailing capabilities.
History
- 1855–1865: Encountered repeated incidents:
- Disabled off the Manitou Islands in 1855, drove ashore near Waukegan and declared a total loss, but was recovered.
- Rebuilt in 1865, but operational details remain limited.
- 1868 Final voyage: Owned by James Bowen of Chicago; caught in a fall storm off Muskegon and driven ashore on 7 October 1868. She broke apart and was declared a total loss.
Significant Incidents
- 1855: Disabled off the Manitou Islands.
- 1855: Drove ashore near Waukegan and declared a total loss, but was recovered.
- 1868: Caught in a fall storm off Muskegon, resulting in the loss of four crew members.
Final Disposition
The Forfar broke up on the shore wrecked by storm-swept seas. No salvage occurred, and her remains were abandoned.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No underwater wreck surveys or modern archaeological finds exist; final location remains unmarked and undocumented.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”forfar-us-9197″ title=”References & Links”]
The Forfar exemplifies the vulnerability of mid–1800s wooden schooners on Lake Michigan. Built in Chicago, it suffered damage shortly after launching only to be rebuilt. Its final loss in October 1868 was tragic, with four lives lost in a fall storm. The wreck lies partially or wholly on the Muskegon shoreline, with no known archaeological documentation. Her story is emblematic of the perilous nature of Great Lakes navigation before the advent of modern safety and charting systems.
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: Forfar
- Built: 1855, Chicago, IL by J. Phillips
- Official Number: 9197
- Type: Wooden schooner (later rebuilt in 1865)
- Hull Material: Wood; single deck
- Dimensions: Tonnage listed at 170 49/95 tons originally, later noted as approx. 119 tons post-1865 rebuild (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, en.wikipedia.org)
- Final Location: Off Muskegon, Michigan, Lake Michigan
- Date of Loss: 7 October 1868
- Cause: Driven ashore during a gale; total wreck declared
- Casualties: 4 crew lost (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Vessel Type
A mid‑19th-century Great Lakes schooner built for bulk cargo transport. The 1865 rebuild likely restored sailing capability following earlier damage.
History
- 1855–1865: Encountered repeated incidents:
- Disabled off the Manitou Islands in 1855, drove ashore near Waukegan and declared a total loss, but was recovered (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
- Rebuilt in 1865, but operational details remain limited.
- 1868 Final voyage: Owned by James Bowen of Chicago; caught in a fall storm off Muskegon and driven ashore on 7 October 1868. She broke apart and was declared a total loss (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
Final Disposition
The Forfar broke up on the shore wrecked by storm-swept seas. No salvage occurred, and her remains were abandoned.
Located By & Date Found
No underwater wreck surveys or modern archaeological finds exist; final location remains unmarked and undocumented.
Notmars & Advisories
None recorded. As a shore wreck, it poses no modern hazard or inclusion in navigational notices.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – “F” entries, including Forfar (loss off Muskegon, Oct 7, 1868) (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Conclusion
The Forfar exemplifies the vulnerability of mid‑1800s wooden schooners on Lake Michigan. Built in Chicago, it suffered damage shortly after launching only to be rebuilt. Its final loss in October 1868 was tragic, with four lives lost in a fall storm. The wreck lies partially or wholly on the Muskegon shoreline, with no known archaeological documentation. Her story is emblematic of the perilous nature of Great Lakes navigation before the advent of modern safety and charting systems.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
Forfar, schooner, Chicago-built, lumber schooner, Muskegon wreck, 1868 storm, wooden shipwreck, Great Lakes maritime disaster, 19th-century schooner loss