Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: General Harrison
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: Early 1850s
- Builder: Likely in the Buffalo–Erie region
- Dimensions: ~77 × 20 × 8 ft; ~115 gross tons
- Registered Tonnage: ~115 gt
- Location: Barcelona, New York
- Official Number: Not specified in surviving summary entry
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden two-masted schooner, a type of vessel commonly used for regional freight transport in the mid-19th century.
Description
The General Harrison was a wooden schooner built in the early 1850s, measuring approximately 77 feet in length, 20 feet in beam, and 8 feet in depth. It had an estimated gross tonnage of around 115 tons. The vessel was primarily used for transporting staves, a type of wooden plank used in barrel making.
History
The General Harrison was constructed in the Buffalo–Erie region and was part of the mid-19th-century small schooner trade. These vessels were often susceptible to structural failure, particularly when overloaded with cargo such as staves, which could compromise their seaworthiness.
Significant Incidents
- Loss Date: Saturday before October 17, 1854 (October 14 or 15).
- Route: Departed from Erie, Pennsylvania, bound for Tonawanda, New York, laden with approximately 35,000 staves.
- Incident: Encountered a sudden gale shortly after departure on Lake Erie, leading to heavy leaking beyond the vessel’s pump capacity.
- Rescue Efforts: The crew issued distress signals and were rescued by the passing schooner Roscoe just before the General Harrison capsized.
- Outcome: The wreckage drifted ashore near Barcelona, New York, and the vessel was considered a total loss.
- Fatalities: None; all crew members survived.
Final Disposition
The General Harrison ultimately drifted ashore at Barcelona, New York, where it was wrecked. The vessel was deemed a total loss following the incident.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The current condition of the wreck is not documented, and it is unclear if any remnants of the General Harrison remain visible or accessible.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”general-harrison-c1850″ title=”References & Links”]
The case of the General Harrison illustrates the vulnerabilities of mid-19th-century schooners, particularly when overloaded. The timely rescue of the crew highlights the dangers of lake shipping during this era, as well as the importance of seamanship in crisis situations.
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.
built circa 1850s; lost October 1854, Wooden two‑masted schooner on Lake Erie—a mid‑19th century regional freighter
Identification & Vessel Details
- Built: Early 1850s (likely in the Buffalo–Erie region)
- Official Number: Not specified in surviving summary entry
- Type: Wooden schooner, estimated ~77 × 20 × 8 ft; ~115 gross tons
- Cargo: Staves—estimated at 35,000 on her final voyage
(Wisconsin Shipwrecks, RootsWeb, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Voyage & Loss — October 1854
- Date: Saturday before October 17, 1854 (i.e. October 14 or 15)
- Route: Departed Erie, PA, bound for Tonawanda, New York, laden with staves.
- Incident: Encountered a sudden gale shortly after departure on Lake Erie. The vessel began to leak heavily, beyond the capacity of her pump system.
- Rescue Efforts: The crew issued distress signals and were rescued in time by the passing schooner Roscoe—just before General Harrison capsized.
- Outcome: The wreckage eventually drifted ashore near Barcelona, NY, and the vessel was considered a total loss.
- Fatalities: None—everyone aboard survived.
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Summary Table
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | General Harrison |
| Built | Early 1850s (Buffalo–Erie region) |
| Approx. Dimensions | ~77 × 20 × 8 ft; ~115 gt |
| Loss Date | Saturday before Oct 17, 1854 |
| Departure Point | Erie, Pennsylvania |
| Destination | Tonawanda, New York |
| Cargo | ~35,000 staves |
| Cause of Loss | Storm-induced leak; abandoned when flooding became uncontrollable |
| Rescue | Crew rescued by schooner Roscoe |
| Final Remainder | Drifted ashore at Barcelona, NY; wrecked |
| Crew Fatalities | None |
Historical Context & Insights
- General Harrison represents mid‑19th-century small schooner trade vessels highly susceptible to structural failure, even in early gale events—especially when overloaded with brittle cargo like staves.
(RootsWeb, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Wisconsin Shipwrecks) - The successful rescue by Roscoe underscores both the danger and networked cooperation of lake shipping during the era.
- Despite capsizing shortly afterward, the absence of crew casualties reflects both timely response and effective seamanship—even under crisis.
Suggestions for Further Research
To develop a fuller historical profile, consider exploring:
- 1854 regional newspapers (Erie, PA and Barcelona, NY) for vessel and cargo manifests, storm reports, or rescue accounts.
- Insurance logbooks or maritime underwriters’ claims—may contain valuation, ownership, and official cause-of-loss entries.
- Port registry or customs archives in Erie and Tonawanda—may include enrollment details under the name General Harrison.
- Dock manifests or cargo receipts—particularly from stave manufacturers or firewood merchants in Erie.
Conclusion
The schooner General Harrison, likely built in the early 1850s, foundered in mid‑October 1854 after departing Erie laden with 35,000 staves. She began to leak during a gale; her crew was rescued in time, but she capsized and became a total wreck. Driftage carried her remains ashore near Barcelona, NY. No crew lives were lost. This case illustrates how structural instability and overloaded freight could quickly doom even modest Great Lakes schooners.
general-harrison-c1850 1854-10-26 12:19:00