Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Grace Sherwood (10793)

Explore the wreck of the Grace Sherwood, a 1866 wooden schooner lost in a gale near Port Burwell, Ontario, with all crew surviving the incident.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Grace Sherwood
  • Type: Wooden, two-masted schooner
  • Year Built: 1866
  • Builder: J. Hill, Sodus, New York
  • Dimensions: Length 118 ft (36 m); Beam 25 ft; Depth 11 ft
  • Registered Tonnage: 73 gross tons
  • Location: 1 mile east of Port Burwell docks, Ontario
  • Official Number: 10793
  • Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden, two-masted schooner—typically employed on the Lake Erie–Detroit–Buffalo grain and freight run.

Description

The Grace Sherwood was a wooden two-masted schooner built in 1866 by J. Hill in Sodus, New York. She measured 118 feet in length, 25 feet in beam, and had a depth of 11 feet, with a registered tonnage of 73 gross tons.

History

The Grace Sherwood was primarily used for transporting grain and freight across the Great Lakes, particularly between Lake Erie, Detroit, and Buffalo. Her service history includes various voyages until her final incident in 1875.

Significant Incidents

  • Final Incident – October 8, 1875: Departing Detroit, bound for Buffalo, carrying wheat, the vessel was struck by a strong October gale. She became unmanageable, stranded on the shoals near Port Burwell, and was driven onto the beach where she was destroyed by the storm surge and surf. Fortunately, all crew members survived.

Final Disposition

The Grace Sherwood was declared constructively totaled—wrecked and unrecoverable. A wrecking tug named “Sill” was dispatched from Buffalo, but the damage was irreparable, and her decks were submerged. Official documentation was surrendered following the total loss.

Current Condition & Accessibility

As of now, the wreck site near Port Burwell has not been surveyed for remains or debris patterns. Further investigation may yield additional information about the wreck’s condition.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”grace-sherwood-10793″ title=”References & Links”]

The Grace Sherwood remains a significant part of maritime history, illustrating the dangers faced by vessels on the Great Lakes. Her loss serves as a reminder of the power of nature and the resilience of those who navigate these waters.

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.

(wooden two-masted schooner, built 1866)

Identification & Vessel Details

  • Name: Grace Sherwood (also sometimes listed as Grace Sherman)
  • Built: 1866, by J. Hill, Sodus, New York
  • Official Number: 10793
  • Type: Wooden, two-masted schooner—typically employed on the Lake Erie–Detroit–Buffalo grain and freight run
  • Tonnage: 73 gross tons; Length 118 ft, Beam 25 ft, Depth 11 ft ([turn0search3])

Final Incident – October 8, 1875

  • Voyage: Departing Detroit, bound for Buffalo, carrying wheat
  • Location of Loss: Approximately 1 mile east of Port Burwell docks, Ontario
  • Weather Conditions: Struck by a strong October gale
  • Incident Description: The Grace Sherwood became unmanageable in the gale, stranded on the shoals near Port Burwell and was driven onto the beach where she was destroyed—literally pounded to pieces by the storm surge and surf
  • Crew & Casualties: No lives lost; all crew survived

Disposition & Aftermath

  • Declared: Constructively totaled—wrecked and unrecoverable
  • Salvage Attempts: A wrecking tug (“Sill”) was dispatched from Buffalo; however, her decks were submerged and damage was irreparable ([turn0search4])
  • Registry: Official documentation surrendered following total loss

Archival References

  • Alchem, Inc. shipwreck listing confirms date, location, cargo (wheat), and crew survival ([turn0search0])
  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files archive provides build specs and detailed incident summary ([turn0search3])
  • Chicago Inter Ocean (October 9, 1875) reports that “Grace Sherwood is ashore near there, with decks under water. She is laden with wheat. The tug Sill left Buffalo this evening with wrecking pumps….” corroborating the salvage attempt ([turn0search4])

Research Gaps & Next Steps

  • Crew Identity & Ship Logs: Crew names and statements may be available via Port Burwell harbor records or contemporaneous newspaper accounts
  • Wreck Location & Condition: Surveying the wreck site near the Port Burwell docks may yield remains or debris patterns
  • Salvage Tonnage & Record: Insurance and tug Sill logs may describe recovery plans, departure logs, and declaration of unrecoverability
  • Weather Details: Meteorological records from October 1875 could quantify wind strength and storm surge

Summary

The Grace Sherwood, a 1866-built, 73-ton schooner, met its fate on October 8, 1875, west of Port Burwell, Ontario. Laden with wheat and struggling against a fierce gale, she stranded and was destroyed—her decks submerged and structure battered beyond salvage. While a wrecking tug attempted rescue, the schooner was deemed a total loss. Fortunately, all aboard survived.

grace-sherwood-10793 1975-10-08 09:52:00