Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Hampton
- Type: Wooden brig, 2-masted
- Year Built: 1845
- Builder: Asa Wilcox, Three Mile Bay (Pillar Point), New York
- Dimensions: 115 ft x 23 ft x 9 ft (35 m x 7 m x 2.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 174 gross tons
- Location: 8 miles off Sheboygan, Wisconsin
- Official Number: 11305
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Hampton was a large wooden brig, built in 1845 at Three Mile Bay, New York, by Asa Wilcox. At the time of her launch, she was considered one of the largest vessels on the Great Lakes, serving primarily as a cargo carrier for the lumber trade.
Description
The Hampton was a large wooden brig, built in 1845 at Three Mile Bay, New York, by Asa Wilcox. At the time of her launch, she was considered one of the largest vessels on the Great Lakes, serving primarily as a cargo carrier for the lumber trade.
History
The Hampton had a long career spanning nearly three decades, navigating the Great Lakes with various cargoes. However, she was no stranger to disasters:
- November 21, 1857: She was driven ashore and wrecked four miles south of New Buffalo, Michigan, during a storm. At the time, she was owned by E.K. Bruce.
- Despite this incident, she was salvaged, repaired, and returned to service, continuing her work as a lumber transport vessel.
Significant Incidents
- November 21, 1857: Driven ashore and wrecked four miles south of New Buffalo, Michigan, during a storm.
Final Disposition
On September 20, 1873, the Hampton was caught in a violent storm while 8 miles off Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Battling heavy waves and high winds, she became waterlogged and ultimately broke apart offshore—a total loss.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the Hampton remains submerged in Lake Michigan, with no current information on its condition or accessibility for divers.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”hampton-us-11305″ title=”References & Links”]
The Hampton had an impressive 28-year career on the Great Lakes, surviving severe storms and shipwrecks before her final destruction off Sheboygan in 1873. Though she was lost, her crew’s dramatic survival on a makeshift raft remains a remarkable story of resilience in Great Lakes maritime history.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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