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.

Identification & Site Information

• Name, Former Names: Butler, Hannah
• Type: Schooner
• Port of Registry: Picton, Ontario (initial registration in 1857)
• Construction Year: 1857
• Built At: Cobourg, Ontario
• Builder: Taylor & Delaney
• Dimensions:
  • Length: 89.4 feet (27.25 meters)
  • Beam (Width): 20 feet (6.1 meters)
  • Depth: 18.1 feet (5.5 meters)
• Tonnage:
  • 148 (old system);
  • Net Tonnage: 126 (post-rebuild)
• Official Number: 80957

Vessel Type Description

The Butler, Hannah was a wooden schooner, a design common on the Great Lakes in the 19th century. Fore-and-aft rigged sails allowed flexibility in the variable winds of inland waterways. Schooners like the Butler, Hannah played a crucial role in transporting goods across the lakes, forming the backbone of the region’s maritime trade.

History

The Butler, Hannah was built by Taylor & Delaney in Cobourg, Ontario, and registered in Picton on December 18, 1857. Initially owned by Wm. Ostrander and others from Cobourg, the schooner became an integral part of local trade. Over 30 years, the vessel underwent several repairs, rebuilds, and ownership changes.

• 1864: Repairs were completed.
• 1866: Ownership transferred to J. Proctor of Hamilton, Ontario.
• 1873: A major rebuild occurred under new owners D. Rooney, McDermott, and others.
• 1878: Dimensions were updated.
• 1880: Broke from moorings in November and drifted ashore, requiring extensive repairs.
• 1885: Ran aground at South Bay, Ontario, but was recovered.
• 1886: Registered again in Picton under VanVlack, Ostrander & O’Hagan.

The schooner met its end on November 26, 1887, when it struck Salmon Pt. Reef in Lake Ontario amid foggy conditions. A subsequent storm destroyed the vessel as it was en route to Wellington, Ontario, from Oswego, New York.

Final Disposition

The Butler, Hannah was wrecked on Salmon Pt. Reef and later destroyed in a storm. After three decades of service, it succumbed to Lake Ontario’s challenging waters.

Located By & Date

The wreck has not been extensively documented, but the vessel is known to have sunk near Salmon Pt. Reef on November 26, 1887.

Notmars & Advisories

There are no active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) concerning the wreck site. The remains likely pose no navigational hazards but represent a point of historical and diving interest.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck likely lies scattered and heavily deteriorated at Salmon Pt. Reef. While accessible to experienced divers, the exact location and condition would require further investigation.

Resources & Links

• David Swayze Shipwreck File: Records and descriptions of shipwrecks.
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Historical data on Great Lakes vessels.
• Great Lakes Ships: Histories of ships on the Great Lakes.

Keywords

Butler, Hannah, schooner, Lake Ontario, Salmon Pt. Reef, shipwreck, Cobourg, Picton, maritime history, Great Lakes

Analysis

The Butler, Hannah embodies the resilience and risks of 19th-century schooners on the Great Lakes. Its multiple rebuilds and incidents highlight the harsh realities of maritime trade during this era. The wreck near Salmon Pt. Reef is a testament to the challenges of navigating foggy, storm-prone waters. As a historical artifact, the schooner reflects the economic and community reliance on maritime transport in Ontario.

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