Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: HENRY HUBBARD
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1833 or earlier
- Builder: Possibly D.M. Hagedon, Port Huron, Michigan (1842)
- Dimensions: 59 ft (18 m) X 17 ft (5.2 m); Depth: 6 ft (1.8 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 53 tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 1.8 m / 6 ft
- Location: Near Thunder Bay Island, Lake Huron
- Official Number: None assigned
- Original Owners: Not documented
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The HENRY HUBBARD (or BELA HUBBARD) was a small two-masted schooner, a common vessel type in the early Great Lakes shipping industry. Schooners like this were primarily used for cargo transport, carrying lumber, grain, and general freight between Michigan, Ohio, and Canadian ports.
However, details on this vessel are scarce, and some records suggest it may have been confused with another ship of the same name, possibly built in 1842 by D.M. Hagedon at Port Huron, Michigan.
Description
The HENRY HUBBARD had a short and largely undocumented service life, likely sailing the Great Lakes trade routes before its tragic sinking in 1845.
History
The HENRY HUBBARD had a short and largely undocumented service life, likely sailing the Great Lakes trade routes before its tragic sinking in 1845.
Key Events in the Vessel’s History:
- 1833 or earlier: Built, though its exact origins remain unclear.
- Pre-1845: Used for cargo transport, likely between Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Detroit.
One notable claim suggests that Peter White, who later became a wealthy iron magnate, was part of the crew, but this has not been fully verified.
Significant Incidents
- The schooner capsized and foundered, sinking quickly.
- All hands were lost, including Captain Pearson.
- No further details exist about the circumstances of the wreck.
Some records claim the vessel was seen wintering in Detroit in 1845-46, but this conflicts with the loss date, suggesting there may be a mix-up with another ship of the same name.
Final Disposition
The HENRY HUBBARD was lost on June 8, 1845, near Thunder Bay Island, Lake Huron, in a violent storm.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the HENRY HUBBARD has never been found.
Thunder Bay Island is part of an area known for many shipwrecks, but due to the lack of exact coordinates and the vessel’s small size, its remains may be buried or dispersed.
Resources & Links
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The HENRY HUBBARD (or BELA HUBBARD) remains a mystery, with conflicting reports about its construction, loss, and even existence.
Its loss near Thunder Bay Island adds it to the long list of early Great Lakes shipwrecks, many of which remain undiscovered due to incomplete records from the early 19th century.
The lack of survivors or eyewitness accounts means the true fate of the ship may never be fully known.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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