Island Packet (pre 1809)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Island Packet
• Type: Schooner
• Year Built: Before 1809
• Builder: Sodus, New York, USA
• Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage: 27 tons
• Location: Upper Narrows, near Ogdensburg, New York
• Coordinates: Upper Narrows, near Ogdensburg, New York
• Original Owners: Townsend, Bronsin & Co.
• Number of Masts: Two masts

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Island Packet was a modest two-masted schooner with a wooden hull and single deck. Schooners like the Island Packet were widely used in the early 19th century due to their speed, maneuverability, and adaptability for various purposes, including trade, transport, and fishing. The vessel’s design made it an essential part of the bustling commercial activity on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River during the era.

Description

The Island Packet was built before 1809 in Sodus, New York, for Townsend, Bronsin & Co., a firm likely involved in the regional trade network. With a gross tonnage of 27 tons, the schooner contributed to the movement of goods across Lake Ontario and into the St. Lawrence River, playing a small but significant role in the economic development of the region.

However, the Island Packet‘s service was cut short by the War of 1812. This conflict between the United States and Great Britain heavily impacted Great Lakes commerce, as waterways became strategic battlegrounds. Schooners like the Island Packet were frequently targeted for destruction to disrupt enemy supply lines and assert control over critical routes.

History

The Island Packet was intentionally burned on June 29, 1812, likely to prevent its capture or use by enemy forces. This was a common tactic during the conflict, with vessels on both sides often destroyed to deny their utility to the opposing forces. The schooner’s destruction marked its end as a casualty of war.

Significant Incidents

• Date of Loss: June 29, 1812
• Cause of Loss: Burned during the early stages of the War of 1812.
• Location: Upper Narrows, near Ogdensburg, New York.

Final Disposition

The Island Packet was intentionally burned, likely to prevent its capture or use by enemy forces. This was a common tactic during the conflict, with vessels on both sides often destroyed to deny their utility to the opposing forces. The schooner’s destruction marked its end as a casualty of war.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Condition: Given the vessel’s wooden construction and the circumstances of its loss, it is unlikely that substantial remnants of the Island Packet have survived over two centuries in the river’s waters.

Accessibility: The site is theoretically accessible for historical and archaeological research but may require extensive exploration to locate and document any surviving fragments.

Resources & Links

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The Island Packet represents the dual role of schooners as commercial workhorses and strategic assets during periods of conflict. Its loss in the War of 1812 highlights the significant impact of the war on regional trade and the use of scorched-earth tactics to deny resources to enemy forces. Although its remnants are likely minimal or nonexistent, the Island Packet remains a historical artifact of Lake Ontario’s maritime heritage and the tumultuous era of the War of 1812.