Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

J.E. Shaw (1854)

Explore the wreck of the J.E. Shaw, a wooden schooner lost in a gale in 1856, with all crew rescued. Located in the Straits of Mackinac.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: J.E. Shaw
  • Type: Wooden, two-masted schooner
  • Year Built: 1854
  • Builder: J. Stebbins, Milan, Ohio
  • Dimensions: Length 118 ft (36 m); Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage: 293 tons
  • Location: Driven ashore at St. Helena Island, Straits of Mackinac, Lake Michigan
  • Coordinates: Approximate grounding area known
  • Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

A typical mid-19th-century wooden schooner, employed in bulk cargo transport across the Great Lakes. Crafted for flexibility and moderate cargo loads.

Description

Built with the characteristic wooden hull and two-mast schooner sail plan. With an approximate tonnage of 293 tons and length of about 36 m (118 ft), she likely featured a single deck with cargo holds and forward cabin, common among vessels of her class.

History

Commissioned by J. Stebbins in 1854 at Milan, Ohio, the J.E. SHAW transported staple agricultural commodities across the Lakes. On 22 September 1856, she departed Milwaukee bound for Oswego laden with wheat. A rapid gale swept through the Straits of Mackinac, and seeking shelter the vessel “slipped in behind St. Helena for shelter and was driven ashore” near St. Helena Island. The storm wrecked her, but all aboard survived.

Significant Incidents

  • 22 September 1856: Driven ashore during a gale at St. Helena Island, resulting in the complete wrecking of the vessel.

Final Disposition

The collision with shore resulted in her complete wrecking. The estimated loss was valued at US $30,000 at the time. There are no records of successful salvage.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No documented site discovery has taken place. The wreck remains unlocated, though the approximate grounding area is known.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”j-e-shaw-1854″ title=”References & Links”]

The J.E. SHAW illustrates the constant peril wooden schooners faced in the unpredictable weather of the Straits of Mackinac. Despite her short career (just two years), her final voyage typifies the abrupt and destructive power of fall gales on the lakes. The wreck remains unrecovered, but its documented loss site helps define an intriguing target zone for modern survey efforts.

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.

J.E. SHAW (Built 1854)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: J.E. SHAW
  • Built: 1854 by J. Stebbins, Milan, Ohio
  • Type: Wooden, two‑masted schooner
  • Length: 118 ft (36 m); Tonnage: 293 tons
  • Date Lost: 22 September 1856
  • Loss Location: Driven ashore at St. Helena Island, Straits of Mackinac, Lake Michigan
  • Cargo: Wheat
  • Crew: All rescued; no loss of life (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)

Vessel Type

A typical mid‑19th‑century wooden schooner, employed in bulk cargo transport across the Great Lakes. Crafted for flexibility and moderate cargo loads.

Description

Built with the characteristic wooden hull and two-mast schooner sail plan. With an approximate tonnage of 293 tons and length of about 36 m (118 ft), she likely featured a single deck with cargo holds and forward cabin, common among vessels of her class.

History

Commissioned by J. Stebbins in 1854 at Milan, Ohio, the J.E. SHAW transported staple agricultural commodities across the Lakes. On 22 September 1856, she departed Milwaukee bound for Oswego laden with wheat. A rapid gale swept through the Straits of Mackinac, and seeking shelter the vessel “…slipped in behind St. Helena for shelter and was driven ashore” near St. Helena Island (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com). The storm wrecked her, but all aboard survived.

Final Disposition

The collision with shore resulted in her complete wrecking. The estimated loss was valued at US $30,000 at the time. There are no records of successful salvage.

Located By & Date Found

No documented site discovery has taken place. The wreck remains unlocated, though approximate grounding area is known.

Notmars & Advisories

No Notmar notices or modern navigational hazards are recorded related to this wreck. It is presumed a localized historic incident.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The J.E. SHAW illustrates the constant peril wooden schooners faced in the unpredictable weather of the Straits of Mackinac. Despite her short career (just two years), her final voyage typifies the abrupt and destructive power of fall gales on the lakes. The wreck remains unrecovered, but its documented loss site helps define an intriguing target zone for modern survey efforts.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

Schooner, 1854, wooden ship, wheat cargo, Straits of Mackinac, St. Helena Island, gale wreck, no loss of life, Great Lakes maritime history.

j-e-shaw-1854 1856-09-22 19:07:00