J.R. Giddings (1844)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: J.R. Giddings
• Type: Brigantine
• Year Built: 1844
• Builder: Stephen Lockwood, Ashtabula, Ohio
• Dimensions: Length 114 ft (34.7 m); Beam 25 ft 8 in (7.8 m); Depth of hold 9 ft 8 in (3.0 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 257 49/95 old tons
• Location: Southeast of Two Rivers, Wisconsin
• Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The J.R. Giddings is classified as a brigantine, a two-masted cargo sailing vessel primarily constructed of wood.

Description

Built in 1844 by Stephen Lockwood in Ashtabula, Ohio, the J.R. Giddings was a wooden brigantine with a registered tonnage of 257 49/95 old tons. It measured 114 feet in length, 25 feet 8 inches in beam, and had a depth of hold of 9 feet 8 inches.

History

The operational history of the J.R. Giddings includes notable events such as a fast autumn passage from Buffalo to Chicago in 1845, which took only 20 days. The vessel experienced several incidents from 1847 to 1856, including grounding, collisions, leaks, and rigging damage. Significant repairs were made at various Great Lakes ports. On July 21, 1857, during a storm, the brigantine capsized and sank southeast of Two Rivers, Wisconsin, with the schooner Kyle Spangler witnessing the event.

Significant Incidents

• 1845: Fast autumn passage Buffalo–Chicago (20 days); collided with Clarion (Dec 2).
• 1847–1856: Frequent incidents—grounding, collisions, leaks, rigging damage, dismasting. Notable events include a leak in Lake Huron (Sept 1852), collision in St. Clair River (Oct 1855), dismasting in Chicago (Nov 1856). Repairs completed at various Great Lakes ports.
• 1857 (July 21): During a storm, the brigantine capsized and sank southeast of Two Rivers. The schooner Kyle Spangler witnessed the event; crew fate is unrecorded.

Final Disposition

The J.R. Giddings succumbed to severe weather on July 21, 1857, capsizing and sinking roughly southeast of Two Rivers. Visual confirmation was made by Kyle Spangler. No survivors nor casualty details are linked to the incident.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the J.R. Giddings is likely lying in deep waters off Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan coast. No modern surveys or dive expeditions have confirmed its location or visibility.

Resources & Links

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Divers interested in the J.R. Giddings should be aware that the wreck is located in deep water and remains unconfirmed by recent explorations. The historical significance of this vessel, along with its tragic loss, makes it a point of interest for maritime history enthusiasts.