Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Jesse Smith
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1832
- Builder:
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location:
- Original Owners: Presumed United States
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
While specific records for Jesse Smith are minimal, evidence suggests she was a wooden schooner typical of the era, designed for hauls of bulk cargo like lumber. At the time of loss, she was laden with lumber, indicating regular freight service on Lake Huron or Lake Michigan trade routes.
Description
Built in 1832, Jesse Smith likely served regional timber and cargo transport during a period of accelerating maritime commerce on the Great Lakes. Her November 1848 loss is documented only by registry notation and loss summary; no further information on ownership, port of origin, or voyage particulars is available.
History
Recorded simply as “wrecked” in November 1848, the Jesse Smith was declared a total loss. The financial estimate places the wreck cost at around US$4,000, a significant value at the time, but with no indication of salvage or recovery.
Significant Incidents
There are no records of wreck discovery, survey, or rediscovery. The site remains unlocated and undocumented.
Final Disposition
None recorded. With no known location, Jesse Smith has posed no navigational hazard or official advisory.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The vessel is listed in registry loss records as “wrecked, total loss US$4,000” in November 1848. No other sources (e.g., newspapers, maritime logs) provide supplementary detail.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”jesse-smith-1832″ title=”References & Links”]
Jesse Smith is an example of an early mid-century Great Lakes schooner that vanished from historical records in November 1848 with little trace beyond a registry loss report. Laden with lumber and declared a total loss worth US$4,000, she slipped into obscurity without known casualties, location, or legacy. Her story underscores the many undocumented shipwrecks of the era.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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