Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: John Lillie
- Type: Scow-Schooner
- Year Built: 1847
- Builder: John Lillie at Chicago (Gross Point)
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: ~96 tons (net register), 82 nominal tons
- Location: Entering Grand Haven harbor, Lake Michigan, Michigan, USA
- Coordinates: Not available
- Official Number: 13872
- Original Owners: Unknown beyond builder information
- Number of Masts: Not specified
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Scow-schooner, a type of vessel characterized by a flat bottom and shallow draft, designed for hauling bulk goods along the Great Lakes.
Description
The John Lillie was built as a small cargo vessel intended for transporting bulk goods or general freight. Her design was typical of mid-19th century scow-schooners, making her suitable for coastwise work.
History
There are no records of prior incidents or major events associated with the John Lillie beyond the wreck incident on November 10, 1870. Crew names, ownership beyond the builder, and detailed manifest records appear to be unrecorded in standard datasets.
Significant Incidents
- Struck a breakwater while entering Grand Haven harbor during a storm, resulting in the vessel being torn to pieces and declared a total loss.
- No casualties reported; sources do not mention any loss of life.
Final Disposition
The John Lillie was destroyed upon impact with the harbor structure during a gale. She was declared a total loss immediately after the incident. There appears to be no formal inquiry documentation referenced in available secondary records.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No recorded discovery of a physical wreck site or detailed undertow documentation exists in the sources consulted. Given the description of the wreck, it likely dispersed or was salvaged opportunistically at the time.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”john-lillie-us-13872″ title=”References & Links”]
The scow-schooner John Lillie, launched in 1847, met her end on November 10, 1870, when she struck a breakwater while entering Grand Haven harbor during a storm. She was recorded as a total loss, with no reported fatalities. Further research in local archives may provide additional information on crew and ownership.
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.
(Scow‑Schooner, Official No. 13872)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Built: 1847, by John Lillie at Chicago (Gross Point) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Official Number: 13872
- Tonnage / Dimensions: ~96 tons (net register), 82 nominal tons (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Type: Wooden scow‑schooner
Loss Details
- Date of Loss: November 10, 1870
- Location: Entering Grand Haven harbor, Lake Michigan, Michigan, USA (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Circumstances: Struck a “beak‑water” (breakwater or submerged structure) while entering the harbor during a storm. The hull was torn to pieces and the vessel was a total loss (Alchem Incorporated)
- Type of Loss: Storm-related collision and wreck
- Casualties: No mention of loss of life; sources do not record fatalities
Description & Operational History
- Built as a small cargo vessel intended for hauling bulk goods or general freight along the Lakes.
- Owned out of Chicago, her design was typical of the mid‑19th‑century scow‑schooner: flat bottom, shallow draft, strong for coastwise work.
History
- There is no additional record of prior incidents or major events associated with this vessel beyond the wreck incident on the stated date.
- Crew names, ownership beyond builder info, or detailed manifest records appear to be unrecorded in standard datasets.
Final Disposition
- The John Lillie was destroyed on impact with the harbor structure in a gale as soon as she tried to enter Grand Haven harbor: she was “torn to pieces” and declared a total loss immediately (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
- There appears to be no formal inquiry documentation (e.g., marine board reports) referenced in available secondary records.
Located By & Date Found
- No recorded discovery of a physical wreck site or detailed undertow documentation in the sources consulted.
- Given the description (“torn to pieces” near the harbor mouth), it likely dispersed or salvaged opportunistically at the time.
Notmars & Advisories
- No Notices to Mariners or hazard advisories recorded in the available datasets at the time of loss.
Resources & Links
- Vessel records from Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – WordPress provide the primary data on this loss (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
- Additional vessel/x-list sources such as HCGL and National Shipwreck Project indices may hold supplementary notes if accessed directly.
Gaps & Suggestions for Further Research
- Crew and ownership details: No personnel names or ownership beyond builder info found—visit HCGL enrollment rolls or contemporary merchant marine registries in archives.
- Newspaper coverage: Check Grand Haven Sentinel, Chicago Tribune, or Michigan newspaper archives around November 1870 for incident reports or survivor statements.
- Marine board or port authority files: Grand Haven port archives or Michigan maritime administrative records may hold accident investigation notes.
- Physical documentation: Lloyd’s or insurance ledgers might exist if insured, possibly held at maritime museum archives.
Conclusion
The scow‑schooner John Lillie, launched in 1847 in Chicago, met her end on November 10, 1870, when she struck a breakwater structure entering Grand Haven harbor during a storm. She was torn apart by the wreck and recorded as a total loss in primary shipwreck registers. No loss of life was reported, and no known survivors’ accounts or formal inquiry records are referenced in existing datasets. Further research in local newspaper archives, maritime registration files, and port authority records may yield additional crew or ownership information.
john-lillie-us-13872 1870-11-10 18:29:00