John Richards (1830)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: John Richards
• Type: Wooden two-masted schooner
• Year Built: 1830
• Builder: Erie, Pennsylvania
• Dimensions: Approx. 58 ft (17.68 m) length × 17 ft beam × 5 ft depth
• Registered Tonnage: Approx. 43 tons
• Location: Detroit River, about 2 miles below Detroit, MI
• Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

John Richards served as a small wooden coastal schooner—two-masted, under 60 feet long, used for hauling bulk cargo such as stone or ballast. The vessel was typical of early 19th-century river and lake traders, designed for shallow draft and modest capacity.

Description

The John Richards, built in 1830, was a small wooden schooner lost during a sudden squall on the Detroit River on 10 May 1842. Carrying heavy cut stone, she capsized and sank after cargo shifted, drowning six of seven aboard. Though salvaged and returned to service, a later incident in 1858 likely ended her career permanently. No modern archaeological documentation exists, and further research into local archives may enrich the vessel’s historical record.

History

On 10 May 1842, while sailing the Detroit River loaded with cut stone, John Richards encountered a sudden intense squall. The cargo shifted violently, capsizing the schooner. Initial orientation left her capsized with masts above water, across the current. As the river’s current pushed her into a different orientation, she righted and sank. Suction from the capsizing and rebounding vessel resulted in tragic loss: six crew members drowned, and only one survived.

Historical accounts note the vessel later was raised and returned to service, suggesting salvage and repair occurred later in 1842. However, further confusion appears with a reported secondary loss at Cherry Creek, Detroit River, in May 1858—likely a transposed record for the same vessel.

Significant Incidents

• Loss of the vessel occurred on 10 May 1842 due to capsizing in a squall, resulting in six fatalities.
• Reported secondary loss at Cherry Creek in May 1858, possibly a record error.

Final Disposition

John Richards was initially recovered after sinking and reportedly resumed operation. The registry remained active until at least 1858, when another incident at Cherry Creek is listed; the vessel was then considered lost (total wreck), closing her operational life.

Current Condition & Accessibility

• No archaeological dive or survey records are known for John Richards.
• The wreck site, if still extant, would likely be buried or degraded in the Detroit River bed. Past salvage complicates locating any remaining structure.

Resources & Links

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Further research into local archives may provide additional insights into the John Richards and her operational history, including crew details and salvage efforts.