Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: John T. Mott
- Type: Cargo Schooner
- Year Built: 1869
- Builder: George Goble & Macfarland
- Dimensions: 137 ft (41.76 m) X 26 ft 2 in (7.98 m); Depth of hold: 11 ft 9 in (3.58 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 319.15 tons (289.52 metric tonnes)
- Location: Georgian Bay, Lake Huron
- Coordinates: Unknown
- Official Number: 75157
- Original Owners: Thomas S. Mott, J. McAuley
- Number of Masts: Not specified
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The John T. Mott was a wooden canal schooner, optimized for freight transportation across the interconnected waterways of the Great Lakes. Designed with robust construction and a shallow draft, the vessel was capable of navigating both open lake waters and canal systems. Typical of the late 19th century merchant fleet, she served in the coal and lumber trade.
Description
Launched in Oswego, New York, in August 1869, the John T. Mott entered service under Thomas S. Mott, a prominent Oswego shipowner. Over her multi-decade career, she operated extensively across Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, and Lake Ontario. The schooner encountered numerous accidents and underwent multiple rebuilds:
- 1874–1884: Frequent groundings and leaks, including incidents near Port Colborne, Cape Vincent, and Point au Pelee.
- September 1884: Collision with schooner Monticello near Colchester Reef, Lake Erie. Both vessels sank in 7 fathoms of water. The Mott was later raised, salvaged, and rebuilt.
- 1890: Sold to the Rochester Transportation Co. after being salvaged by Thomas Murphy and rebuilt with a tonnage of 325.33 gross tons.
- 1892: Driven ashore and scuttled near Cathead Light, Lake Michigan.
- 1893: Sank again in a gale near Fairport, Ohio, Lake Erie.
- 1903: Transferred to Canadian registry (C100128), owned by J. McAuley, Wiarton, Ontario.
- c.1915–1920: Final abandonment, reportedly in Georgian Bay, Lake Huron.
Throughout her life, the John T. Mott was engaged in the grain, coal, and lumber trades. Her repeated recovery and reconstruction exemplify the value and utility of large schooners in the late 19th century.
History
The John T. Mott was a resilient and widely traveled schooner emblematic of 19th-century Great Lakes commerce. Surviving multiple sinkings, collisions, and rebuilds, the vessel served both American and Canadian owners for nearly five decades. Her final disappearance into the waters or docks of Georgian Bay marks the quiet end of a once-industrious freight carrier. Though her wreck remains undiscovered, her legacy is richly preserved in the records of maritime lore and shipwreck history.
Significant Incidents
- 1874–1884: Frequent groundings and leaks.
- September 1884: Collision with Monticello.
- 1892: Driven ashore and scuttled.
- 1893: Sank in a gale.
Final Disposition
Circa 1915–1920, the John T. Mott was abandoned, reportedly in Georgian Bay, Lake Huron. The final registry was Canadian, and the condition is unknown; it is believed to be submerged and unmarked. There is no confirmed wreck site.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There are no current NOTMARs associated with the wreck of the John T. Mott. The site, if extant, does not present a known navigational hazard and has not been charted by official maritime sources.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”john-t-mott-c-100128us-75157″ title=”References & Links”]
The John T. Mott was a resilient and widely traveled schooner emblematic of 19th-century Great Lakes commerce. Surviving multiple sinkings, collisions, and rebuilds, the vessel served both American and Canadian owners for nearly five decades. Her final disappearance into the waters or docks of Georgian Bay marks the quiet end of a once-industrious freight carrier. Though her wreck remains undiscovered, her legacy is richly preserved in the records of maritime lore and shipwreck history.
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.
Identification & Site Information
- Vessel Name: John T. Mott
- Other Names: None
- Official Number: 75157
- Year Built: 1869
- Builder: George Goble & Macfarland
- Built at: Oswego, New York
- Hull Materials: Wood
- Length: 137 ft (41.76 m)
- Beam: 26 ft 2 in (7.98 m)
- Depth: 11 ft 9 in (3.58 m)
- Gross Tonnage: 319.15 tons (289.52 metric tonnes)
- Net Tonnage: 303.2 or 309.07
- Final Status: Abandoned c.1915–1920
- Region: Great Lakes – Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan
- Primary Use: Cargo Schooner
Vessel Type Description
The John T. Mott was a wooden canal schooner, optimized for freight transportation across the interconnected waterways of the Great Lakes. Designed with robust construction and a shallow draft, the vessel was capable of navigating both open lake waters and canal systems. Typical of the late 19th century merchant fleet, she served in the coal and lumber trade.
History
Launched in Oswego, New York, in August 1869, the John T. Mott entered service under Thomas S. Mott, a prominent Oswego shipowner. Over her multi-decade career, she operated extensively across Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, and Lake Ontario. The schooner encountered numerous accidents and underwent multiple rebuilds:
- 1874–1884: Frequent groundings and leaks, including incidents near Port Colborne, Cape Vincent, and Point au Pelee.
- September 1884: Collision with schooner Monticello near Colchester Reef, Lake Erie. Both vessels sank in 7 fathoms of water. The Mott was later raised, salvaged, and rebuilt.
- 1890: Sold to the Rochester Transportation Co. after being salvaged by Thomas Murphy and rebuilt with a tonnage of 325.33 gross tons.
- 1892: Driven ashore and scuttled near Cathead Light, Lake Michigan.
- 1893: Sank again in a gale near Fairport, Ohio, Lake Erie.
- 1903: Transferred to Canadian registry (C100128), owned by J. McAuley, Wiarton, Ontario.
- c.1915–1920: Final abandonment, reportedly in Georgian Bay, Lake Huron.
Throughout her life, the John T. Mott was engaged in the grain, coal, and lumber trades. Her repeated recovery and reconstruction exemplify the value and utility of large schooners in the late 19th century.
Final Disposition
- Date: Circa 1915–1920
- Cause: Abandonment, reportedly in Georgian Bay, Lake Huron
- Final Registry: Canadian
- Condition: Unknown; believed to be submerged and unmarked
- Status: No confirmed wreck site
Located By & Date
- Located By: Not confirmed
- Discovery Date: Not applicable
- Wreck Coordinates: Unknown
- Current Site: Presumed off Georgian Bay, Lake Huron, or abandoned ashore
Notices to Mariners & Advisories
There are no current NOTMARs associated with the wreck of the John T. Mott. The site, if extant, does not present a known navigational hazard and has not been charted by official maritime sources.
Resources & Links
- Marine Record, Cleveland Herald, and Buffalo Evening News (1884–1893): Incident and loss reports
- Merchant Vessel Lists (U.S. & Canada): Registration records 1871–1903
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Historic newspapers and salvage reports
Conclusion
The John T. Mott was a resilient and widely traveled schooner emblematic of 19th-century Great Lakes commerce. Surviving multiple sinkings, collisions, and rebuilds, the vessel served both American and Canadian owners for nearly five decades. Her final disappearance into the waters or docks of Georgian Bay marks the quiet end of a once-industrious freight carrier. Though her wreck remains undiscovered, her legacy is richly preserved in the records of maritime lore and shipwreck history.
Keywords John T. Mott, schooner, Oswego-built, George Goble, canal schooner, Great Lakes shipping, Monticello collision, Colchester Reef, Georgian Bay, Fairport Ohio shipwreck, Wiarton Ontario, 19th-century merchant fleet
john-t-mott-c-100128us-75157 1920-03-23 01:40:00