Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Josephine (1845)

Explore the wreck of the Josephine, a wooden brig lost in a storm on Lake Erie in 1855.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: JOSEPHINE
  • Type: Wooden brig, two-masted
  • Year Built: 1845
  • Builder: Oswego, NY
  • Dimensions: Approximately 175 tons
  • Registered Tonnage: Approximately 175 tons
  • Location: Off Port Burwell, Ontario
  • Official Number: None
  • Original Owners: None
  • Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden brig, two-masted

Description

The JOSEPHINE was a mid-19th century brig constructed in Oswego, New York. Brigs like the JOSEPHINE were commonly used for cargo transport across the Great Lakes during this era.

History

The JOSEPHINE was reportedly driven onto a reef by a sudden, intense storm known as a white squall and was destroyed. There is some ambiguity in historical records, as a vessel named JOSEPHINE was also reported ashore and wrecked near Dunkirk, NY, in 1845 or 1848, and another with the same name went missing on Lake Ontario in March 1854. Given the popularity of the name “Josephine” among schooners of that period, it’s unclear if these accounts refer to the same vessel.

Significant Incidents

  • Reportedly driven onto a reef by a storm.
  • Conflicting reports of other vessels named Josephine wrecked or missing around the same time.

Final Disposition

Total loss due to storm damage.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No records available regarding the current condition or discovery of the wreck.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”josephine-1845″ title=”References & Links”]

The wreck of the JOSEPHINE serves as a reminder of the perils faced by 19th-century mariners on the Great Lakes.

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:

  • Name: JOSEPHINE
  • Former Names: None
  • Official Number: None
  • Date Built and Launched: 1845, Oswego, NY
  • Measurements: Approximately 175 tons
  • Date Lost: 1855
  • Place of Loss: Off Port Burwell, Ontario, Lake Erie

Vessel Type: Wooden brig, two-masted

Description: The JOSEPHINE was a mid-19th century brig constructed in Oswego, New York. Brigs like the JOSEPHINE were commonly used for cargo transport across the Great Lakes during this era.

History: The JOSEPHINE was reportedly driven onto a reef by a sudden, intense storm known as a white squall and was destroyed. There is some ambiguity in historical records, as a vessel named JOSEPHINE was also reported ashore and wrecked near Dunkirk, NY, in 1845 or 1848, and another with the same name went missing on Lake Ontario in March 1854. Given the popularity of the name “Josephine” among schooners of that period, it’s unclear if these accounts refer to the same vessel.

Final Disposition: Total loss due to storm damage.

Located By & Date Found: No records available.

Notmars & Advisories: None reported.

Resources & Links:

josephine-1845 1845-03-22 01:37:00