Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Ligure
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1832
- Builder: Sandusky, Ohio
- Dimensions: 65 ft (19.81 m); Beam: 17 ft; Depth of hold: 7 ft
- Registered Tonnage: approximately 63 tons
- Location: Point Abino, Ontario
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Built as a standard working schooner of the early period, the Ligure featured a gaff-rigged fore-and-aft sail plan. Her shallow hull made her well-suited to haul bulk supplies along Lake Erie’s shoreline.
Description
The Ligure was a two-masted wooden schooner, constructed to navigate the waters of Lake Erie effectively. With a length of 65 feet and a beam of 17 feet, she was designed for stability and cargo capacity.
History
Launched in 1832 at Sandusky, a key shipbuilding hub during that era, the Ligure operated for a decade delivering supplies, possibly for settlement communities or military outposts. Her cargo’s value of approximately $2,500 in 1842 indicates she likely carried essential goods such as food, tools, or trade items.
Significant Incidents
- On November 18, 1842, Ligure sailed loaded with supplies when a violent autumn gale struck. Conditions quickly worsened, driving her ashore near Point Abino, where she wrecked and the hull broke apart under storm waves. All six aboard were lost.
Final Disposition
The Ligure was a total loss due to storm-driven grounding. There are no specific records of bodies or debris recovered, and given the fatality count, it is likely that none survived or were rescued. No formal Notices to Mariners or marine inquiries have surfaced regarding the incident.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No record of a subsequent wreck investigation or discovery exists. The wreck is likely buried in nearshore shoals at Point Abino, with shoreline erosion and sand cover potentially obscuring any remains.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”ligure-1832″ title=”References & Links”]
The Ligure stands as an early example of Great Lakes maritime commerce interrupted by deadly storm conditions. Built in Sandusky and lost on Lake Erie with substantial cargo and complete crew loss, her wreck remains undocumented and archaeologically unexamined. Uncovering her story would require archival excavation, followed by targeted near-shore survey work near Point Abino.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Vessel Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
- Built: 1832, Sandusky, Ohio
- Dimensions: 65 ft length × 17 ft beam × 7 ft depth; approximately 63 tons register (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Final Voyage & Loss: Occurred November 18, 1842, near Point Abino on Lake Erie
- Cargo: $2,500 worth of supplies (mid-19th-century currency) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Fatalities: All 6 crew members perished (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Vessel Type & Description
Built as a standard working schooner of the early period, the Ligure featured a gaff-rigged fore-and-aft sail plan. Her shallow hull made her well-suited to haul bulk supplies along Lake Erie’s shoreline.
Context & Final Voyage
On November 18, 1842, Ligure sailed loaded with supplies when a violent autumn gale struck. Conditions quickly worsened, driving her ashore near Point Abino (on the Ontario side of Lake Erie), where she wrecked and the hull broke apart under storm waves. All six aboard were lost (Project Gutenberg, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
History & Background
- Launched in 1832 at Sandusky, a key shipbuilding hub during that era (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Operated for a decade delivering supplies, possibly for settlement communities or military outposts
- Her cargo’s value (~$2,500 in 1842) indicates she likely carried food, tools, or trade goods
Final Disposition and Aftermath
- Loss Type: Total loss by storm-driven grounding
- Bodies or Debris: No specific records found; given fatality count, none likely survived or were rescued
- Notices: No formal Notices to Mariners or marine inquiries have surfaced
Located & Survey Status
- No record of a subsequent wreck investigation or discovery
- Likely buried in nearshore shoals at Point Abino—shoreline erosion and sand cover may obscure remains
Research Gaps & Next Actions
- Contemporary Newspaper Archives
- Examine 1842 editions of regional papers such as Buffalo Courier, Sandusky Register, or Erie Gazette for wreck accounts or survivor sightings.
- Enrollment and Registry Records
- U.S. Enrollment ledgers from 1832–1842 (e.g., Library of Congress, BGSU, State of Ohio archives) to confirm ownership and master.
- Local Historical Associations
- Contact organizations in Sandusky and Port Colborne for oral traditions or community notices.
- Marine Insurance and Cargo Documentation
- Investigate underwriter ledgers or freight manifest records for details on cargo and loss claims.
- Field Survey
- Nearshore sonar or magnetometer sweep off Point Abino could potentially detect buried wreck remains.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files entry – Ligure, built Sandusky 1832, lost Nov 18 1842 near Pt. Abino on Lake Erie (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, archives.gov)
- Sandusky shipbuilding history – U.S. Enrollment and port records (to be accessed)
- 1840s regional newspapers – microfilm archives (e.g., Ohio History Connection, Buffalo History Museum)
Conclusion
The Ligure stands as an early example of Great Lakes maritime commerce interrupted by deadly storm conditions. Built in Sandusky and lost on Lake Erie with substantial cargo and complete crew loss, her wreck remains undocumented and archaeologically unexamined. Uncovering her story would require archival excavation, followed by targeted near-shore survey work near Point Abino.
Keywords: Lake Erie, 1832 schooner, autumn gale, Point Abino, cargo loss, 6 fatalities, early Great Lakes shipping.
ligure-1832 1842-11-18 10:46:00