Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Lily Dancey
- Type: Wooden two-masted schooner
- Year Built: 1856
- Builder: Marlton (Goderich), Ontario
- Dimensions: Approx. 92 ft × 21 ft × 10 ft (ca. 28 m × 6.4 m × 3 m)
- Registered Tonnage: ~132 gross tons, ~125 net tons
- Location: Driven ashore between Port Elgin and Kincardine
- Coordinates: Not precisely known
- Official Number: Not registered (none noted)
- Original Owners: Dancey & Marlton, Goderich, Ontario
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden two-masted schooner.
Description
Lily Dancey was a mid-19th-century wooden schooner built in the Goderich area—specifically in Marlton—in 1856. Measuring approximately 92 feet in length and rated at about 132 gross tons, she operated on Lake Huron routes transporting bulk grain. She served Dancey & Marlton’s mercantile interests out of Goderich.
History
Commissioned by Dancey & Marlton of Goderich, Ontario, Lily Dancey served as a cargo schooner in the Lake Huron grain trade. Though specific career details remain limited, she was engaged in commercial upbound traffic as late as November 1865.
Significant Incidents
- On 7 November 1865, while transporting grain upbound on Lake Huron, Lily Dancey encountered a violent gale.
- She was driven ashore between Port Elgin and Kincardine and declared a total loss.
- The vessel and cargo were initially unrecoverable; however, her grain was later salvaged, and the hull was abandoned.
- By 27 November, contemporary reports confirmed she had broken up completely.
Final Disposition
No modern discovery has occurred. The location was publicly documented at the time of the incident, with no known surviving remnants.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Access: Not applicable (shore wreck)
Entry Point: Not applicable
Conditions: Not applicable
Depth Range: N/A
Emergency Contacts: Not applicable
Permits: Not required
Dive Support: Not applicable
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”lily-dancey-1856″ title=”References & Links”]
No crew fatalities were reported. Further details may reside in local newspaper collections including the Port Elgin Times and Signal-Star, which are indexed within the John Weichel Research Files at the Bruce County Archives.
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 Card (Site Style)
Other Names: Lillie Danay
Official Number: Not registered (none noted)
Registry: Canada (Ontario)
Vessel Type: Wooden two‑masted schooner
Builder: Marlton (Goderich), Ontario
Year Built: 1856
Dimensions: Approx. 92 ft × 21 ft × 10 ft (ca. 28 m × 6.4 m × 3 m)
Tonnage: ~132 gross tons, ~125 net tons
Cargo on Final Voyage: Grain
Date of Loss: 7 November 1865
Location: Driven ashore between Port Elgin and Kincardine, Lake Huron
Coordinates: Not precisely known
Depth: N/A (beach wreck)
Home Port: Goderich, Ontario
Owners: Dancey & Marlton, Goderich, Ontario
Crew: Survived (none lost)
Casualties: None
Description
Lily Dancey was a mid-19th-century wooden schooner built in the Goderich area—specifically in Marlton—in 1856. Measuring approximately 92 feet in length and rated at about 132 gross tons, she operated on Lake Huron routes transporting bulk grain. She served Dancey & Marlton’s mercantile interests out of Goderich.
History
Commissioned by Dancey & Marlton of Goderich, Ontario, Lily Dancey served as a cargo schooner in the Lake Huron grain trade. Though specific career details remain limited, she was engaged in commercial upbound traffic as late as November 1865.
Final Dispositions
On 7 November 1865, while transporting grain upbound on Lake Huron, Lily Dancey encountered a violent gale. She was driven ashore between Port Elgin and Kincardine and declared a total loss. The vessel and cargo were initially unrecoverable. However, her grain was later salvaged, and the hull was abandoned. By 27 November, contemporary reports confirmed she had broken up completely.
Located By & Date Found
No modern discovery has occurred. The location was publicly documented at the time of the incident, with no known surviving remnants.
Notmars & Advisories
None officially noted; vessel broke up onshore.
Dive Information
Access: Not applicable (shore wreck)
Entry Point: Not applicable
Conditions: Not applicable
Depth Range: N/A
Emergency Contacts: Not applicable
Permits: Not required
Dive Support: Not applicable
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No crew fatalities were reported. Further details may reside in local newspaper collections including the Port Elgin Times and Signal-Star, which are indexed within the John Weichel Research Files at the Bruce County Archives (Bruce Museum PDF).
Documented Statements & Extracts
“…driven ashore by a gale… was reported a total loss, but her cargo was later recovered. The vessel broke up by Nov 27.” — Great Lakes Shipwreck Files
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
The vessel had no official number listed. Her 1866 entry in the Canadian Lake Underwriters’ List marked her status as “on the beach.” No return to service was recorded.
Site Documentation & Imaging
No photographic, sonar, or archival illustrations exist. Researchers are advised to consult regional archives for further clues.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Goderich Shipwrecks Listing
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – Lily Dancey
- Bruce County Archives: John Weichel Research Files (PDF)
References
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: Lillie Danay
Official Number: Not recorded
Coordinates: Between Port Elgin and Kincardine, Lake Huron (approximate)
Depth: Beached – site not underwater
Location Description: Ashore during storm
Vessel Type: Wooden two‑masted schooner
Material: Wood
Dimensions: 92 ft × 21 ft × 10 ft; ~132 gross / 125 net tons
Condition: Broken up by 27 November 1865
Cause of Loss: Gale-driven grounding
Discovery Date: 7 November 1865
Discovered By: Observed at the time of incident
Method: Contemporary reporting
Legal Notes: Listed as “on the beach” in 1866 underwriters’ registry
Hazards: None
Permits Required: Not applicable