Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

M. Courtright (1856)(Milton Courtright)

Explore the remains of the M. Courtright, a wooden schooner lost in a gale in 1871, now fully dispersed along the Kenosha shoreline.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: M. Courtright
  • Type: Wooden two-masted schooner
  • Year Built: 1856
  • Builder: DeWolfe shipyard, Erie, Pennsylvania
  • Dimensions: 136 × 29 × 11 ft; 276 tons burthen
  • Registered Tonnage: 276 tons
  • Location: Approximately 1.5 miles south of Kenosha, Wisconsin
  • Official Number: 16393
  • Original Owners: Mears & Bates of Chicago; Master: Capt. William Durgan
  • Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Vessel Type

Wooden two-masted schooner.

Description

Description

The M. Courtright was a wooden two-masted schooner built in 1856 at the DeWolfe shipyard in Erie, Pennsylvania. It was registered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and had dimensions of 136 feet in length, 29 feet in beam, and 11 feet in depth, with a registered tonnage of 276 tons.

History

History

Owned by Mears & Bates of Chicago, the M. Courtright was captained by William Durgan. The vessel had a service history typical of mid-19th-century Great Lakes shipping, primarily transporting goods across the region.

Significant Incidents

Significant Incidents

  • On November 7, 1871, while at anchor, the M. Courtright’s anchor rode dragged during a severe northwesterly gale.
  • The vessel became waterlogged, struck bottom, and was subsequently abandoned by the crew.
  • The U.S. Revenue Cutter Andrew Johnson attempted to tow the vessel off but was unsuccessful.
  • The schooner went ashore and broke up within a few days; all crew members survived with no fatalities recorded.
  • The hulk was later destroyed by natural wave action and storms.

Final Disposition

Final Disposition

The M. Courtright was abandoned after the crew evacuated due to severe weather conditions. Despite attempts by the U.S. Revenue Cutter Andrew Johnson to salvage the vessel, it ultimately broke up on the shore of Lake Michigan.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck lies ashore off Kenosha, now fully broken and dispersed by wave action. There are no substantial remains, making the site unsuitable for diving, and no underwater survey is necessary.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”m-courtright-1856-milton-courtright” title=”References & Links”]

Conclusion

The M. Courtright was a well-documented mid-19th-century Great Lakes schooner whose loss on November 7, 1871, resulted from a severe gale that dragged her anchor, stranded her ashore, and destroyed her hulk after abandonment. The U.S. Revenue Cutter Andrew Johnson was on scene but unable to salvage the vessel. No loss of life occurred. The wreck remains fully broken and dispersed onshore. Ongoing research could fill in crew biographies, legal aftermath, and cutter’s logs, enriching the vessel’s narrative.

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

Final Voyage & Wreck

  • While at anchor, her anchor rode dragged during a severe northwesterly gale on November 7.
  • She was waterlogged, struck bottom, and abandoned by the crew. The U.S. Revenue Cutter Andrew Johnson attempted to tow her off—without success. The schooner went ashore and broke up within a few days (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
  • All crew survived; no fatalities recorded.
  • The hulk was later destroyed by natural wave action and storms.

Revenue Cutter Involvement

  • The Andrew Johnson, stationed in Milwaukee since 1865 and designed for Great Lakes operations, responded and tried to refloat the vessel (Wikipedia).
  • She was unable to salvage M. Courtright before the hulk broke up and was abandoned.

Archival & Research Sources

  • Wisconsin Shipwrecks site: Provides construction details, registry, and service history (wisconsinshipwrecks.org).
  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (“M” list): Confirms loss date, circumstances, tonnage, ownership, anchor dragging, and cutter involvement (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
  • Baillod’s Wisconsin wreck entries: Detail cutter involvement, grounding site, and destruction within days (baillod.com).
  • U.S. Revenue Cutter Service records: Describe the cutter Andrew Johnson‘s operations and geography (Wikipedia).

Wreck Site & Dive Potential

  • Wreck lies ashore off Kenosha, now fully broken and dispersed by wave action—no substantial remains exist.
  • The site is unsuitable for diving, and no underwater survey is necessary.

Gaps & Research Opportunities

AreaRecommendations
Crew & abandonment detailsConsult Milwaukee Sentinel, Chicago Tribune, Kenosha News (November 1871) for crew accounts.
Insurance or ownership claimsSearch marine insurance records via Chicago court archives for loss claims by Mears & Bates.
Cutter logsReview Andrew Johnson operational logs at the U.S. Coast Guard Historian’s Office or National Archives.
Environmental drawings or photosInvestigate regional maritime museums (e.g., Kenosha or Wisconsin Maritime Museum) for incident photos or sketches.

Conclusion

The M. Courtright was a well-documented mid‑19th-century Great Lakes schooner whose loss on November 7, 1871, resulted from a severe gale that dragged her anchor, stranded her ashore, and destroyed her hulk after abandonment. The U.S. Revenue Cutter Andrew Johnson was on scene, but unable to salvage the vessel. No loss of life occurred. The wreck remains fully broken and dispersed onshore. Ongoing research could fill in crew biographies, legal aftermath, and cutter’s logs, enriching the vessel’s narrative.

Would you like me to draft archive search plans, news archive targets, or templates to request cutter logs and insurance documentation?

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