M.F. Merrick US 16342

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: M.F. Merrick
• Type: Schooner
• Year Built: 1863
• Builder: John Oades
• Dimensions: Length 139 ft (42.37 m); Beam 26 ft (7.92 m); Depth of hold 11 ft 10 in (3.61 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 399 tons
• Location: Off Presque Isle, Michigan
• Official Number: 16342
• Original Owners: Fowler & Esseltyne, George Maitland and associates
• Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Two-masted wooden schooner used in bulk cargo transport, primarily engaged in grain, sand, and general trade throughout the Great Lakes. Part of the “Reindeer Line” with the Merrick of Detroit.

Description

• Hull Material: Wood
• Decks: 1
• Length: 139 ft (42.37 m)
• Beam: 26 ft (7.92 m)
• Depth: 11 ft 10 in (3.61 m)
• Tonnage (Old Style): 399 tons
• Builder: John Oades
• Original Owner: Fowler & Esseltyne, Clayton, NY
• Masts: 2

History

The M.F. Merrick was enrolled at French Creek, NY in 1863 and became an active part of the Great Lakes shipping network:

• 1864: Re-measured to 295.4 gross tons.
• 1867 (Oct): Aground at Mohawk Island, Lake Erie.
• 1868: Enrolled in Detroit, indicating westward operational shift.
• 1872 (Aug): Received major repairs at Detroit Dry Dock Company; hull and deck thoroughly overhauled.
• 1877 (Apr): Rebuilt again at the same yard.
• 1887 (Nov 25): Aground at Timber Island, Lake Ontario, with a wheat cargo — later released.
• 1887: Owned by George Maitland and associates, Detroit.

Significant Incidents

Significant incidents include:

• 1867: Aground at Mohawk Island, Lake Erie.
• 1887: Aground at Timber Island, Lake Ontario, with a wheat cargo.

Final Disposition

On 17 May 1889, while loaded with furnace sand and sailing in heavy fog off Presque Isle, Michigan, the M.F. Merrick was run down and struck by the steamer R.P. Ranney. The schooner sank almost instantly. Five crew members were lost in the incident.

Current Condition & Accessibility

There are no confirmed records of the wreck being located or documented.

Resources & Links

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The M.F. Merrick was typical of mid-19th century schooners transitioning into later decades via repeated rebuilding and heavy maintenance. Her loss in 1889 was abrupt and tragic, reflecting the ever-present dangers of fog navigation on the Great Lakes, especially in the heavily trafficked Lake Huron corridor. Her history encapsulates the rugged and often perilous life of cargo schooners on the inland seas.