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
[shotline_reference_links slug=”m-f-merrick-us-16342″ title=”References & Links”]
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.
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
- Name(s): M.F. Merrick
- Official Number: 16342
- Year Built: 1863
- Place Built: Clayton, New York
- Final Location: Off Presque Isle, Michigan, Lake Huron
- Date Lost: 17 May 1889
- Cause of Loss: Collision in fog with steamer R.P. Ranney
- Final Cargo: Furnace sand
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.
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.
Located By & Date Found
There are no confirmed records of the wreck being located or documented.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted.
Resources & Links
- Bowling Green State University, Historical Collections of the Great Lakes
- Board of Lake Underwriters Marine Directory
- C. Patrick Labadie Collection
- Marine Record Archives
- Buffalo Daily Courier and other regional 19th-century papers
- Donald V. Baut Collection
Conclusion
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.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Schooner, wood hull, Lake Huron, collision, 19th century, fog-related wreck, furnace sand, Reindeer Line, Presque Isle, grain trade, Great Lakes maritime history.