Margaret (c1850)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Margaret
• Type: Stonehooker schooner
• Year Built: Mid-1800s (Exact year unknown)
• Builder: Likely Port Credit, Ontario
• Dimensions: Not documented
• Registered Tonnage: Not specified
• Location: Lake Ontario, nearshore areas
• Original Owners: Likely Port Credit, Ontario

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Margaret was a stonehooker schooner, a vessel designed specifically to extract and transport stone from shallow nearshore areas of Lake Ontario. Stonehookers like the Margaret were integral to the 19th-century construction industry, gathering stones directly from the lakebed and shores. These stones were then used to construct buildings, roads, and harbors across Upper Canada, supporting the rapid growth of the region’s cities and infrastructure.

With sturdy builds, these schooners were shallow-drafted to navigate close to shore and equipped for hauling heavy stone loads. The Margaret, like other stonehookers, likely operated with a small crew under demanding conditions, transporting loads of stone several times a week.

Description

Launched in the mid-1800s from Port Credit, Ontario, the Margaret worked tirelessly under Captain McArthur and his crew. As a stonehooker, it was part of an industry that supplied essential raw materials to growing settlements and industries in the area. Stonehooking was a challenging occupation, with thin profit margins and long hours as crews worked from dawn to dusk. Despite this, the Margaret and its crew were known for their reliability and resilience, often contending with harsh weather conditions to complete their journeys.

As steam-powered vessels began to replace sail-driven schooners and alternative construction materials became more widely available, the demand for stonehooking declined. By the late 19th century, stonehookers like the Margaret were increasingly rare. Records suggest that the vessel was still operational in the mid-1800s, but its ultimate fate remains a mystery. It is possible the Margaret was lost in one of Lake Ontario’s frequent storms, which often claimed the lives of many 19th-century vessels, or was dismantled and forgotten.

History

The Margaret is presumed lost under unknown circumstances, with the last documented references placing it in operation during the mid-1800s. The discovery of the wreck has yet to be made, leaving the precise details of its final voyage unknown.

Significant Incidents

• The Margaret is emblematic of the stonehooking trade that played a foundational role in building the infrastructure of early Upper Canada.
• The unsung work of vessels like the Margaret helped create the cities and transportation routes that facilitated the region’s growth.
• Its mysterious disappearance is a reminder of the many vessels whose fates remain unknown, symbolizing the risks inherent in Great Lakes navigation.

Final Disposition

Maritime historians and divers continue to search for clues about the Margaret‘s last voyage. Its story is a compelling chapter in the Great Lakes’ history of stonehooking and maritime labor, with modern underwater archaeology and archival research slowly uncovering more about this industry and the many vessels that supported it.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The Margaret is presumed lost under unknown circumstances, with the last documented references placing it in operation during the mid-1800s. The discovery of the wreck has yet to be made, leaving the precise details of its final voyage unknown.

Resources & Links

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For additional information on the Margaret and the stonehooking industry, various resources are available that document the history and significance of this vessel and its trade.