Marquis (Tobias Butler)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: MARQUIS (formerly TOBIAS BUTLER)
• Type: Three-masted Wooden Schooner
• Year Built: August 1872
• Builder: William Jamieson
• Dimensions: Length 148.0 ft (45.11 m); Beam 28.9 ft (8.81 m); Depth of hold 11.5 ft (3.51 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 424.00 tons
• Depth at Wreck Site: 3.51 m / 11.5 ft
• Location: Toronto, Ontario
• Original Owners: W. Hale
• Number of Masts: Three

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The MARQUIS was a three-masted schooner with a round stern, designed to carry substantial cargoes of lumber and other bulk goods. Constructed with the finest white oak timbers, the vessel exemplified high standards of shipbuilding craftsmanship. Her carvel-built hull ensured durability and stability, making her well-suited for the rigours of the Great Lakes trade.

Description

The MARQUIS began her life as the TOBIAS BUTLER, launched on August 27, 1872, from the shipyard of H.B. Rathbun & Son in Mill Point, Ontario. She was the largest vessel ever built on the Bay of Quinte at the time, reflecting the area’s thriving shipbuilding industry. Designed to facilitate trade between Bay of Quinte ports and Oswego, New York, the schooner had an impressive carrying capacity of over half a million feet of lumber.

The TOBIAS BUTLER was a symbol of the region’s economic vitality, built to high specifications, and rated as A No. 1 for insurance purposes. Her initial registration was in Napanee, Ontario, where she served as a barge for lumber transportation.

On May 25, 1875, the vessel was renamed MARQUIS and relocated to Toronto under the ownership of W. Hale. Despite the name change, the ship continued to serve in the lumber trade, leveraging her significant cargo capacity and robust construction.

History

The eventual fate of the MARQUIS is not detailed in the historical record. Her contributions to the lumber trade and the maritime economy of the Great Lakes remain a testament to the shipbuilding industry of the Bay of Quinte and the foresight of her builders.

Significant Incidents

• No active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) are linked to the MARQUIS. The lack of records suggests that the vessel was likely retired, decommissioned, or lost to history without a significant wreck event.
• No wreckage of the MARQUIS has been documented. It remains unclear whether the vessel met with disaster or was dismantled after her operational life.

Final Disposition

No known remains of the MARQUIS have been identified. If wrecked, her timbers and other components may rest on the Great Lakes’ lakebed, awaiting discovery.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No known remains of the MARQUIS have been identified. If wrecked, her timbers and other components may rest on the Great Lakes’ lakebed, awaiting discovery.

Resources & Links

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The MARQUIS, with its rich history and significant role in the Great Lakes lumber trade, remains a notable example of 19th-century shipbuilding and maritime heritage.