Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Martha Freme
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1835
- Builder: Oswego, New York
- Dimensions: Length 86 ft 7 in (26.4 m); Beam 19 ft 10 in (6.0 m); Depth of hold 8 ft 5 in (2.6 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 131 46/95
- Location: Approximately 3 miles below Barcelona, NY, Lake Erie
- Original Owners: Ansel R. Cobb and others
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Martha Freme was a 19th-century wooden two-masted schooner used in the Great Lakes’ bulk cargo trade. These schooners were vital workboats carrying grain, coal, flour, and general goods between lakeside ports.
Description
- Length: 86 ft 7 in (26.4 m)
- Beam: 19 ft 10 in (6.0 m)
- Depth: 8 ft 5 in (2.6 m)
- Tonnage (Old Style): 131 46/95
In 1842, she was rebuilt and remodeled with new measurements of 89 ft x 20 ft x 9 ft 2 in and a tonnage of 148 56/95, suggesting an increase in cargo capacity and deck height.
History
- 1836, May 13: First enrollment at Oswego, NY.
- 1837, Aug 3: Owned by Ansel R. Cobb and others, Buffalo, NY.
- 1840, Aug: Damaged in collision with brig Indiana off Point Abino, Lake Erie.
- 1840, Oct 2: Struck pier at Buffalo, sprang a leak while carrying wheat.
- 1842, Apr 9: Rebuilt and remodeled; operated under Cobb & Co. Line; dual ownership with Buffalo and Cleveland interests.
- 1842, Sep: Involved in a collision off Erie, PA, sinking schooner Dolphin; subsequently repaired.
- 1842, Sep 22: Damaged in Lake Erie storm.
- 1845, Oct: Suffered slight fire damage at Merritt’s Lock flour mill accident.
- 1847, Mar 15: Damaged in a freshet (flood) at Buffalo; repaired.
- 1848: Active in Buffalo-Erie-Cleveland trade; was briefly scuttled opposite Black Rock Dam during a border incident.
- 1848, Nov 10: Ashore at Port Burwell, ONT with merchandise; freed and continued service.
- 1850, Oct: Wrecked in storm off Barcelona, NY; all hands lost.
Significant Incidents
- Wrecked in a storm off the Lake Erie shore near Barcelona, New York in October 1850.
- All hands lost during the wreck.
Final Disposition
Martha Freme was wrecked in a storm off the Lake Erie shore near Barcelona, New York in October 1850. The vessel was lost along with her entire crew, underscoring the dangers of late-season navigation on the Great Lakes.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No contemporary records indicate rediscovery or archaeological survey of the wreck. Presumed disintegrated or buried beneath sediment near Barcelona, NY.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”martha-freme-1835″ title=”References & Links”]
The Martha Freme exemplified the transitional schooner designs of the mid-19th century on the Great Lakes. Frequently modified and repaired, she had a long service life involving cargo trade, collisions, and maritime accidents before her final loss in 1850. Her wreck remains a largely undocumented but historically relevant loss in the Lake Erie corridor.
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): Martha Freme
- Year Built: 1835
- Built At: Oswego, New York
- Vessel Type: Schooner
- Hull Material: Wood
- Decks: 1
- Final Disposition: Wrecked
- Final Location: Approximately 3 miles below Barcelona, NY, Lake Erie
- Date Lost: October 1850
Vessel Type
The Martha Freme was a 19th-century wooden two-masted schooner used in the Great Lakes’ bulk cargo trade. These schooners were vital workboats carrying grain, coal, flour, and general goods between lakeside ports.
Description
- Length: 86 ft 7 in (26.4 m)
- Beam: 19 ft 10 in (6.0 m)
- Depth: 8 ft 5 in (2.6 m)
- Tonnage (Old Style): 131 46/95
In 1842, she was rebuilt and remodeled with new measurements of 89 ft x 20 ft x 9 ft 2 in and a tonnage of 148 56/95, suggesting an increase in cargo capacity and deck height.
History
- 1836, May 13: First enrollment at Oswego, NY.
- 1837, Aug 3: Owned by Ansel R. Cobb and others, Buffalo, NY.
- 1840, Aug: Damaged in collision with brig Indiana off Point Abino, Lake Erie.
- 1840, Oct 2: Struck pier at Buffalo, sprang a leak while carrying wheat.
- 1842, Apr 9: Rebuilt and remodeled; operated under Cobb & Co. Line; dual ownership with Buffalo and Cleveland interests.
- 1842, Sep: Involved in a collision off Erie, PA, sinking schooner Dolphin; subsequently repaired.
- 1842, Sep 22: Damaged in Lake Erie storm.
- 1845, Oct: Suffered slight fire damage at Merritt’s Lock flour mill accident.
- 1847, Mar 15: Damaged in a freshet (flood) at Buffalo; repaired.
- 1848: Active in Buffalo-Erie-Cleveland trade; was briefly scuttled opposite Black Rock Dam during a border incident.
- 1848, Nov 10: Ashore at Port Burwell, ONT with merchandise; freed and continued service.
- 1850, Oct: Wrecked in storm off Barcelona, NY; all hands lost.
Final Disposition
Martha Freme was wrecked in a storm off the Lake Erie shore near Barcelona, New York in October 1850. The vessel was lost along with her entire crew, underscoring the dangers of late-season navigation on the Great Lakes.
Located By & Date Found
No contemporary records indicate rediscovery or archaeological survey of the wreck. Presumed disintegrated or buried beneath sediment near Barcelona, NY.
Notmar & Advisories
None currently issued.
Resources & Links
- C. Patrick Labadie Collection
- [Donald V. Baut]
- [C. E. Feltner Enrollments Database]
- [Steamboat Era in the Muskokas by Richard Tatley]
- [Erik Heyl, Early American Steamers]
Conclusion
The Martha Freme exemplified the transitional schooner designs of the mid-19th century on the Great Lakes. Frequently modified and repaired, she had a long service life involving cargo trade, collisions, and maritime accidents before her final loss in 1850. Her wreck remains a largely undocumented but historically relevant loss in the Lake Erie corridor.=
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Keywords: schooner, Lake Erie, 19th century, cargo trade, maritime collision, shipwreck, Barcelona NY
- Categories: Great Lakes schooners, 1800s maritime history, Lake Erie shipwrecks
- Glossary:
- Schooner: A sailing vessel with two or more masts, rigged fore-and-aft.
- Scuttled: Intentionally sunk, typically to prevent seizure or damage.
- Freshet: A sudden overflow or flood caused by heavy rain or snowmelt.