Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Mary Frances
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1848
- Builder: L. Shickluna, Prescott, Ontario
- Dimensions: 91 ft (27.7 m) × 20 ft (6.1 m) × 9 ft (2.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 96 GRT
- Location: Near Chervill/Cherwell (Rondeau vicinity), Lake Erie
- Coordinates: Unknown
- Official Number: 33549
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Mary Frances was a two-masted wooden schooner, typical of mid-19th-century inland sailing vessels, designed for coastal and lakewide cargo transport.
Description
The Mary Frances was constructed by shipbuilder Louis Shickluna at Prescott, Ontario. She primarily operated on Lake Erie trade routes, likely transporting grain, lumber, or coal.
History
Launched in 1848, the Mary Frances served the Upper Canada grain, lumber, or coal trades. Her official number 33549 indicates registry within Canada, with service along Ontario and U.S. lake ports. Specific ownership and trade records remain undocumented.
In July 1865, the vessel was operating in Lake Erie when she encountered a severe storm near Chervill (likely modern-day Cherwell), resulting in her grounding and subsequent total loss.
Significant Incidents
- Wrecked during a storm in July 1865 near Chervill, Ontario.
- Declared a total loss shortly after grounding.
Final Disposition
The Mary Frances was wrecked and driven ashore near Rondeau. Deemed unsalvageable, her value was estimated at $2,600 CAD. No salvage reports or recovery operations are recorded, and she was presumed to have broken up along the shore.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Not located. No diver reports, surveys, or confirmed site mapping exist. The wreck remains undocumented by Parks Canada or Ontario Marine Heritage programs.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”mary-frances-us-33549″ title=”References & Links”]
Further research is required to identify the master, crew, or any descendants of the Mary Frances. The wreck site remains unconfirmed, and divers should be aware of the legal protections under the Ontario Heritage Act.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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