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.
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.
Identification Card (Site Style)
Other Names: Mary Francis
Official Number: 33549
Registry: Canada
Vessel Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
Builder: L. Shickluna, Prescott, Ontario
Year Built: 1848
Dimensions: 91 ft (27.7 m) × 20 ft (6.1 m) × 9 ft (2.7 m)
Tonnage: 96 GRT
Cargo on Final Voyage: Unknown
Date of Loss: July 1865 (exact day unspecified)
Location: Near Chervill/Cherwell (Rondeau vicinity), Lake Erie
Coordinates: Unknown
Depth: Shoreline wreck
Home Port: Unknown
Owners: Unknown
Crew: Unknown
Casualties: None recorded
Description
The Mary Frances was a Canadian-built, two-masted wooden schooner constructed by shipbuilder Louis Shickluna at Prescott, Ontario. Typical of mid-19th-century inland sailing vessels, she was designed for coastal and lakewide cargo transport, operating largely on the Lake Erie trade routes.
History
Launched in 1848, the Mary Frances likely served the Upper Canada grain, lumber, or coal trades, common cargoes for schooners of her tonnage and build. Her enrollment under official number 33549 suggests registry within Canada, with service along Ontario and U.S. lake ports. Specific ownership and trade records remain undocumented.
By July 1865, the vessel was operating in Lake Erie when she encountered a severe storm near Chervill (likely modern-day Cherwell), near Rondeau, Ontario. The schooner ran aground and was declared a total loss shortly afterward.
Final Dispositions
The Mary Frances was wrecked during a storm 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.
Located By & Date Found
Not located. No diver reports, surveys, or confirmed site mapping exist.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted.
Dive Information
Access: Shoreline (unconfirmed)
Entry Point: Rondeau or nearby beaches
Conditions: Unknown
Depth Range: Likely 0–15 ft (0–4.5 m)
Emergency Contacts: Canadian Coast Guard, local Ontario emergency services
Permits: Required for artifact recovery (Ontario Heritage Act)
Dive Support: None known for this wreck
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No crew deaths were reported. No identified memorials exist. Further research required to identify master, crew, or any descendants.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“The schooner Mary Francis [sic] was wrecked near Chervill in the vicinity of Rondeau. She was a total loss, valued at $2,600.” — Detroit Free Press Marine Disasters, 22 December 1865
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Registered under Official Number 33549 in Canada. Enrollment port and ownership not confirmed. Registry likely closed after 1865 loss. No insurance data available in public archives.
Site Documentation & Imaging
No known archaeological documentation, surveys, or imaging available. Wreck remains undocumented by Parks Canada or Ontario Marine Heritage programs.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Naval Marine Archive
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Chronicling America
- Newspapers.com
- Find A Grave
References
- Naval Marine Archive — Canadian Shipwreck Files
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Detroit Free Press Marine Disasters, 22 Dec 1865
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: Mary Francis
Official Number: 33549
Coordinates: Unknown
Depth: 0–4.5 m (0–15 ft)
Location Description: Chervill/Cherwell near Rondeau, Ontario
Vessel Type: Schooner
Material: Wood
Dimensions: 91 × 20 × 9 ft (96 GRT)
Condition: Total loss, presumed broken
Cause of Loss: Storm grounding
Discovery Date: Not located
Discovered By: Not applicable
Method: Not applicable
Legal Notes: Heritage Act applies
Hazards: None known
Permits Required: Yes (Ontario)