Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Mary Morton
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1857
- Builder: Bidwell, Banta, & Co.
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 264 tons
- Location: Long Point, Lake Erie
- Official Number: 16435
- Original Owners: George Morton, E. Cohen
- Number of Masts: unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Mary Morton was a wooden-hulled schooner, typical of mid-19th-century commercial sailcraft used on the Great Lakes for bulk cargo. Schooners were widely favoured for coal, lumber, and grain transportation due to their relatively shallow draft and efficient sail rig.
Description
Constructed by Bidwell, Banta, & Co., the Mary Morton had a registered tonnage of 264 tons (old style). She was rebuilt in 1867, suggesting either a significant structural refit or a change in dimensions or rigging. The vessel underwent several ownership changes, reflecting a dynamic commercial environment during the height of lake shipping.
History
- 1857, October: Aground at Fighting Island in the Detroit River, indicating early navigational incidents.
- 1860: Owned by George Morton of Erie, Pennsylvania.
- 1865: Registered at 179.90 gross tons, suggesting either an error in reporting or post-construction modifications.
- 1866: Transferred to E. Cohen of Cleveland, Ohio.
- 1867: Rebuilt and updated, possibly in response to aging or to meet evolving trade demands.
- 1867, November: Lost her jib-boom in Lake Erie, a common damage incident in rough weather.
- 1870, August: Collided with bark F. Morrell off Bark Shanty, Lake Huron.
- 1870, September 21: Damaged again in collision with the bark S.V.R. Watson at Buffalo, indicating recurring navigational risks.
- 1870, November 19: Driven ashore and wrecked in a storm at Long Point, Lake Erie. The ship was loaded with 310 tons of coal and was en route to Buffalo, New York. It was abandoned after the grounding.
Final Disposition
The Mary Morton was declared a total loss after being driven ashore and wrecked in a storm on Lake Erie near Long Point. No fatalities are reported in the incident. The cargo and hull were abandoned following the wreck.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No record exists of the wreck being located or surveyed in modern times. Likely remains are scattered or buried along Long Point.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”mary-morton-us-16435″ title=”References & Links”]
The Mary Morton illustrates the hazards of 19th-century commercial sailing on the Great Lakes, with a career marked by collisions, rebuilds, and final destruction in a storm. Her loss underscores the importance of Long Point as a notorious hazard for lake vessels. The schooner represents a typical coal carrier of the period and offers insight into Great Lakes commerce and navigation.
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): Mary Morton
- Official Number: 16435
- Year Built: 1857
- Built at: Buffalo, New York
- Final Location: Long Point, Lake Erie
- Date Lost: 19 November 1870
- Final Cargo: 310 tons of coal
Vessel Type
Mary Morton was a wooden-hulled schooner, typical of mid-19th-century commercial sailcraft used on the Great Lakes for bulk cargo. Schooners were widely favoured for coal, lumber, and grain transportation due to their relatively shallow draft and efficient sail rig.
Description
Constructed by Bidwell, Banta, & Co., the Mary Morton had a registered tonnage of 264 tons (old style). She was rebuilt in 1867, suggesting either a significant structural refit or a change in dimensions or rigging. The vessel underwent several ownership changes, reflecting a dynamic commercial environment during the height of lake shipping.
History
- 1857, October: Aground at Fighting Island in the Detroit River, indicating early navigational incidents.
- 1860: Owned by George Morton of Erie, Pennsylvania.
- 1865: Registered at 179.90 gross tons, suggesting either an error in reporting or post-construction modifications.
- 1866: Transferred to E. Cohen of Cleveland, Ohio.
- 1867: Rebuilt and updated, possibly in response to aging or to meet evolving trade demands.
- 1867, November: Lost her jib-boom in Lake Erie, a common damage incident in rough weather.
- 1870, August: Collided with bark F. Morrell off Bark Shanty, Lake Huron.
- 1870, September 21: Damaged again in collision with the bark S.V.R. Watson at Buffalo, indicating recurring navigational risks.
- 1870, November 19: Driven ashore and wrecked in a storm at Long Point, Lake Erie. The ship was loaded with 310 tons of coal and was en route to Buffalo, New York. It was abandoned after the grounding.
Final Disposition
The Mary Morton was declared a total loss after being driven ashore and wrecked in a storm on Lake Erie near Long Point. No fatalities are reported in the incident. The cargo and hull were abandoned following the wreck.
Located By & Date Found
No record exists of the wreck being located or surveyed in modern times. Likely remains are scattered or buried along Long Point.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted.
Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Ships Database
- Board of Lake Underwriters Marine Directory
- C. Patrick Labadie Collection
Conclusion
The Mary Morton illustrates the hazards of 19th-century commercial sailing on the Great Lakes, with a career marked by collisions, rebuilds, and final destruction in a storm. Her loss underscores the importance of Long Point as a notorious hazard for lake vessels. The schooner represents a typical coal carrier of the period and offers insight into Great Lakes commerce and navigation.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Schooner
- Lake Erie
- 19th-century shipwreck
- Coal transport
- Great Lakes storm loss
- Long Point
- Rebuilt vessels
- Maritime collisions