Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Matt Root
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1855
- Builder: Joel Norton, Richmond (Fairport), Ohio
- Dimensions: ~137 ft × 26 ft × 12 ft (42 m × 7.9 m × 3.7 m); approx. 450 tons; cargo capacity ~17,000 bu
- Registered Tonnage: 450 tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 146 m / 480 ft
- Location: Approx. 4 mi off Beaver Islands
- Official Number: 17207
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A two-masted wooden schooner—common on mid-19th century Great Lakes, used for bulk transport like agricultural produce.
Description
Constructed of traditional wood framing with two masts and centerboard, the Matt Root featured cargo holds sized for seasonal bulk commodities. Its rigging setup was orthodox among schooners of that era, optimised for shallow harbours and inland loading.
History
Launched 1855 in Ohio, the schooner Matt Root served regional ports transporting grain and corn from Midwest harbours. On 16 August 1863, while en route to Chicago and a lower-lakes port carrying corn, a sudden squall struck off the Beaver Islands, Lake Michigan. The storm overwhelmed her; she foundered in deep water (480 ft)—reportedly no loss of life, crew reached shore in the yawl (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, en.wikipedia.org).
Significant Incidents
- Foundered in Lake Michigan during a sudden squall on 16 August 1863.
- All hands saved; crew reached shore using yawl.
Final Disposition
The vessel sank in place; there is no record of salvage or recovery. It remains a wreck in deep water.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No documented location or discovery of the wreck has been recorded. It remains “lost” but presumed at about 480 ft depth.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”matt-root-us-17207″ title=”References & Links”]
The Matt Root is a classic example of mid-19th century Great Lakes schooners that trafficked grain and corn. Foundering in deep offshore waters during a sudden squall typifies the era’s maritime hazards. With crew saved and no salvage, the wreck lies undiscovered but historically documented. Its significance lies in representing routine commercial schooners and their vulnerabilities in abrupt open-lake storms.
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.
Matt Root (Official No. 17207; Launched 1855)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Matt Root (sometimes recorded as Mat Root)
- Official Number: 17207
- Built: 1855 by Joel Norton, Richmond (Fairport), Ohio
- Dimensions: ~137 ft × 26 ft × 12 ft (42 m × 7.9 m × 3.7 m), approx. 450 tons, cargo capacity ~17,000 bu
- Date Lost: 16 August 1863
- Loss Location: Lake Michigan, approx. 4 mi (6.4 km) off Beaver Islands
- Depth of Foundering: ~480 ft (146 m) of water
- Cargo: Corn
- Crew: All hands saved; crew reached shore using yawl
Vessel Type
A two‑masted wooden schooner—common on mid‑19th century Great Lakes, used for bulk transport like agricultural produce.
Description
Constructed of traditional wood framing with two masts and centerboard, the Matt Root featured cargo holds sized for seasonal bulk commodities. Its rigging setup was orthodox among schooners of that era, optimised for shallow harbours and inland loading.
History
Launched 1855 in Ohio, the schooner Matt Root served regional ports transporting grain and corn from Midwest harbours. On 16 August 1863, while en route to Chicago and a lower‐lakes port carrying corn, a sudden squall struck off the Beaver Islands, Lake Michigan. The storm overwhelmed her; she foundered in deep water (480 ft)—reportedly no loss of life, crew reached shore in the yawl (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, en.wikipedia.org).
Final Dispositions
The vessel sank in place; there is no record of salvage or recovery. It remains a wreck in deep water.
Located By & Date Found
No documented location or discovery of the wreck has been recorded. It remains “lost” but presumed at about 480 ft depth.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted historically, and no modern maritime advisories identified.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – entry on Matt Root
Conclusion
The Matt Root is a classic example of mid‑19th century Great Lakes schooners that trafficked grain and corn. Foundering in deep offshore waters during a sudden squall typifies the era’s maritime hazards. With crew saved and no salvage, the wreck lies undiscovered but historically documented. Its significance lies in representing routine commercial schooners and their vulnerabilities in abrupt open‑lake storms.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
Schooner, wooden vessel, 1850s, corn cargo, Lake Michigan, Beaver Islands, sudden squall, deep-water wreck, Great Lakes maritime history.
matt-root-us-17207 1863-08-16 18:15:00