Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Messenger
- Type: Scow Sloop
- Year Built: 1852
- Builder: James McRae
- Dimensions: Length 72.9 ft (22.2 m); Beam 14.7 ft (4.5 m); Depth of hold 6.4 ft (1.95 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 68 tons
- Location: Near Pigeon Bay, Ontario, Lake Erie
- Original Owners: James Holland, Gordon W. Frinkle, Overton S. Gildersleeve, Philo Bennet
- Number of Masts: 1
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Scow Sloop — a hybrid sailing vessel combining the scow’s flat bottom and the sloop’s single-masted rig. These were used extensively for coastal and inland cargo transport, particularly in shallower waters.
Description
- Hull Material: Wood
- Number of Decks: 1
- Masts: 1
- Length: 72.9 ft (22.2 m)
- Beam: 14.7 ft (4.5 m)
- Depth: 6.4 ft (1.95 m)
- Tonnage (old style): 68 tons
The Messenger had a scow bottom — indicating a flat-bottomed hull suitable for shallow or riverine navigation — likely limiting her seaworthiness in rough open water.
History
- 1852: Built by James McRae at Wolfe Island, Ontario.
- 1860: Owned by James Holland, Kingston, ON.
- 1861: Transferred to Gordon W. Frinkle, Kingston.
- 1862 (Jun 5): Acquired by Overton S. Gildersleeve, Kingston.
- 1863 (Apr 27): Owned by Philo Bennet, Wolfe Island.
Messenger was used primarily for regional cargo runs. Her small size and single-mast configuration made her suitable for handling light goods between Ontario ports and nearby U.S. towns.
Significant Incidents
On November 8, 1863, Messenger, loaded with wheat and en route from Gosfield, ONT to Detroit, MI, ran aground near Pigeon Bay, Lake Erie. The vessel was wrecked and declared a total loss. The exact circumstances are unclear, but weather and navigational hazards in the area were frequent contributors to similar incidents.
Final Disposition
No modern record indicates that the wreck of Messenger has been found or surveyed.
Current Condition & Accessibility
None noted.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”messenger-1852″ title=”References & Links”]
The Messenger represents a typical mid-19th century coastal trader, contributing to local commerce along Lake Erie. Her wreck is one of many undocumented smaller vessel losses of that era, especially among scow sloops — a category rarely preserved or systematically recorded after loss.
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: Messenger
- Year Built: 1852
- Built at: Wolfe Island, Ontario
- Final Location: Near Pigeon Bay, Ontario, Lake Erie
- Date Lost: 8 November 1863
- Cause of Loss: Went ashore and wrecked
- Final Cargo: Wheat
Vessel Type
Scow Sloop — a hybrid sailing vessel combining the scow’s flat bottom and the sloop’s single-masted rig. These were used extensively for coastal and inland cargo transport, particularly in shallower waters.
Description
- Hull Material: Wood
- Number of Decks: 1
- Masts: 1
- Length: 72.9 ft (22.2 m)
- Beam: 14.7 ft (4.5 m)
- Depth: 6.4 ft (1.95 m)
- Tonnage (old style): 68 tons
The Messenger had a scow bottom — indicating a flat-bottomed hull suitable for shallow or riverine navigation — likely limiting her seaworthiness in rough open water.
History
- 1852: Built by James McRae at Wolfe Island, Ontario.
- 1860: Owned by James Holland, Kingston, ON.
- 1861: Transferred to Gordon W. Frinkle, Kingston.
- 1862 (Jun 5): Acquired by Overton S. Gildersleeve, Kingston.
- 1863 (Apr 27): Owned by Philo Bennet, Wolfe Island.
Messenger was used primarily for regional cargo runs. Her small size and single-mast configuration made her suitable for handling light goods between Ontario ports and nearby U.S. towns.
Final Disposition
On November 8, 1863, Messenger, loaded with wheat and en route from Gosfield, ONT to Detroit, MI, ran aground near Pigeon Bay, Lake Erie. The vessel was wrecked and declared a total loss. The exact circumstances are unclear, but weather and navigational hazards in the area were frequent contributors to similar incidents.
Located By & Date Found
No modern record indicates that the wreck of Messenger has been found or surveyed.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted.
Resources & Links
- C. Patrick Labadie Collection
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Great Lakes Vessels Database – Bowling Green State University
- MaritimeHistoryOfTheGreatLakes.ca
Conclusion
The Messenger represents a typical mid-19th century coastal trader, contributing to local commerce along Lake Erie. Her wreck is one of many undocumented smaller vessel losses of that era, especially among scow sloops — a category rarely preserved or systematically recorded after loss.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
scow sloop, wheat cargo, Lake Erie wrecks, Wolfe Island, Canadian schooners, 19th-century shipping, Pigeon Bay, Great Lakes maritime history.
messenger-1852 1863-11-08 12:59:00