Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: New Brunswick
- Type: Schooner or Brig
- Year Built: 1847
- Builder: Unknown (likely U.S. Great Lakes region)
- Dimensions: Not recorded
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Off Pelee Island, Lake Erie
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Likely a wooden schooner or brig built for lumber transport on the upper Great Lakes.
Description
- Construction: Wood, purpose-built for heavy cargo like timber
- Rig: Presumed schooner or brig-rigged (common for timber carriers)
- Dimensions: Not recorded
- Decks: Likely single-deck
- Cargo Hold: Suited for bulky lumber cargo
History
New Brunswick operated primarily in the timber trade, transporting valuable hardwoods such as black walnut from Midwestern forests to Eastern and international markets. These shipments were typically loaded heavily and high, making such vessels vulnerable to instability in rough weather, especially on shallow and turbulent Lake Erie.
Significant Incidents
Significant Incidents:
- On 26 August 1858, New Brunswick was caught in a storm while transiting past Pelee Island. The cargo of black walnut timbers reportedly shifted, destabilizing the vessel. She capsized and sank, resulting in the deaths of 5 out of the 9 crew and passengers on board.
Final Disposition
On 26 August 1858, New Brunswick was caught in a storm while transiting past Pelee Island. The cargo of black walnut timbers reportedly shifted, destabilizing the vessel. She capsized and sank, resulting in the deaths of 5 out of the 9 crew and passengers on board. Survivors likely clung to floating wreckage or were rescued by nearby vessels. The wreck was considered a total loss.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No verified rediscovery or archaeological confirmation of the wreck has been recorded. Pelee Island waters are known for scattered and often buried wreck remains due to high sedimentation.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”new-brunswick-1847″ title=”References & Links”]
The loss of the New Brunswick underscores the perilous nature of mid-19th-century timber trade on Lake Erie. Overloaded cargoes of dense hardwood made vessels like hers susceptible to capsizing, especially in sudden gales. The tragedy off Pelee Island remains a representative case of cargo-related instability in the era before ballast regulation and modern stability practices.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
Join Shotline to read more →