Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: New Lisbon
- Type: wooden two-masted schooner
- Year Built: 1855
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Approximately 115 ft (35 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Mid-lake off Fairport, Ohio
- Original Owners: H. Hubbard & Company, Ashtabula, Ohio
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
New Lisbon was a wooden two-masted schooner, typical of mid-19th-century vessels used in the Great Lakes trade.
Description
Built in 1855, the New Lisbon measured approximately 115 feet in length and was primarily engaged in the transport of staves. Her home port was Ashtabula, Ohio.
History
The New Lisbon was lost on September 10, 1871, while bound from Ashtabula, Ohio, carrying staves. A sudden white squall struck, causing the vessel to capsize swiftly.
Significant Incidents
- September 10, 1871: The New Lisbon capsized in a sudden white squall while making her eastbound passage.
- All crew members were rescued by the propeller tug Annie Young.
- The hull drifted for several days before being sighted by the Canadian schooner Jennie P. Mack on September 19.
- Jennie P. Mack towed the New Lisbon into port, but she was declared a constructive total loss.
- Abandonment was confirmed by September 29, 1871.
Final Disposition
Although the New Lisbon was towed into port, she was beyond repair and formally abandoned. There was no record of salvage or reconstruction, and she was never returned to service.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No confirmed wreck site exists for the New Lisbon; her hulk likely deteriorated or was dismantled following abandonment.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”new-lisbon-1855″ title=”References & Links”]
This case illustrates the peril of mid-lake white squalls, which can capsize light schooners in seconds. The rescue by Annie Young and subsequent towing by Jennie P. Mack highlight the coordination among shipping vessels during emergencies.
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.
(built 1855; lost September 10, 1871)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Vessel Name: New Lisbon, wooden two‑masted schooner
- Year Built: 1855
- Dimensions: Approximately 115 ft in length (typical for mid‑19th‑century schooner trade vessels)
- Home Port: Ashtabula, Ohio
- Cargo at Loss: Staves
Loss Event Details
- Loss Date: September 10, 1871
- Route: Bound from Ashtabula, Ohio, carrying staves
- Location: Mid-lake off Fairport, Ohio (Lake Erie)
Circumstances of Loss
- A sudden white squall struck while she was making her eastbound passage. New Lisbon capsized swiftly, but her crew was rescued by the propeller tug Annie Young.
- The hull remained afloat and drifted for several days before being sighted by the Canadian schooner Jennie P. Mack on September 19. The schooner towed her into port, but she was declared a constructive total loss. Abandonment was confirmed by September 29.
Final Disposition
- Although towed into port, New Lisbon was beyond repair and formally abandoned.
- There was no record of salvage or reconstruction; she was never returned to service.
Crew & Casualties
- Crew: All on board survived; no loss of life reported.
Ownership & Registry
- Owner: H. Hubbard & Company, Ashtabula, Ohio
- The vessel’s registry was formally surrendered after the loss; no modern identification or dive survey has ever recorded her remains.
Summary Table
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | New Lisbon |
| Built | 1855 (wooden schooner) |
| Dimensions | ~115 ft length |
| Cargo | Staves |
| Loss Date | September 10, 1871 |
| Loss Location | Lake Erie, mid-lake off Fairport, OH |
| Cause | Capsized in a sudden white squall |
| Tow/Recovery | Towed by Jennie P. Mack into port |
| Casualties | None (crew rescued by prop Annie Young) |
| Final Status | Declared total loss; abandoned |
| Owner | H. Hubbard & Co., Ashtabula, OH |
Commentary & Research Context
- This case illustrates the peril of mid-lake white squalls — sudden, violent storms capable of capsizing light schooners in seconds.
- The rescue by Annie Young and subsequent towing by Jennie P. Mack underscores the coordination among shipping vessels during emergencies.
- Although the New Lisbon avoided crew loss, her hull was damaged beyond repair and was abandoned before repairs could be effected.
- No confirmed wreck site exists; her hulk likely deteriorated or was dismantled following abandonment.
Next Research Steps
To expand the historical profile further, consider:
- Newspaper archives — Cleveland Plain Dealer, Fairport Gazette, or Ashtabula Sentinel editions from September 1871 may contain eyewitness accounts of the squall, rescue, and aftermath.
- Company logs or marine insurance documents — H. Hubbard & Co. records might include the incident filing and financial outcome.
- Port records in Ashtabula — Logbooks or harbor entries confirming her abandonment and registry cancellation.