Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Newburyport
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1829
- Builder: Likely in Massachusetts or a Great Lakes shipyard
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: Typical 1820s schooners ranged from 50–150 tons
- Location: Most likely Lake Huron or Lake Michigan
- Number of Masts: Two-masted fore-and-aft schooner
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Newburyport was a wooden schooner, a common vessel type in the 1820s used for freight and passenger transport. It featured a two-masted fore-and-aft rigging, typical of the era.
Description
While specific dimensions and tonnage records for the Newburyport are not available, typical schooners of the 1820s ranged from 60 to 90 feet in length and had a tonnage of 50 to 150 tons. The construction likely utilized white oak or pine planking.
History
The 1820s and 1830s saw an increase in schooner use on the Great Lakes, particularly on Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. The October storm season was notorious for causing strandings on shoals and sandbars, contributing to the loss of vessels like the Newburyport.
Significant Incidents
- Lost in October 1834 due to stranding, with the official log entry stating: “Stranded and lost, October 1834.”
- No specific details on weather conditions or cargo were recorded, although a storm is suspected.
- Precise coordinates, ownership, master, and cargo details remain unknown.
Final Disposition
The Newburyport is considered one of the earliest and least-documented casualties in the Great Lakes. The lack of archival records is typical for small schooners of this period.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Due to the absence of specific location data, the current condition of the wreck remains unknown. Further research is needed to identify potential dive sites.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”newburyport-1829″ title=”References & Links”]
To uncover the full story of the Newburyport, extensive archival research is necessary, including investigations into early port books, regional newspapers, and maritime logs from the 1830s.
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: Newburyport
- Built: 1829, likely in Massachusetts or a Great Lakes shipyard
- Vessel Type: Wooden schooner (common in that era for freight/passenger use)
- Final Voyage & Loss: October 1834, lost on Great Lakes due to stranding
- Lake: Most likely Lake Huron or Lake Michigan (exact location unspecified)
- Cause: Storm suspected (indicated by query “Oct**(storm)?”), but official notes only mention “stranded and lost.”
- Fatalities: Not recorded—assumed none, but unconfirmed
Vessel Type & Description
- Estimated Dimensions & Tonnage: No direct records; typical 1820s schooners ranged from 60–90 ft in length and 50–150 tons.
- Rigging: Two‑masted fore‑and‑aft schooner
- Construction: Likely white oak or pine planking; no enrollment records located
- Use: General-purpose freight or passenger trade
Historical Context
- The Great Lakes were seeing growing schooner use in the 1820–30s, especially on Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.
- The storm-prone season in October frequently caused strandings on shoals and river sandbars.
- Enrollment and documentation during this early period were inconsistent, especially for smaller schooners
Final Voyage & Loss
- Official log entry (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, “N” list) simply states: “Stranded and lost, October 1834.” 22 PM N (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, nshoremag.com)
- No notation of weather or cargo—”storm” is inferred but not confirmed
- Precise coordinates, ownership, master, and cargo details are absent
Archival Gaps & Research Recommendations
| Unknown Area | Suggested Research Strategy |
|---|---|
| Construction details | Inspect U.S. enrollment or early maritime record collections at National Archives and Port of Detroit registers |
| Ownership & master | Pursue ship news in 1829–1834 regional newspapers (Detroit Gazette, Chicago Democratic) |
| Incident specifics | Examine 1834 Port officials’ logs or river harbor board minutes for strandings |
| Crew & casualties | Analyze survivorship via Life-Saving Service correspondence (if any) or local cemetery inscriptions |
| Possible dive location | Map Lake Michigan and Huron shoals known for early schooner strandings; compare with local folklore or oral histories |
Conclusion
Newburyport remains one of the earliest, least-documented Great Lakes casualties. The lack of archival records is typical for small schooners of the 1830s. Determining its story requires deep-dive archival work—looking into early port books, regional newspapers, and pioneer maritime logs.
- A newspaper search plan with issue dates and microfilm targets
- Archive contacts (Detroit Public Library, National Archives Detroit)
- Suggested reference to early maritime casualty leads