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(s): Onward
• Official Number: 19060
• Built: 1855 by P. Ellenwood at Sacketts Harbor, New York
• Rebuilds/Repairs: Notably repaired in 1866 and again in 1870
• Dimensions:
  • Length: 132 ft (40.2 m)
  • Beam: 25 ft (7.6 m)
  • Depth: 10 ft (3.0 m)
  • Tonnage (old style): ~342 tons; re‑measured at 238.56 gross tons in 1868
• Decks: Single-deck schooner
• Hull Material: Wood
• Number of Masts: 2

Vessel Type

A 19th‑century wooden two‑masted schooner, typical of Great Lakes lumber carriers—single deck, efficient rig for lake tacking, built for bulk cargo like timber.

Description

Built along classic Mid‑19th‑century schooner lines, the Onward featured a full-bodied fore and aft hull, carvel plank construction, and a broad beam for cargo stability. Equipped with fore-and-aft sails, it was ideally suited for manoeuvring the often confined waters and variable winds of the Great Lakes.

History

• 1860: Owned by Canfield of Sacketts Harbor, NY
• 1863: Ownership transferred to Oswego, NY
• 1865: Purchased by Ozra W. Bond and others, Oswego; repaired in 1866
• 1867–71: Owned successively by Thomas E. Faulkner and then S. Faulkner, Oswego; second repair circa 1870
• 1872–76: Ownership passed through Richardson & Scott to Hugh Jones & J.P. Williams of Racine, later Jones Brothers
• 1882: Listed officially as US‑19060
• 1884: Owned by M.O. Parker and associates of Milwaukee
• Throughout its working life, the Onward primarily carried lumber and similar bulk goods across Great Lakes ports.

Final Disposition

• Sank/Ashore: 21 September 1885, north of Leland, Michigan, Lake Michigan
• Circumstances: Blown ashore from docking at Gill’s Pier during a storm; hull was subsequently smashed apart by waves
• Aftermath: Wreck broken up onsite; official documentation surrendered on 30 September 1885

Located By & Date Found

Not located—the wreck was scattered and destroyed onshore; no underwater remains have been documented. The site remains unmarked and no discovery record exists.

Notmars & Advisories

None noted—site is not under navigational hazard advisories.

Resources & Links

Based on compiled historical vessel registry and maritime records from:

• [maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca]
• [greatlakes.bgsu.edu/vessels]

Conclusion

The Onward represents a mid‑19th‑century workhorse schooner, integral to Great Lakes lumber trade. It had a service life of approximately 30 years before succumbing to a storm-related wreck at Leland. Today, no visible remains exist; its story survives through registry entries and late‑19th‑century port records. Although technically lost, it highlights the vulnerabilities of wooden schooners subjected to both natural forces and dockside risks.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

Lumber schooner, Great Lakes trade, wooden hull, Sacketts Harbor build, Leland wreck, single-deck, 19th-century maritime history, storm casualty, vessel registry.

For divers or historians seeking the Onward, there’s unfortunately no underwater site to explore—this one was literally wrenched apart by waves. But its registry history and consistent repair cycles tell a clear story of a working schooner typical of its era.

onward-us-19060 1885-09-21 20:40:00