Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: OSCEOLA
- Type: Wooden brig
- Year Built: 1837
- Builder: John Vail, Silver Creek, New York
- Dimensions: 88 ft (26.8 m) x 24 ft (7.3 m) x 9 ft (2.7 m); 171 tons
- Registered Tonnage: 171 tons
- Location: Near Silver Creek, NY, Lake Erie
- Official Number: None
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Two-masted
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden brig, two-masted, early Great Lakes grain carrier
Description
OSCEOLA was a relatively small brig built to serve the increasing demands of grain and freight transport between ports on Lake Erie and beyond. As one of the few documented vessels constructed at Silver Creek, NY, she played a key role in the regional development of shipping infrastructure.
History
OSCEOLA is particularly notable for her historical role in 1839 as the first vessel to carry a cargo of grain directly from Chicago to the East Coast—a major milestone in Great Lakes shipping history. Despite her size, she was considered robust for the time and sailed out of Cleveland.
She may have been involved in multiple incidents before her final loss. One report places her wreck in 1841 on Lake Michigan, and another near Chicago in 1843, suggesting repairs or refits between these events.
Significant Incidents
- Wreck reported in 1841 on Lake Michigan.
- Another report of an incident near Chicago in 1843.
Final Disposition
She was driven ashore in a storm on November 19, 1846, and wrecked near the site of the tragic steamer ERIE loss of 1841. Of the eight crew aboard, five perished, including her captain who succumbed to a heart attack days after the incident.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Not confirmed; no known recovery or conclusive identification of the wreck site.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”osceola-1837″ title=”References & Links”]
OSCEOLA remains a significant part of Great Lakes maritime history, representing the early days of grain transport and the challenges faced by vessels of her time.
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.
Identification & Site Information:
- Name: OSCEOLA
- Other names: None
- Official Number: None
- Date Built & Launched: 1837, by John Vail, Silver Creek, New York
- Measurements: 88 ft (26.8 m) x 24 ft (7.3 m) x 9 ft (2.7 m); 171 tons
- Date Lost: November 19, 1846
- Place of Loss: Near Silver Creek, NY, Lake Erie
Vessel Type
Wooden brig, two-masted, early Great Lakes grain carrier
Description
OSCEOLA was a relatively small brig built to serve the increasing demands of grain and freight transport between ports on Lake Erie and beyond. As one of the few documented vessels constructed at Silver Creek, NY, she played a key role in the regional development of shipping infrastructure.
History
OSCEOLA is particularly notable for her historical role in 1839 as the first vessel to carry a cargo of grain directly from Chicago to the East Coast—a major milestone in Great Lakes shipping history. Despite her size, she was considered robust for the time and sailed out of Cleveland.
She may have been involved in multiple incidents before her final loss. One report places her wreck in 1841 on Lake Michigan, and another near Chicago in 1843, suggesting repairs or refits between these events.
Final Disposition
She was driven ashore in a storm on November 19, 1846, and wrecked near the site of the tragic steamer ERIE loss of 1841. Of the eight crew aboard, five perished, including her captain who succumbed to a heart attack days after the incident.
Located By & Date Found
Not confirmed; no known recovery or conclusive identification of the wreck site.
Notmars & Advisories
None reported
Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes – Casualty Reports
- Historic Great Lakes Registry Reports
- Local newspaper references from Silver Creek & Buffalo press archives