Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Paulina
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1810s
- Builder:
- Dimensions: 40 ft (12 m); Beam 12 ft; Depth of hold 4 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 17 tons
- Location: Near Cunningham Creek, Lake Erie (Buffalo region)
- Original Owners: Capt. J. K. Whaley
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden Schooner
Description
The Paulina was a two-masted wooden schooner, approximately 40 feet in length, with a beam of 12 feet and a depth of 4 feet. It had a registered tonnage of around 17 tons, typical for small coastal freight vessels of its time.
History
Built in the early 1810s, the Paulina was employed in commercial navigation on Lake Erie, primarily sailing from Buffalo under the command of Captain J. K. Whaley. There are no records of ownership changes or prior incidents before its loss.
Significant Incidents
Caught in a lake storm in November 1818, Paulina was driven ashore near Cunningham Creek in the Buffalo region. The hull was bilged, rendering the vessel wrecked and abandoned. No fatalities or cargo inventory have been documented, suggesting a minimal crew of possibly just the captain and one or two hands.
Final Disposition
The Paulina was declared a total loss upon stranding and bilging in shallow water. No salvage or repair efforts were recorded, and the wreck remains presumed destroyed, with no subsequent dive or recovery activity documented.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The condition of the wreck is unknown, as the site has not been located, surveyed, or recognized by modern archaeological efforts. It is likely in shallow, nearshore water, but silt, development, or hydrological changes may have obscured any remnants.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”paulina-1818″ title=”References & Links”]
The Paulina, captained by J. K. Whaley of Buffalo, was lost in November 1818 after grounding in a storm near Cunningham Creek on Lake Erie. She bilged and was wrecked; no loss of life or cargo is recorded. Despite its early significance, no modern survey or dive exploration is documented. To better flesh out her story, local Buffalo archives and newspapers from late 1818 should be consulted.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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