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.
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.
Wooden Schooner — Lake Erie
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Vessel Name: Paulina
- Master/Captain: Capt. J. K. Whaley (of Buffalo)
- Date of Loss: November 1818 (approx. 15th)
- Location: Near Cunningham Creek, Lake Erie (Buffalo region)
- Cause: Driven ashore in a storm; bilged and wrecked; no reported loss of life or cargo detail (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Vessel Description & Use
- Type: Two‑masted wooden schooner
- Approximate Dimensions: ~40 ft length × 12 ft beam × 4 ft depth; tonnage ~17 tons (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Function: Likely coastal freight or small goods transport, typical of early 19th-century schooners out of Buffalo
Operational & Historical Context
- Built in the early 1810s (precise date not documented) and employed in commercial navigation on Lake Erie, sailing from Buffalo under Capt. J. K. Whaley.
- No further ownership, registry changes, or prior incidents recorded before loss (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Incident Details
Caught in a lake storm in November 1818, Paulina was driven ashore near Cunningham Creek (Buffalo region). The hull was bilged, rendering the vessel wrecked and abandoned. No fatalities or cargo inventory yet found. The small size suggests minimal cargo and crew—likely just the captain and one or two hands (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Disposition
- Declared a total loss upon stranding and bilging in shallow water.
- No salvage or repair recorded; wreck remains presumed destroyed and not revisited by subsequent dive or recovery activity.
Wreck Status & Dive Notes
- Unknown condition: The wreck site has not been located, surveyed, or recognized by modern archaeological efforts.
- Depth & accessibility: Likely in shallow, nearshore water, but silt, development, or hydrological change have obscured any remnants.
Marine Notices
- Notices to Mariners: None recorded—reflective of early 19th-century limitations in maritime communications on the lakes.
Gaps & Further Research Suggestions
- Buffalo area newspapers (Nov 1818): Buffalo Gazette or regional papers may have brief local accounts, cargo, or crew listings.
- U.S. Customs or Buffalo harbor registry (circa 1818): Enrollments or vessel documents may mention Paulina or Capt. Whaley.
- Buffalo Maritime Collections: Buffalo Historical Society or Great Lakes heritage archives may hold captain’s logs or civic records referencing this wreck.
- Chronicling America or newspaper archives: Library of Congress may include digitized items referencing storms or vessel losses near Buffalo in late 1818.
Resources & References
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – “Wasp” entry: lists a schooner (~17 t, 40×12×4 ft) lost Nov 1818 near Cunningham Creek, driven ashore and bilged; “was recovered” parenthetical suggests possible salvage attempt but classified here as wrecked; sources include hgl, is, wl (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Keywords & Categories
Schooner, small vessel, storm loss, early 19th century, Buffalo–Lake Erie, bilged hull, no casualties, minimal documentation.
Summary
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. The schooner was small (~17 tons) and operated locally. 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.
paulina-1818 1818-11-25 14:41:00