Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Queen of the Bay
- Type: Scow schooner
- Year Built: 1858
- Builder: George Thurston, Kingston, Ontario
- Dimensions: 69.8 ft × 16.8 ft × 6.1 ft (21.3 m × 5.1 m × 1.9 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 73 tons (later 75 tons)
- Location: Oswego, New York
- Coordinates: Not recorded
- Official Number: Not listed
- Original Owners: Jas. Campbell & Co. (1860), Patrick Harty (1863), E. Yott (1878)
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Queen of the Bay was a wooden scow schooner, characterized by her square stern and two masts. She was designed for bulk trade, primarily carrying timber and grain on Lake Ontario.
Description
The Queen of the Bay was launched in Kingston, Ontario in 1858 by builder George Thurston. With a length of 69.8 feet, a beam of 16.8 feet, and a depth of 6.1 feet, she was classified as a small-to-medium schooner. Her construction and tonnage of 73 tons (later re-registered at 75 tons) made her suitable for the timber and grain trade.
History
Ownership records indicate that by 1860, the Queen of the Bay was registered to Jas. Campbell & Co. of Kingston. In 1863, she was transferred to Patrick Harty of Kingston, and by 1878, she was recorded under E. Yott of Wolfe Island, Ontario. Throughout her operational history, she regularly transported timber and general cargoes across Lake Ontario.
Significant Incidents
– November 1867: The Queen of the Bay was wrecked near Oswego, New York, during a late-season gale while carrying timber. No loss of life was reported, and the vessel was declared a total wreck.
Final Disposition
The Queen of the Bay was driven ashore during a storm, resulting in her total loss. The incident occurred during the notorious November storm season on the Great Lakes, known for its severe weather conditions.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As of now, no archaeological wreck site for the Queen of the Bay has been located. The vessel is considered a total loss, and her wreck site remains uncharted.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”queen-of-the-bay-c1858″ title=”References & Links”]
The Queen of the Bay serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by vessels navigating the Great Lakes, particularly during the stormy November season. Her story highlights the importance of maritime history in understanding the region’s past.
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 Card (Site Style)
Other Names: None
Official Number: Not listed
Registry: Canada (Kingston, Ontario)
Vessel Type: Scow schooner (square stern)
Builder: George Thurston, Kingston, Ontario
Year Built: 1858
Dimensions: 69.8 ft × 16.8 ft × 6.1 ft (21.3 × 5.1 × 1.9 m)
Tonnage: 73 tons (old measurement); re-registered 1878 at 75 tons
Decks: 1
Masts: 2
Hull Material: Wood
Crew: Not recorded
Cargo on Final Voyage: Timber
Date of Loss: November 1867
Location: Oswego, New York, Lake Ontario
Coordinates: Not recorded
Depth: N/A (driven ashore, wrecked)
Description
The Queen of the Bay was a wooden scow schooner, launched in Kingston, Ontario in 1858 by builder George Thurston. With a square stern, two masts, and single deck, she measured 69.8 feet in length, 16.8 feet in beam, and 6.1 feet in depth. Her construction and tonnage of 73 (later 75 tons) placed her among the small-to-medium schooners used widely on Lake Ontario for bulk trade cargoes such as timber and grain.
Operational History
Ownership records show she was registered to Jas. Campbell & Co. of Kingston by 1860, then to Patrick Harty of Kingston in 1863. By 1878 she was recorded under E. Yott of Wolfe Island, Ontario, registered at 75 tons. She regularly carried timber and general cargoes in Lake Ontario trade.
Final Voyage & Loss
In November 1867, Queen of the Bay was wrecked near Oswego, New York on Lake Ontario while carrying a cargo of timber. Reports indicate she went ashore during a late-season gale. The Erie Daily Dispatch of November 25, 1867 noted:
“MARINE ITEMS – The schooner Queen of the Bay went ashore with a cargo of timber, near Oswego, on Lake Ontario.”
No loss of life was reported, and the vessel was declared a total wreck.
Historical & Meteorological Context
Her loss occurred during the notorious November storm season on the Great Lakes, when hurricane-force winds often caused multiple casualties. The 1867 gales were part of a pattern later referred to as the “Witches of November.”
Research & Documentation Notes
Her identity as a scow schooner with Kingston origins is confirmed by registry records. Surviving references remain sparse, limited primarily to enrollment data and brief newspaper accounts. No archaeological wreck site has been located to date.
Summary Table
| Aspect | Details |
| Loss Date | November 1867 |
| Cause | Storm-driven grounding near Oswego, Lake Ontario |
| Location | Oswego, New York |
| Cargo | Timber |
| Casualties | None reported |
| Outcome | Total wreck, vessel abandoned |
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Chronicling America – Newspaper Archive
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: None
Official Number: Not listed
Coordinates: Not recorded
Depth: N/A
Location Description: Went ashore near Oswego, Lake Ontario
Vessel Type: Scow schooner
Material: Wood
Dimensions: 69.8 × 16.8 × 6.1 ft (21.3 × 5.1 × 1.9 m); 73–75 tons
Condition: Declared total loss; wreck site unlocated
Cause of Loss: Driven ashore in November gale
Discovery Date: N/A
Discovered By: N/A
Method: N/A
Legal Notes: Historical vessel record only
Hazards: None today
Permits Required: N/A