Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Queen of the Bay
- Type: two-masted wooden scow-schooner
- Year Built: 1858
- Builder: Geo. Thurston or Chas. Jenkins
- Dimensions: Length: 70 ft (21.3 m); Beam: 17 ft (5.2 m); Depth: 6 ft (1.8 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 76 tons
- Location: Near Oswego, New York
- Official Number: C [?]
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Queen of the Bay was a two-masted wooden scow-schooner. Scow-schooners were known for their flat-bottomed design, which made them especially useful for navigating shallow waters and transporting cargo in and out of small harbors and rivers. This type of vessel was widely used in the mid-19th century for short-haul freight transport across the Great Lakes. Built in 1858 in Kingston, Ontario, by either Geo. Thurston or Chas. Jenkins, the Queen of the Bay was a 70-foot scow-schooner with two masts. Her flat-bottomed hull and modest dimensions made her ideal for coastal shipping and local trade along Lake Ontario‘s busy shipping routes.
Description
The vessel’s small size and versatility suggest she carried a variety of cargoes, ranging from building materials to agricultural products. Though specific details about her cargo on her final voyage are unknown, scow-schooners like the Queen of the Bay were essential in supporting local economies and connecting smaller ports with major trade centers like Kingston and Oswego.
Local Freight Transport (1858–1867): The Queen of the Bay operated primarily on Lake Ontario, transporting goods between Canadian and American ports. Her flat-bottomed hull allowed her to navigate shallow waters, making her a valuable vessel for coastal trade and inland waterway shipping.
Kingston Shipbuilding: Built in Kingston, a prominent shipbuilding center in Ontario, the Queen of the Bay reflects the region’s maritime heritage. Kingston-produced vessels were known for their craftsmanship and were a vital part of Lake Ontario’s commercial fleet during the mid-19th century.
History
Final Disposition and Loss (1867): The Queen of the Bay was declared a total loss after being driven ashore near Oswego, New York. During a storm in late November 1867, the vessel suffered extensive damage and was reported as a total loss. The specific details of the storm are unknown, but late-season gales on Lake Ontario were notorious for their fierce winds and rough seas, often catching ships off guard.
Despite the vessel’s destruction, there were no casualties reported. The crew survived by abandoning ship before the vessel broke apart on the shoreline.
Significant Incidents
Loss of Life: None: No loss of life was reported in connection with the wreck of the Queen of the Bay.
Final Disposition
The Queen of the Bay was declared a total loss after being driven ashore near Oswego, New York. There are no records indicating any attempts to salvage or recover the vessel, and it is likely that she broke apart or was dismantled shortly after the wreck.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There are no known navigational hazards associated with the wreck of the Queen of the Bay. The vessel was reported ashore and likely dismantled or destroyed by wave action shortly after her loss.
Resources & Links
References are being reviewed for this wreck.
The Queen of the Bay, a two-masted scow-schooner built in 1858 in Kingston, Ontario, served as a local freight carrier on Lake Ontario for nearly a decade before being driven ashore near Oswego, New York, in a November 1867 storm. Though the vessel was declared a total loss, her crew survived, highlighting both the resilience of the sailors and the hazards of late-season navigation on the Great Lakes.
The Queen of the Bay exemplifies the importance of small, versatile schooners in the regional economies of the Great Lakes and contributes to the broader history of Canadian-American maritime commerce during the 19th century.