Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Robert Bruce
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: Before 1835
- Builder: Not recorded
- Dimensions: Not recorded (typical small schooner ~60–80 ft)
- Registered Tonnage: Not recorded (~100 tons est.)
- Location: Bay of Quinte / Henderson Harbor region, Lake Ontario
- Coordinates: Approx. Henderson Point, Jefferson County, NY (exact unknown)
- Official Number: Not applicable (pre-registry)
- Original Owners: Benjamin Chandler of Henderson, New York (master and part-owner)
- Number of Masts: Not recorded
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Robert Bruce was a small trading schooner, typical of early Lake Ontario commerce. Vessels of this size commonly moved grain, lumber, and ballast cargoes between small harbors, particularly in Jefferson County and the Bay of Quinte trade.
Description
The Robert Bruce was a wooden schooner that met its demise during a violent gale on November 11, 1835. Owned and commanded by Benjamin Chandler, the vessel was engaged in trade and was sailing in ballast when it encountered severe weather conditions that led to its loss.
History
- Ownership & Trade: The schooner was owned and commanded by Benjamin Chandler of Henderson Harbor, Jefferson County, New York.
- November 11, 1835: Departed Kingston, Upper Canada, for a port in the Bay of Quinte, sailing in ballast.
- Final Voyage: Encountered the violent November gale that devastated Lake Ontario shipping.
- Loss: Wrecked and all aboard perished, including Chandler, an unnamed seaman, and passenger Elias Everett of Watertown.
- Aftermath: By November 14–15, the wreck had drifted ashore at Henderson Point. Everett’s coat was found nailed to wreckage with his wallet inside, containing $719, confirming both identity and total loss.
Significant Incidents
- All hands lost during the storm, including Captain Benjamin Chandler and passenger Elias Everett.
- Wreckage confirmed by local residents shortly after the storm.
Final Disposition
The Robert Bruce was a total loss. Wreckage washed ashore at Henderson Point and was partially recovered. No further record of the hull survives.
Current Condition & Accessibility
- Condition: Destroyed; fragments found ashore. No known wreck site today.
- Accessibility: Not applicable — no site remains for divers.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”robert-bruce-pre-1835″ title=”References & Links”]
The schooner Robert Bruce was among several vessels destroyed in the November 1835 gale, a storm remembered for its ferocity and high death toll across Lake Ontario. Her loss at Henderson Harbor illustrates the vulnerability of small trading schooners in sudden weather shifts. Though her hull has not survived, contemporary reports preserve her story as part of Lake Ontario’s early maritime heritage.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
Other Names: None recorded
Official Number: Not applicable (pre-registry)
Registry: United States
Vessel Type: Wooden schooner
Builder: Not recorded
Year Built: Before 1835
Dimensions: Not recorded (typical small schooner ~60–80 ft)
Tonnage: Not recorded (~100 tons est.)
Cargo on Final Voyage: Ballast
Owner: Benjamin Chandler of Henderson, New York (master and part-owner)
Date of Loss: November 11, 1835
Location: Bay of Quinte / Henderson Harbor region, Lake Ontario
Coordinates: Approx. Henderson Point, Jefferson County, NY (exact unknown)
Depth: Wreck drifted ashore, shallow waters
Casualties: All hands lost (Capt. Chandler, seaman, Elias Everett of Watertown [passenger])
Vessel Type Description
The Robert Bruce was a small trading schooner, typical of early Lake Ontario commerce. Vessels of this size commonly moved grain, lumber, and ballast cargoes between small harbors, particularly in Jefferson County and the Bay of Quinte trade.
History & Final Voyage
- Ownership & Trade: The schooner was owned and commanded by Benjamin Chandler of Henderson Harbor, Jefferson County, New York.
- November 11, 1835: Departed Kingston, Upper Canada, for a port in the Bay of Quinte, sailing in ballast.
- Final Voyage: Encountered the violent November gale that devastated Lake Ontario shipping.
- Loss: Wrecked and all aboard perished, including Chandler, an unnamed seaman, and passenger Elias Everett of Watertown.
- Aftermath: By November 14–15, the wreck had drifted ashore at Henderson Point. Everett’s coat was found nailed to wreckage with his wallet inside, containing $719, confirming both identity and total loss.
Final Disposition
The Robert Bruce was a total loss. Wreckage washed ashore at Henderson Point and was partially recovered. No further record of the hull survives.
Located By & Date Found
Discovered as wreckage drifted ashore November 1835. No modern archaeological site located.
Notmars & Advisories
None modern. The schooner was lost in 1835, and wreckage cleared naturally.
Current Condition & Accessibility
- Condition: Destroyed; fragments found ashore. No known wreck site today.
- Accessibility: Not applicable — no site remains for divers.
Resources & Links
- *Detroit Democratic Free Press* (Dec. 7, 1835): Storm coverage confirming Robert Bruce‘s loss.
- *Watertown Eagle and Standard*, Nov. 18, 1835: Eyewitness reports.
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Dave Swayze Shipwreck File – Robert Bruce entry
Conclusion
The schooner Robert Bruce was among several vessels destroyed in the November 1835 gale, a storm remembered for its ferocity and high death toll across Lake Ontario. Her loss at Henderson Harbor illustrates the vulnerability of small trading schooners in sudden weather shifts. Though her hull has not survived, contemporary reports preserve her story as part of Lake Ontario’s early maritime heritage.
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: None
Official Number: N/A (pre-registry)
Coordinates: Henderson Point, Jefferson County, NY (approx.)
Depth: Shallow; wreckage ashore
Location Description: Wreck drifted onto Henderson Point after November 1835 gale
Vessel Type: Wooden schooner
Material: Wood
Dimensions: Not recorded (~60–80 ft est.)
Tonnage: Not recorded (~100 tons est.)
Condition: Destroyed; wreckage drifted ashore, no remains today
Cause of Loss: Gale, November 11, 1835
Discovery Date: November 1835 (wreckage ashore)
Discovered By: Residents of Henderson Point
Method: Visual recovery post-storm
Legal Notes: Not recorded
Hazards: None today
Permits Required: N/A (wreck no longer extant)