Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Robert Willis
- Type: Brig/Schooner
- Year Built:
- Builder:
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Lake Michigan (possibly near Point au Barque)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Robert Willis was classified as a brig/schooner, a type of sailing vessel commonly used for cargo transport during the 19th century.
Description
The vessel was carrying approximately 14,000 bushels of wheat on its final voyage from Chicago to Buffalo when it encountered severe weather conditions.
History
The Robert Willis highlights the profound risks faced by grain-carrying sailing vessels during the Great Lakes’ late-autumn storms. The vessel’s sudden disappearance—resulting in no survivors and only rumors for weeks—illustrates common navigational hazards and communications challenges before modern rescue systems.
Significant Incidents
- Date of disappearance: 24 November 1853, during a severe gale on Lake Michigan.
- Fate: Foundered with total loss of vessel and cargo.
- Estimated property value lost: $29,000.
- Casualties: 10 crew members presumed dead.
Final Disposition
In December 1853, rumors circulated that the Robert Willis had gone ashore near Point au Barque, though details were inconclusive. By late January 1854, Buffalo newspapers published a fabricated letter falsely claiming the vessel and crew were safe in Traverse Bay, Canada. This hoax reflected desperate hopes, but the earlier Buffalo casualty list was accepted as accurate by January 1854.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The current condition of the wreck is unknown, as it has not been located. Investigations into meteorological logs and drift surveys are recommended to pinpoint the approximate wreck site.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”robert-willis” title=”References & Links”]
The loss of the Robert Willis serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by maritime vessels in the Great Lakes and the challenges of communication and navigation in the 19th century.
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 & Basic Info
- Vessel type: Brig/Schooner
- Cargo: ~14,000 bushels of wheat
- Route: Departed Chicago, bound for Buffalo on her final seasonal voyage
Incident & Final Disposition
- Date of disappearance: 24 November 1853, during a severe gale on Lake Michigan
- Fate: Foundered with total loss of vessel and cargo (Shipwreck World, wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
Summary accounts from Buffalo Express (Jan 2, 1854):
“WILLIS, ROBERT, Schooner, cargo wheat, foundered in gale on Lake Michigan. Total loss. Property loss $29,000 and ten lives lost.” (Shipwreck World)
Post-Loss Reports & Hoaxes
- In December 1853, rumors circulated she had gone ashore near Point au Barque, though details were inconclusive (Shipwreck World).
- By late January 1854, Buffalo newspapers published a fabricated letter falsely claiming the vessel and crew were safe in “Traverse Bay, Canada”:
“The Robert Willis Reported Safe… Indians who carry the Canada mail… said that the Willis and cargo were safe in Traverse Bay…” — Chicago Journal, Jan 1854 (Shipwreck World)
This hoax reflected desperate hopes, but the earlier Buffalo casualty list was accepted as accurate by January 1854 (Shipwreck World).
Loss Summary
- Total loss of vessel and cargo
- Estimated property value lost: $29,000
- Casualties: 10 crew members presumed dead (Shipwreck World, Chicago Sun-Times)
Research Gaps & Next Steps
- Vessel registry & construction details: Neither found yet in online archives; checking U.S. registry records (1852–1853) is recommended.
- Crew list & personal records: Search Buffalo and Chicago newspapers for obituaries, death notices, and coroner reports (Dec 1853–Jan 1854).
- Marine insurance and court files: Explore Great Lakes maritime courts or commercial insurance archives for claim documentation.
- Drift & wreck-site investigations: Locate meteorological logs, drift surveys, or discovery reports to pinpoint approximate wreck site near Point au Barque / eastern Lake Michigan.
Historical Context & Significance
The Robert Willis highlights the profound risks faced by grain-carrying sailing vessels during the Great Lakes’ late-autumn storms. The vessel’s sudden disappearance—with no survivors and only rumors for weeks—illustrates common navigational hazards and communications challenges before modern rescue systems.
Summary Table
| Category | Data |
|---|---|
| Type | Brig/Schooner |
| Cargo | ~14,000 bu. wheat |
| Route | Chicago → Buffalo |
| Lost | 24 Nov 1853, in gale |
| Location | Lake Michigan (possibly near Point au Barque) |
| Loss | Vessel, cargo, ~$29k; 10 lives |
| Hoax | False report claiming safe refloating in Canada |
| Sources | Buffalo Express casualty list; Chicago Journal; Buffalo Express follow-up notices (Shipwreck World, WTTW News, seahistory.org) |
Suggested Next Actions
- Start archives search at Buffalo & Chicago public libraries, especially marine casualty columns (Dec 1853–Feb 1854).
- Consult Great Lakes registry books and marine casualty publications (U.S. Treasury/Navy).
- Examine weather logs and marine insurance claims for structural clues or lead to wreck location.
- Explore whether any maritime archaeological surveys near Point au Barque have noted unidentified wrecks from that period.