Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Roman
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1842
- Builder: Unknown (possibly Oswego-built pre-1853)
- Dimensions: Unknown
- Registered Tonnage: Unknown
- Location: Lake Erie—deep lakewater between Detroit and Oswego (exact site unknown)
- Coordinates: Not recorded
- Official Number: Unknown
- Original Owners: Unknown—registry data not yet traced
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The *Roman* was a wooden-hulled schooner, likely a single-deck cargo vessel primarily used for transporting grain. The specifics of her rigging and dimensions remain undocumented pending further registry investigation.
Description
The *Roman* was originally constructed in 1842 and later rebuilt, possibly in Oswego. She was employed in regional wheat transport, typical of Great Lakes agricultural trade vessels. Technical specifics like tonnage, dimensions, rigging, and power remain undocumented pending registry investigation.
History
After her initial construction in 1842, the vessel underwent a rebuild (date unspecified, but after 1853) and reentered service under the name *Roman*. She operated on the Detroit–Oswego trade route, frequently carrying grain. The practice of rebuilding aging hulls reflects mid-19th-century maritime economics aimed at extending useful life.
On approximately 10 October 1858, while sailing east from Detroit laden with wheat, she encountered a severe gale on Lake Erie, was overwhelmed, foundered in deep water, and was lost with all nine crew—no survivors or wreck site recorded.
Significant Incidents
- Foundered during a violent storm on Lake Erie on 10 October 1858.
- All nine crew members perished; their identities remain unknown.
Final Disposition
The schooner foundered during a violent storm on Lake Erie. Due to the sudden, uncontrollable nature of the gale and lack of survivors, no detailed narrative beyond ‘foundered with all hands lost’ exists. The wreck was never recovered or charted.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No discovery has been documented. No sonar, ROV, or diver investigations are known to have located any wreckage attributed to the *Roman*. The loss is known solely from secondary listings.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”roman-1842″ title=”References & Links”]
All nine crew members perished; their identities remain unknown. No memorials or personnel records have been identified. Further archival exploration of Oswego or Detroit records may reveal customs manifests or employment logs.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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