Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Rosa (1841)

Explore the wreck of the Rosa, a wooden brig that succumbed to a storm in 1844 while transporting stone to Chicago.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Rosa
  • Type: Two-masted wooden brig
  • Year Built: 1841
  • Builder: G. W. Jones, Black River, Ohio
  • Dimensions: ~80 ft × 24 ft × 11 ft — based on 1855 registry data
  • Registered Tonnage: Approximately 177 tons
  • Location: St. Joseph, Michigan
  • Official Number: not recorded
  • Original Owners: Ownership likely based in Buffalo, NY while under Captain Whiting’s command
  • Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Two-masted wooden brig.

Description

The Rosa was a wooden brig built in 1841, measuring approximately 80 feet in length, 24 feet in beam, and 11 feet in depth. She was constructed by G. W. Jones in Black River, Ohio, and had a registered tonnage of about 177 tons.

History

The Rosa was primarily engaged in transporting cargo across the Great Lakes. On March 17, 1844, she departed from St. Joseph, Michigan, carrying a load of stone bound for Chicago. Unfortunately, she encountered a severe spring storm that forced her ashore, resulting in her wreck.

Significant Incidents

  • Date: March 17, 1844
  • Location: St. Joseph, Michigan, Lake Michigan
  • Cargo: Stone
  • Situation: Caught in a spring storm, the Rosa struck the shoreline and was wrecked.
  • Casualties: None reported.

Final Disposition

The Rosa was declared a total loss after being driven ashore during the storm. The crew survived the incident, but the vessel was left wrecked on the shore of Lake Michigan.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The current condition of the wreck is not documented, and it remains a subject for further exploration and research.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”rosa-1841″ title=”References & Links”]

In conclusion, the Rosa represents an early-1840s maritime tragedy, lost to the elements while navigating the Great Lakes. The wreck offers opportunities for research into early shipping practices and the challenges faced by vessels of that era.

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.

(wooden brig, built 1841)

Identification & Vessel Details

Final Incident (March 17, 1844)

  • Date: March 17, 1844
  • Location: St. Joseph, Michigan, Lake Michigan
  • Cargo: Stone
  • Situation: Departed St. Joseph bound for Chicago when caught in a spring storm. She struck the shoreline and was driven ashore and wrecked.
  • Casualties: None reported (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Incident Synopsis

The Rosa left St. Joseph carrying stone on March 17, 1844. She was overcome by a brutal spring squall and forced ashore on Lake Michigan’s shore near St. Joseph. The brig was declared a total loss, though crew members survived the wreck. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Archival Notes & Research Opportunities

  • Registry Details
    • Official number not recorded
    • Ownership likely based in Buffalo, NY while under Captain Whiting’s command (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Newspaper Archives
    • Contemporary accounts likely in St. Joseph Chronicle, Detroit Free Press, or Chicago Tribune from March 1844—these should offer eyewitness testimony, salvage reports, or captain statements.
  • Salvage Records
    • Investigate Chicago Customs or St. Joseph port records for the wreck, cargo recovery, or insurance claims.

Conclusion

The Rosa was an early-1840s brig that succumbed to a sudden spring storm on March 17, 1844, off St. Joseph, Michigan, while transporting stone to Chicago. The crew survived, but the vessel was wrecked and left ashore. Significant archival gaps remain regarding cargo recovery, salvage efforts, owner identification, and construction specifics. Further investigation through regional 1844 newspapers, customs records, and port registers could yield deeper insights into the circumstances and aftermath of her loss.

rosa-1841 1844-03-17 13:47:00