Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Samuel Bolton
- Type: Wooden schooner-barge
- Year Built: 1867
- Builder: G. Carpenter, Bangor, Michigan
- Dimensions: Length 150.2 ft (50 m); Beam 30.4 ft (9.3 m); Depth 9.2 ft (2.8 m)
- Registered Tonnage: Gross Tonnage: 330; Net Tonnage: 314
- Depth at Wreck Site: 3 m / 9 ft
- Location: Near Richmondville, Michigan
- Coordinates: 43° 35.480′ N, 82° 28.204′ W
- Original Owners: J. M. Ballentine & Co., Candler Brothers, Brazil Hoose
- Number of Masts: Originally three-masted schooner
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden schooner-barge, originally constructed as a three-masted schooner and later converted into a towable schooner-barge.
Description
The Samuel Bolton was a robust wooden schooner, later modified to serve as a barge for towing operations. It was primarily used for transporting bulk cargo, including lumber. Its large size and adaptability made it a valuable asset in the maritime trade of the Great Lakes during the late 19th century.
History
Construction and Early Ownership
Built in 1867 in Bangor, Michigan, the Samuel Bolton began its life as a three-masted schooner under the ownership of J. M. Ballentine & Co. of Detroit, Michigan. Over the years, it changed hands, with owners including the Candler Brothers and Brazil Hoose, both of Detroit.
Final Voyage
On September 19, 1893, the Samuel Bolton was part of a lumber-carrying convoy towed in stormy and foggy conditions, likely en route from Cheboygan to Tonawanda. The dense fog and rough waters caused the vessel to break free from its tow. It drifted ashore near Richmondville, Michigan, where it struck land with devastating force. The impact split the vessel in two, and the pounding waves further disintegrated the structure. By September 21, valuable components were salvaged, and the wreck was abandoned.
Significant Incidents
- September 19, 1893: The Samuel Bolton breaks free from its tow and runs aground near Richmondville, Michigan, leading to its destruction.
- September 21, 1893: Valuable components are salvaged from the wreck.
Final Disposition
The wreck lies near Richmondville, Michigan, in shallow water. It has been stripped of valuable materials, but remains serve as a historical artifact, symbolizing the perilous conditions of maritime trade on Lake Huron.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Accessible in shallow water near Richmondville, Michigan, at approximately 9 feet (3 meters) of depth. The site is suitable for exploration, but caution should be exercised due to potential hazards like debris and unpredictable weather conditions on Lake Huron.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”samuel-bolton-us-57105″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The Samuel Bolton’s loss highlights the risks inherent to Great Lakes navigation during the late 19th century. The vessel’s transformation from schooner to barge illustrates the adaptive strategies employed to meet growing trade demands, while its tragic end serves as a reminder of the dangers of dense fog and stormy waters. Today, the wreck remains a site of historical interest, preserving a fragment of Lake Huron’s 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.
Identification & Site Information
- • Name, Former Names: Samuel Bolton (also referred to as Sam D. Bolton or Samuel Bolten)
- • Registration Number(s): None recorded
- • Date Built and Launched: 1867 by G. Carpenter in Bangor, Michigan
- • Measurements: Length 150.2 feet (50 meters), Beam 30.4 feet (9.3 meters), Depth 9.2 feet (2.8 meters)
- • Gross Tonnage: 330; Net Tonnage: 314
- • Date Lost, Destroyed, Abandoned: September 19, 1893
Vessel Type
Wooden schooner-barge, originally constructed as a three-masted schooner and later converted into a towable schooner-barge.
Description
The Samuel Bolton was a robust wooden schooner, later modified to serve as a barge for towing operations. It was primarily used for transporting bulk cargo, including lumber. Its large size and adaptability made it a valuable asset in the maritime trade of the Great Lakes during the late 19th century.
History
Construction and Early Ownership
Built in 1867 in Bangor, Michigan, the Samuel Bolton began its life as a three-masted schooner under the ownership of J. M. Ballentine & Co. of Detroit, Michigan. Over the years, it changed hands, with owners including the Candler Brothers and Brazil Hoose, both of Detroit.
Final Voyage
On September 19, 1893, the Samuel Bolton was part of a lumber-carrying convoy towed in stormy and foggy conditions, likely en route from Cheboygan to Tonawanda. The dense fog and rough waters caused the vessel to break free from its tow. It drifted ashore near Richmondville, Michigan, where it struck land with devastating force.
The impact split the vessel in two, and the pounding waves further disintegrated the structure. By September 21, valuable components were salvaged, and the wreck was abandoned.
Discovery
A vessel believed to be the Samuel Bolton was rediscovered near Richmondville in 1960, confirming its final resting place and bringing renewed interest to its story.
Final Disposition
The wreck lies near Richmondville, Michigan, in shallow water. It has been stripped of valuable materials, but remains serve as a historical artifact, symbolizing the perilous conditions of maritime trade on Lake Huron.
Located By & Date Found
Believed to have been rediscovered in 1960 near Richmondville, Michigan. The exact discoverers and circumstances of the find are undocumented.
GPS Coordinates
- 43° 35.480′ N, 82° 28.204′ W
- View on Google Maps
Notmars & Advisories
Accessible in shallow water near Richmondville, Michigan, at approximately 9 feet (3 meters) of depth. The site is suitable for exploration, but caution should be exercised due to potential hazards like debris and unpredictable weather conditions on Lake Huron.
Resources & Links
- • David Swayze Shipwreck File
- • Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- • Great Lakes Ships Database
- • Michigan Preserve
Legacy
The Samuel Bolton’s loss highlights the risks inherent to Great Lakes navigation during the late 19th century. The vessel’s transformation from schooner to barge illustrates the adaptive strategies employed to meet growing trade demands, while its tragic end serves as a reminder of the dangers of dense fog and stormy waters. Today, the wreck remains a site of historical interest, preserving a fragment of Lake Huron’s maritime heritage.
samuel-bolton-us-57105 1893-09-19 07:48:00