Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Saucy Jack
- Type: Small, wooden two-masted schooner
- Year Built:
- Builder:
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Approximately 5 miles south of the mouth of the Saugeen River
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden Schooner, Lost December 15, 1851
Description
The Saucy Jack was a small, wooden two-masted schooner that was carrying flour destined for the Saugeen River and Southampton, Ontario. Tragically, all three crew members perished in the incident.
History
The Saucy Jack departed Goderich in early December 1851, aiming to reach the Saugeen River. During a heavy storm, she stranded but was initially refloated to continue her voyage on December 14. The following morning, she was discovered capsized and wrecked approximately 5 miles south of the mouth of the Saugeen River on Lake Huron. Her cargo of flour was strewn along the beach, and her masts were found down.
Significant Incidents
- All three crew members drowned during the storm.
Final Disposition
Local tradition holds that the wreck of the Saucy Jack contributed to food shortages in Southampton that winter. Contemporary newspaper accounts from Southampton likely report the incident and the loss of supplies.
Current Condition & Accessibility
While hull remains are unlikely to be found, archival research could surface names, narratives, and broader historical context regarding the vessel’s loss and its impact on the local community.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”saucy-jack” title=”References & Links”]
The Saucy Jack illustrates the peril of mid-19th-century lake commerce: a small schooner lost in a brief, deadly storm with total crew loss, and possible local hardship due to the cargo’s failure to arrive. Her wreck is emblematic of human risk and regional vulnerability in the early settlement period.
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 Schooner, Lost December 15, 1851
Identification & Basic Details
- Name: Saucy Jack
- Vessel type: Small, wooden two-masted schooner
- Cargo: Flour (bound for Saugeen River / Southampton, Ontario)
- Boats lost: All 3 crew perished
Circumstances of Loss
According to Great Lakes Shipwreck Files:
- The Saucy Jack departed Goderich aiming to reach the Saugeen River, destined for Southampton, early December 1851.
- She stranded during a heavy storm, but was initially refloated to continue her voyage on December 14.
- The following morning (Dec 15), she was discovered capsized and wrecked approximately 5 miles south of the mouth of the Saugeen River on Lake Huron.
- Her cargo—flour—was strewn along the beach, and her masts were found down.
- Tragically, all three crew members drowned(Trove, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, saugeentimes.com).
Aftermath & Regional Impact
- Local tradition holds that this wreck contributed to food shortages in Southampton that winter(cnrs-scrn.org, saugeentimes.com).
- Contemporary newspaper accounts from Southampton likely report the incident and the loss of supplies(cnrs-scrn.org).
Research Gaps & Recommendations
- Archival Continuation:
- Examine local newspapers (Southampton, Goderich weeklies) for December 1851 coverage.
- Investigate coroner or parish records in Saugeen Township for crew names and death records.
- Field Inquiry:
- Conduct shoreline surveys in the aftermath areas for possible remnants of wreckage or cargo traces.
- Seek out Bruce County (Ontario) historical accounts or oral histories preserved in local archives.
- Historical Context:
- Study John Weichel’s Forgotten Times or archival materials held at Bruce County Archives for details on maritime incidents and pioneer hardships(cnrs-scrn.org, saugeentimes.com, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, brucemuseum.ca, brucemuseum.ca).
Summary
The Saucy Jack illustrates the peril of mid-19th-century lake commerce: a small schooner lost in a brief, deadly storm with total crew loss, and possible local hardship due to the cargo’s failure to arrive. Her wreck is emblematic of human risk and regional vulnerability in the early settlement period. While hull remains are unlikely, archival research could surface names, narratives, and broader historical context—including whether the vessel’s loss materially affected Southampton in the critical winter of 1851.
Would you like assistance obtaining historical newspaper transcripts, crew death certificates, or locating Bruce County maritime records for further detail?
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