Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Seneca
- Type: Wooden brig or two-masted schooner
- Year Built: 1846
- Builder: Unknown yard, Oswego, New York
- Dimensions: Approx. 230 tons burthen (~30 m length est.)
- Registered Tonnage: 230 tons
- Location: St. Joseph, Michigan, or Kalamazoo River mouth, Lake Michigan
- Coordinates: Not documented
- Official Number: Not recorded
- Original Owners: Not documented
- Number of Masts: Two masts
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Seneca was a wooden brig or schooner, typical of timber carriers launched in the mid-19th century on the Great Lakes. With an estimated burden of 230 tons, she was rigged for two masts and optimized for seasonal timber cargoes. Her construction at Oswego in 1846 placed her within the early expansion era of wooden bulk carriers on the inland seas.
Description
The Seneca was a wooden brig or schooner, typical of timber carriers launched in the mid-19th century on the Great Lakes. With an estimated burden of 230 tons, she was rigged for two masts and optimized for seasonal timber cargoes. Her construction at Oswego in 1846 placed her within the early expansion era of wooden bulk carriers on the inland seas.
History
Throughout her working life, the Seneca was engaged in lake-wide timber transport. Specific ownership records are not currently documented, and her enrollment has not been traced in official registry archives. She was likely a contract carrier for regional lumber concerns operating out of Lake Michigan and Lake Erie ports.
On her final voyage in September 1856, she carried a deck load of timber bound for markets on southern Lake Michigan. Reports differ whether she stranded directly at St. Joseph, Michigan, or at the mouth of the Kalamazoo River nearby. The incident occurred during a gale on 18 September 1856, which drove the vessel ashore.
Significant Incidents
- The Seneca went ashore during a gale on 18 September 1856.
- Contemporary reports state that Seneca “split wide open” upon stranding.
Final Disposition
Contemporary reports state that Seneca “split wide open” upon stranding. No effort was made to refloat or salvage her hull. The vessel was declared a total loss, and insurance files estimated her value at US $7,200 at the time.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck was visible upon stranding in 1856. No archaeological rediscovery has been documented, and no known remains are recorded in state or NOAA wreck files.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”seneca-1846″ title=”References & Links”]
No dive site is associated with Seneca. The wreck was destroyed at the shoreline in 1856, and no remains are reported.
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 Card (Site Style)
Other Names: None recorded
Official Number: Not recorded
Type: Wooden brig or two-masted schooner
Builder: Unknown yard, Oswego, New York
Build Year: 1846
Dimensions: Approx. 230 tons burthen (~30 m length est.)
Hull Material: Wood
Cargo on Final Voyage: Timber
Date of Loss: 18 September 1856
Location: St. Joseph, Michigan, or Kalamazoo River mouth, Lake Michigan
Coordinates: Not documented
Depth: Ashore, destroyed
Home Port: Operated lake-wide
Owners: Not documented
Description
The Seneca was a wooden brig or schooner, typical of timber carriers launched in the mid-19th century on the Great Lakes. With an estimated burden of 230 tons, she was rigged for two masts and optimized for seasonal timber cargoes. Her construction at Oswego in 1846 placed her within the early expansion era of wooden bulk carriers on the inland seas.
History
Throughout her working life, the Seneca was engaged in lake-wide timber transport. Specific ownership records are not currently documented, and her enrollment has not been traced in official registry archives. She was likely a contract carrier for regional lumber concerns operating out of Lake Michigan and Lake Erie ports.
On her final voyage in September 1856, she carried a deck load of timber bound for markets on southern Lake Michigan. Reports differ whether she stranded directly at St. Joseph, Michigan, or at the mouth of the Kalamazoo River nearby. The incident occurred during a gale on 18 September 1856, which drove the vessel ashore.
Final Dispositions
Contemporary reports state that Seneca “split wide open” upon stranding. No effort was made to refloat or salvage her hull. The vessel was declared a total loss, and insurance files estimated her value at US $7,200 at the time.
Located By & Date Found
The wreck was visible upon stranding in 1856. No archaeological rediscovery has been documented, and no known remains are recorded in state or NOAA wreck files.
Notmars & Advisories
No active Notices to Mariners exist for this wreck site. As the vessel was broken up in the surf, no hazard to navigation is known today.
Dive Information
No dive site is associated with Seneca. The wreck was destroyed at the shoreline in 1856, and no remains are reported.
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No lives were lost in the wreck. No crew names are preserved in current databases. Research in period newspapers such as the Detroit Free Press or Kalamazoo Gazette may yield personnel details.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“The schooner Seneca, valued at $7,200, went ashore in the gale of Thursday night near St. Joseph, and split wide open. She is a total loss.”
— Extracted from period press summary, September 1856.
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
No U.S. official number is recorded for Seneca. Enrollment at Oswego in 1846 is likely but has not been confirmed. Insurance records note a total constructive loss of $7,200. Further research in New York State enrollment ledgers or Canadian registries is recommended.
Site Documentation & Imaging
No archaeological surveys or imagery are available. The vessel was completely destroyed by surf action in 1856.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Chronicling America (Library of Congress)
- Newspapers.com (Detroit Free Press, Kalamazoo Gazette)
References
- Detroit Free Press, September 1856 shipping intelligence (summary cited).
- Kalamazoo Gazette, September 1856 storm reports (secondary citations).
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes vessel index.
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL) — enrollment searches.
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: None
Official Number: Not recorded
Coordinates: Not documented; reported near St. Joseph or Kalamazoo River mouth, Lake Michigan
Depth: Surf zone, vessel destroyed
Location Description: Stranded in gale, 18 September 1856
Vessel Type: Wooden brig or schooner
Material: Wood
Dimensions: Approx. 230 tons burthen
Condition: Split apart on shore, total wreck
Cause of Loss: Storm-driven grounding
Discovery Date: 1856 (time of wreck)
Discovered By: Contemporary local population
Method: Observed stranding
Legal Notes: Declared total loss; insurance valued at $7,200
Hazards: None remaining
Permits Required: None