Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Suffolk
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1847
- Builder: Bidwell & Banta
- Dimensions: 115 ft (35.1 m) × 25 ft (7.6 m) × 9.5 ft (2.9 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 250.13 tons
- Location: Windmill Reef, off Port Burwell, Ontario
- Original Owners: W. O. Brown, J. & L. K. White
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A mid–19th-century wooden schooner, typical of Buffalo-built vessels intended for bulk freight, particularly grains and provisions.
Description
The Suffolk was constructed as a wooden schooner, featuring a single deck and designed primarily for transporting bulk cargoes such as flour, barley, and pork. Her dimensions were 115 feet in length, 25 feet in beam, and a depth of 9.5 feet, with a registered tonnage of 250.13 tons.
History
- 1847–1853: Operated out of Buffalo; on 29 September 1848, broke from moorings and was driven ashore at Michigan City, Indiana, while owned by W. O. Brown of Buffalo.
- October 1853: Went ashore approximately 20 miles south of Fort Mackinac in Lake Huron.
- 6 December 1854: Under new ownership by J. & L. K. White of Chicago, Suffolk carried a mixed cargo when she was driven ashore on Windmill Reef off Port Burwell, Ontario, during a severe winter storm. Some reports suggest Canadian salvors may have recovered her cargo or hull.
Significant Incidents
- 29 September 1848: Driven ashore at Michigan City, Indiana.
- October 1853: Grounded approximately 20 miles south of Fort Mackinac.
- 6 December 1854: Wrecked on Windmill Reef during a storm.
Final Disposition
The schooner was wrecked ashore on the reef. While her cargo and parts of the vessel were possibly retrieved, no full salvage or refloating is documented. Given the era, her wooden hull likely broke up on the reef, rendering her a constructive total loss.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Not Applicable. As she went ashore and was not submerged, there is no submerged wreck site to locate or dive.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”suffolk-1847″ title=”References & Links”]
The Suffolk, a Buffalo-built wooden schooner of moderate cargo capacity, suffered multiple groundings during her brief service life before her final wreck in December 1854. Driven onto Windmill Reef in an Ontario storm, she likely broke apart by surf, and some recovery by Canadian salvors may have occurred. Her story illustrates the navigational risks small schooners faced in winter conditions on Lake Erie’s river mouths and reefs.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Suffolk
- Year Built: 1847
- Built at: Buffalo, New York by Bidwell & Banta
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Hull Materials: Wood, single deck
- Dimensions: 115′ (35.1 m) × 25′ (7.6 m) × 9.5′ (2.9 m)
- Tonnage (old style): 250.13 tons
- Cargo Capacity: Approx. 12,000 bushels
- Final Location: Windmill Reef, off Port Burwell, Ontario (Lake Erie)
- Date of Loss: 6 December 1854
- Final Cargo: Flour, barley & pork
- Cause: Ashore during a storm; may have been salvaged by Canadian interests
Vessel Type
A mid‑19th-century wooden schooner, typical of Buffalo-built vessels intended for bulk freight, particularly grains and provisions.
History
- 1847–1853: Operated out of Buffalo; on 29 September 1848, broke from moorings and was driven ashore at Michigan City, Indiana, while owned by W. O. Brown of Buffalo.
- October 1853: Went ashore approximately 20 miles south of Fort Mackinac in Lake Huron.
- 6 December 1854: Under new ownership by J. & L. K. White of Chicago, Suffolk carried a mixed cargo when she was driven ashore on Windmill Reef off Port Burwell, Ontario, during a severe winter storm. Some reports suggest Canadian salvors may have recovered her cargo or hull. (linkstothepast.com, marshcollection.org, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, alcheminc.com)
Final Disposition
The schooner was wrecked ashore on reef. While her cargo and parts of the vessel were possibly retrieved, no full salvage or refloating is documented. Given the era, her wooden hull likely broke up on the reef, rendering her a constructive total loss.
Located By & Date Found
Not Applicable. As she went ashore and was not submerged, there is no submerged wreck site to locate or dive.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted. The wreck lies outside major navigational channels and is not referenced in modern hazard bulletins or charts.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – noting grounding near Port Burwell (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Elgin County History (Sims’ History) – reference to schooners ashore at Port Burwell (elgincounty.ca)
Conclusion
The Suffolk, a Buffalo-built wooden schooner of moderate cargo capacity, suffered multiple groundings during her brief service life before her final wreck in December 1854. Driven onto Windmill Reef in an Ontario storm, she likely broke apart by surf, and some recovery by Canadian salvors may have occurred. Her story illustrates the navigational risks small schooners faced in winter conditions on Lake Erie’s river mouths and reefs.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
Suffolk, schooner, Buffalo-built, Windmill Reef, Port Burwell, Lake Erie wreck, storm grounding, Canadian salvage, 1854, wooden schooner groundings