T. Wyman (1845)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: T. Wyman
• Type: Wooden Brig (Two-Masted Sailing Vessel)
• Year Built: 1845
• Builder: Oswego, New York
• Dimensions: Length: 100 ft (30.5 m); Beam: 24 ft (7.3 m); Depth of hold: 9 ft (2.7 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 197 tons (old measurement)
• Location: Near Pointe Aux Barques, Lake Huron
• Official Number: None (pre-registration era)
• Original Owners: Unknown
• Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The T. Wyman was a wooden brig built in 1845 in Oswego, New York, a major shipbuilding center on Lake Ontario. As a brig-rigged sailing vessel, she was likely used for general cargo transport, carrying grain, lumber, coal, or manufactured goods between ports on the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River trade routes.

Description

Brigs like the T. Wyman were fast, maneuverable vessels, well-suited for both open-water sailing and coastal trading. However, they were gradually being replaced by larger schooners and steam-powered ships by the 1850s.

History

The T. Wyman was sailing on Lake Huron, likely heading between Michigan and Ontario ports when she encountered a severe storm.

A strong gale swept through Lake Huron, creating high waves and heavy winds. Navigation near Pointe Aux Barques was treacherous, with hidden reefs and shallow waters.

Significant Incidents

The T. Wyman was driven onto a reef at Pointe Aux Barques, Michigan. Initially, it was believed she could be salvaged, but the storm battered her hull over the next few days. The crew managed to escape unharmed. Within a week, the ship was declared a total loss, stripped of valuables, and abandoned.

Final Disposition

The wooden hull likely deteriorated over time, as most mid-19th-century shipwrecks made of wood do. However, iron fastenings, anchors, and cargo remnants may still exist on the lakebed near the reef.

Given Lake Huron’s shipwreck history, divers or sonar scans could potentially locate remnants of the T. Wyman near known wreck zones off Pointe Aux Barques.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The T. Wyman represents an era when brigs were essential cargo vessels, bridging sailing ships and steam-powered transportation. By the late 19th century, brigs had disappeared from the lakes, replaced by schooners and early bulk freighters.

The Pointe Aux Barques area is one of the most dangerous locations on the Great Lakes, with dozens of shipwrecks recorded there.

Resources & Links

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The T. Wyman (1845–1855) was a two-masted wooden brig built in Oswego, New York, serving in the general cargo trade on the Great Lakes. She was lost in a storm on October 4, 1855, after running aground on a reef near Pointe Aux Barques, Michigan. Although initially considered salvageable, she was stripped and abandoned within a week. Her exact wreck site remains undiscovered, but potential remains may still exist off Pointe Aux Barques, adding to the rich shipwreck history of Lake Huron.