Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Theodore W. Maurice
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1837
- Builder: Fairport, Ohio
- Dimensions: Length 52 ft (15.8 m); Beam 18 ft (5.5 m); Depth of hold 5 ft (1.5 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 46 tons
- Location: Near Wind Point, Wisconsin
- Official Number: None assigned
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Two-masted
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden schooner, two-masted (also referenced as a brig in early reports)
Description
The Theodore W. Maurice was a small but active cargo schooner operating on Lake Michigan and other Great Lakes routes during the mid-19th century. Built in 1837 at Fairport, Ohio, she was designed for short-haul bulk cargoes and shallow port access, typical of early Great Lakes schooners.
History
Primarily used in the grain and timber trade, Theodore W. Maurice served routes between midwestern ports and the lower lakes. She was referenced in Great Lakes cargo records, including a note in 1874 for having transported what was considered the smallest grain cargo ever shipped eastward from Lake Michigan, indicating her occasional use in niche, low-volume trade operations.
Significant Incidents
On September 2, 1850, the Theodore W. Maurice was caught in a severe storm on Lake Michigan while transporting a cargo of oak planks. She passed Milwaukee in a waterlogged and out-of-control condition and ultimately went on the rocks near Wind Point, Wisconsin. Despite the damage and loss of control, there were no casualties. The vessel was presumed a total loss.
Final Disposition
Her final disposition remains undocumented, with no confirmed salvage, recovery, or wreck site discovered to date.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Unlocated – as of current maritime archaeological databases and sonar mapping, no identification of this wreck has been made.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”theodore-w-maurice-1837″ title=”References & Links”]
There are no currently active Notices to Mariners related to this wreck.
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.
Shipwreck Report: Theodore W. Maurice
Identification & Site Information
- Name: Theodore W. Maurice
- Former Classification: Occasionally listed as a brig
- Official Number: None assigned
- Date Built: 1837
- Builder: Fairport, Ohio
- Construction: Wooden, two-masted schooner
- Length: 52 ft (15.8 m)
- Beam: 18 ft (5.5 m)
- Depth: 5 ft (1.5 m)
- Gross Tonnage: 46 tons
- Registry Port: Unknown
Vessel Type
Wooden schooner, two-masted (also referenced as a brig in early reports)
Description
The Theodore W. Maurice was a small but active cargo schooner operating on Lake Michigan and other Great Lakes routes during the mid-19th century. Built in 1837 at Fairport, Ohio, she was designed for short-haul bulk cargoes and shallow port access, typical of early Great Lakes schooners.
History
Primarily used in the grain and timber trade, Theodore W. Maurice served routes between midwestern ports and the lower lakes. She was referenced in Great Lakes cargo records, including a note in 1874 for having transported what was considered the smallest grain cargo ever shipped eastward from Lake Michigan, indicating her occasional use in niche, low-volume trade operations.
Final Disposition
On September 2, 1850, the Theodore W. Maurice was caught in a severe storm on Lake Michigan while transporting a cargo of oak planks. She passed Milwaukee in a waterlogged and out-of-control condition and ultimately went on the rocks near Wind Point, Wisconsin. Despite the damage and loss of control, there were no casualties. The vessel was presumed a total loss.
Her final disposition remains undocumented, with no confirmed salvage, recovery, or wreck site discovered to date.
Located By & Date Found
Unlocated – as of current maritime archaeological databases and sonar mapping, no identification of this wreck has been made.
NOTMARs & Advisories
There are no currently active Notices to Mariners related to this wreck.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – “M”
- Marine Disasters & Shipwrecks – Milwaukee, WI
- WWMT News – Historic Lake Michigan Wrecks
Keywords & Categories
- Keywords: Theodore W. Maurice, Lake Michigan shipwreck, 1850 schooner sinking, Wind Point wreck
- Categories: 19th Century Maritime History, Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Lake Michigan Disasters
Glossary Terms
- Schooner: Sailing vessel with two or more masts used widely on the Great Lakes in the 19th century.
- Brig: A two-masted vessel rigged square on both masts, occasionally used interchangeably in records for schooners.
- Waterlogged: So saturated with water that buoyancy and handling are severely compromised.