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
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