Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Thomas Parsons
- Type: Wooden-hulled schooner
- Year Built: 1868
- Builder: George Hardison, Charlotte, New York
- Dimensions: 135 ft × 26.4 ft × 13.6 ft (41.2 × 8.0 × 4.1 m)
- Registered Tonnage: Gross tonnage 350 ft, net tonnage 332.5 ft
- Depth at Wreck Site: 16 m / 54 ft
- Location: A few miles off Fairport, Ohio (~19 miles NE of Cleveland)
- Official Number: 24666
- Original Owners: Ownership shifted among Buffalo and Rochester interests.
- Number of Masts: Two masts
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A traditional two-masted wooden schooner used for bulk hauling (coal, grain), capable of both sail propulsion and being towed when necessary.
Description
Constructed with robust wooden framing to carry heavy cargoes. Equipped with two masts, her wooden hull supported both independent sailing and tow-assisted voyages.
History
- 1868: Launched on 18 August.
- 1869–1887: Career marked by collisions, groundings, and leaks:
- 1869: Collision with schooner W. F. Allen in Chicago River
- 1871: Lost centreboard in Straits of Mackinac
- 1874: Struck rock and sank in Welland Canal; grounded at North Manitou
- 1882: Collision off Lakeport, Lake Huron
- 1887: Sprang leak and beached at Beaver Island, Lake Michigan
- Ownership shifted among Buffalo and Rochester interests.
Significant Incidents
- Foundered during a storm while under tow on 28 September 1891.
Final Disposition
While under tow of the propeller Nashua, en route from Ashtabula to Green Bay, Thomas Parsons encountered a severe storm on 28 September 1891. She foundered in high seas and sank in approximately 54 ft (16 m) of water near Fairport. Crew escaped to the tug and reached shore safely. The vessel was declared a total loss, insured at ~$6,000.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No archaeological investigation or dive survey has been recorded. The wreck likely remains in deep water with little structural remains accessible to divers.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”thomas-parsons-us-24666″ title=”References & Links”]
The Thomas Parsons exemplifies the risks inherent in late-19th-century schooner-tow operations on the Great Lakes. Despite a long and troubled service life, she only met her end when caught in a storm while under tow. The crew’s survival reflects sound seamanship, but the wreck’s location in deep water has prevented exploration or rediscovery.
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: Thomas Parsons
- Official number: 24666
- Year built: 1868, Charlotte, New York by George Hardison
- Type: Wooden‑hulled schooner, two masts, one deck
- Dimensions: 135 ft × 26.4 ft × 13.6 ft (41.2 × 8.0 × 4.1 m); gross tonnage 350 t, net tonnage 332.5 t
- Capacity: Approx. 23,000 bushels
- Date lost: 28 September 1891
- Location: A few miles off Fairport, Ohio (~19 miles NE of Cleveland), Lake Erie
- Cargo: Coal (towed from Ashtabula to Green Bay)
- Loss type: Foundered during a storm while under tow
- Crew: Escaped safely; no casualties (Georgetown Faculty, Stanford AI Lab, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Vessel Type
A traditional two‑masted wooden schooner used for bulk hauling (coal, grain), capable of both sail propulsion and being towed when necessary.
Description
Constructed with robust wooden framing to carry heavy cargoes. Equipped with two masts, her wooden hull supported both independent sailing and tow-assisted voyages.
History
- 1868: Launched on 18 August.
- 1869–1887: Career marked by collisions, groundings, and leaks:
- 1869: Collision with schooner W. F. Allen in Chicago River
- 1871: Lost centreboard in Straits of Mackinac
- 1874: Struck rock and sank in Welland Canal; grounded at North Manitou
- 1882: Collision off Lakeport, Lake Huron
- 1887: Sprang leak and beached at Beaver Island, Lake Michigan
- Ownership shifted among Buffalo and Rochester interests.
Final Disposition
While under tow of the propeller Nashua, en route from Ashtabula to Green Bay, Thomas Parsons encountered a severe storm on 28 September 1891. She foundered in high seas and sank in approximately 54 ft (16 m) of water near Fairport. Crew escaped to the tug and reached shore safely. The vessel was declared a total loss, insured at ~$6,000. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Located By & Date Found
No archaeological investigation or dive survey has been recorded. The wreck likely remains in deep water with little structural remains accessible to divers.
Notmar & Advisories
No current Notices to Mariners reference this wreck. Mariners should continue standard storm-season vigilance in eastern Lake Erie, especially when towing unpowered vessels.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – Thomas Parsons loss details (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Conclusion
The Thomas Parsons exemplifies the risks inherent in late-19th-century schooner-tow operations on the Great Lakes. Despite a long and troubled service life, she only met her end when caught in a storm while under tow. The crew’s survival reflects sound seamanship, but the wreck’s location in deep water has prevented exploration or rediscovery.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Keywords: schooner, tow, foundering, 1891 storm, Lake Erie wreck
- Categories: Wooden cargo schooners, storm losses, tow service incidents
- Glossary:
- Foundered: Sunk due to water ingress or weather conditions.
- Centreboard: A retractable keel for sailing stability.
- Tow: When a powered vessel pulls another, either laden or unpowered.