Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Thomas S. Mott
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1862
- Builder: George Goble
- Dimensions: 137 ft (41.76 m) length × 26 ft (7.92 m) beam × 12 ft (3.66 m) depth; ~431 old-style gross tons (~326 GT re-measured)
- Registered Tonnage: 431 tons
- Location: Approximately 0.5 mile above Ludington, MI
- Official Number: 24 394
- Original Owners: D. Mannering, Oswego, NY; later M. Wheeler of Oswego
- Number of Masts: Two masts
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Thomas S. Mott was a wooden schooner, characterized by its single deck and two masts, typical of the 19th-century Great Lakes trading vessels.
Description
Built in 1862 by George Goble in Oswego, New York, the Thomas S. Mott measured 137 feet in length, 26 feet in beam, and had a depth of 12 feet. Originally registered at approximately 431 gross tons, it was a vessel designed for transporting cargo, primarily wheat.
History
The operational history of the Thomas S. Mott includes several notable events. It was enrolled at Oswego, NY, on August 11, 1862, under its original ownership. In 1863, while transporting salt, it grounded in Chicago but was refloated. The vessel was re-measured in 1865 at 326.34 tons gross. In 1866, it was sold to M. Wheeler of Oswego. A significant incident occurred in 1870 when it collided with the brig Express on Lake Michigan and was repaired in Milwaukee. The final incident took place on October 28, 1874, when it ran aground near Ludington, MI, while transporting wheat and was subsequently driven ashore by gale conditions.
Significant Incidents
- 1863: Grounded in Chicago while transporting salt; refloated.
- 1870: Collision with brig Express on Lake Michigan; repaired in Milwaukee.
- 1874: Lost run aground near Ludington, MI, while transporting wheat; crew rescued by steamship Bertschy.
Final Disposition
The Thomas S. Mott was declared a total loss after it ran aground on October 28, 1874. The vessel was carrying wheat consigned to Buffalo, NY, at the time of its loss. The crew was rescued, and salvage operations were conducted, recovering rigging in the spring of 1875. The vessel’s enrollment likely closed shortly after the incident.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site is located near the shoreline of Ludington, MI. The current state of the wreck is uncertain, with wooden hull remnants likely dispersed and subject to seasonal ice and wave erosion. Observations suggest possible shore debris or hull fragments, but the exact remains are unconfirmed. The archaeological potential is considered low due to the uncertainty of surviving structures.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”thomas-s-mott-us-24394″ title=”References & Links”]
The Thomas S. Mott serves as a representative vessel of the 19th-century Great Lakes wheat trade, illustrating the vulnerabilities of wooden sailing vessels to extreme weather conditions. Its loss highlights the risks associated with maritime trade and contributed to safety reforms in coastal navigation.
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.
Identification & Basic Vessel Data
- Name: Thomas S. Mott
- Official Number: 24 394
- Year Built: 1862, Oswego, New York
- Builder: George Goble
- Type: Wooden schooner, single deck, two masts
- Dimensions: 137 ft length × 26 ft beam × 12 ft depth; ~431 old-style gross tons (≈326 GT re-measured) (Shipbuilding History, Internet Archive)
- Original Owner: D. Mannering, Oswego, NY
Operational Chronology
- 11 Aug 1862 – Enrolled at Oswego, NY, under original ownership.
- 1863 – Grounded in Chicago whilst transporting salt; ship refloated (Spring Lake District Library, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
- 1865 – Re-measured at 326.34 tons gross .
- 1866 – Sold to M. Wheeler of Oswego.
- 1870 – Collision with brig Express on Lake Michigan; repaired in Milwaukee.
- 1874, 28–29 Oct – Lost run aground near Ludington, MI while transporting wheat, then driven ashore by gale conditions. Crew rescued by steamship Bertschy; rigging salvaged the following spring (Internet Archive, Shipbuilding History).
Final Wreck Event
- Date: 28 October 1874
- Location: Approximately 0.5 mile above Ludington, MI, Lake Michigan
- Cause: Run aground after striking bottom during heavy weather, subsequently driven onto shore
- Cargo: Wheat consigned to Buffalo, NY
- Casualties: Crew rescued—no loss of life reported
- Post-event: Salvage operations were conducted; rigging recovered in spring 1875 (Internet Archive, Shipbuilding History, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Registry Status: Vessel declared total loss; enrollment likely closed shortly thereafter
Wreck Site & Current Condition
- Site: Shoreline wreck near Ludington, MI
- Current State: Wooden hull remnants likely dispersed; exact remains unconfirmed. Observations suggest possible shore debris or hull fragments subject to seasonal ice and wave erosion.
- Archaeological Potential: Low; identification of surviving structure uncertain.
Significance & Summary
- Representative Vessel: Typical 19th-century Great Lakes wheat carrier demonstrating standard schooner design of the era.
- Perils of Trade: The Thomas S. Mott illustrates the vulnerabilities of wooden sailing vessels to weather extremes on Lake Michigan.
- Historical Impact: The incident underscores risks in the wheat trade and contributed to coastal navigation safety reforms near Ludington.
Summary Table
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Built | 1862, Oswego, NY |
| Type | Wooden schooner (431 ton) |
| Final Incident | Ran aground & wrecked, 28 Oct 1874 |
| Location | 0.5 mi above Ludington, MI |
| Cargo | Wheat |
| Crew Status | Rescued by steamship Bertschy |
| Wreck Status | Shoreline; remnants unverified |
Sources & References
- Ship registry and wreck chronology: Shipbuilding History – George Goble shipyard (Shipbuilding History)
- Incident report and details regarding grounding, cargo, and rescue operations: History of Ludington & registry records
Recommended Follow-Up Research
- Local Newspaper Archives: Ludington Daily News and Manistee Tribune, October–November 1874 for incident reportage and salvage notices.
- Coast Guard/Maritime Records: Possible survival of 1874 log entries or Life‑Saving Service data on rescue.
- Shoreline Survey: Geological or shoreline dive study near Ludington’s north beach might locate fragments or artifacts to corroborate site position.