Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Trenton
- Type: Wooden propeller steamer
- Year Built: 1854
- Builder: A. Cantin, Montreal, Quebec
- Dimensions: 134 ft (40.8 m) X 23 ft (7.0 m); Depth: 8 ft (2.4 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 240 GT
- Location: Picton, Ontario, Lake Ontario
- Official Number: None (Pre-1869 Canadian vessel documentation era)
- Original Owners: Bay of Quinte & St. Lawrence Navigation Line (McQuaig’s Line)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Trenton was a wooden propeller steamer, possibly a sidewheel steamer according to some sources.
Description
The Trenton was a wooden steamer built in Montreal in 1854 by A. Cantin. She was operated by the Bay of Quinte & St. Lawrence Navigation Line (McQuaig’s Line), providing passenger and package freight services between Kingston, Picton, Belleville, and Montreal. Designed for river and lake service, she played a significant role in the transportation network of Upper and Lower Canada during the mid-19th century.
History
In early 1858, the Trenton was undergoing renovations while moored at a mill wharf in Picton, Ontario. On March 4, 1858, a fire broke out onboard, likely caused by the carpenters working on her renovations. The flames quickly spread, engulfing the vessel, which was completely destroyed and burned to the waterline. Fortunately, no lives were lost as she was unloaded and docked at the time.
Significant Incidents
- March 4, 1858: Fire broke out during renovations, leading to the total loss of the vessel.
Final Disposition
The Trenton was declared a total loss due to fire damage. There are no known salvage efforts, and the remains likely deteriorated or were removed from Picton harbor.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No confirmed modern discovery of the wreck has been made. Possible remains may exist near the former mill wharf in Picton, Ontario.
Resources & Links
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The Trenton was a mid-19th-century passenger and freight steamer, serving the Bay of Quinte and St. Lawrence trade routes until she was lost to a fire at Picton in 1858. While her exact wreck site remains unconfirmed, she represents an important chapter in Ontario’s early steamship history.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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