Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Uncle Tom
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1855
- Builder: Merry & Gay, Milan, Ohio
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 231 tons
- Location: Near Buffalo, New York, Lake Erie
- Official Number: 25040
- Original Owners: Cardinall, McCarthy & Gibson, Toledo, Ohio
- Number of Masts: Not specified
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Uncle Tom was a wooden schooner, a common vessel type on the Great Lakes, primarily used for transporting lumber, grain, and manufactured goods. At 231 tons, it was a medium-sized schooner, well-suited for bulk cargo transport between Midwest and East Coast ports.
Description
Built in 1855 by Merry & Gay in Milan, Ohio, the Uncle Tom was part of the flourishing trade network of the Great Lakes, connecting Toledo, Buffalo, and other key shipping hubs. The vessel had an 18-year service life, undergoing repairs in 1868, likely after sustaining damage from an earlier accident or storm.
In November 1874, the Uncle Tom was caught in a storm on Lake Erie while transporting staves (used for barrel construction). The ship ran aground at “Tifft’s Farm”, an area near Buffalo, New York, known for its shallow waters and hazardous shoreline. The impact left the vessel wrecked beyond recovery, though no lives were lost.
History
The Uncle Tom was a typical Great Lakes schooner, transporting bulk cargo such as wooden staves for barrel production. Its loss near Buffalo in 1874 serves as an example of the frequent shipwrecks caused by Lake Erie storms, particularly in the late fall shipping season.
Significant Incidents
- 1868: Underwent repairs, likely due to damage from an earlier incident.
- November 1874: Wrecked during a storm while transporting staves, ran aground at Tifft’s Farm.
Final Disposition
The Uncle Tom was declared a total loss, and no known salvage efforts were recorded. The wreck was likely broken up by wave action or later removed to prevent navigational hazards.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No confirmed discovery of the wreck has been documented. Tifft’s Farm, now Tifft Nature Preserve, has undergone significant land changes, making any remnants of the ship unlikely to exist. No known modern navigational hazards linked to this wreck.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”uncle-tom-us-25040″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
While the vessel was completely wrecked, its story remains part of Great Lakes maritime history. Remember to respect the underwater environment and practice no-touch documentation methods when exploring such sites.
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 & Site Information
- Name: Uncle Tom
- Former Names: None
- Official Number: 25040
- Date Built & Launched: 1855
- Builder: Merry & Gay, Milan, Ohio
- Specifications: 231 tons
- Vessel Type: Wooden schooner
- Date Lost: November 1874
- Place of Loss: Near Buffalo, New York, Lake Erie
- Cause of Loss: Ran ashore during a storm and wrecked
- Loss of Life: None
- Cargo: Staves (wooden planks used for barrel-making)
- Owner: Cardinall, McCarthy & Gibson, Toledo, Ohio
- Repaired: 1868
Vessel Type
The Uncle Tom was a wooden schooner, a common vessel type on the Great Lakes, primarily used for transporting lumber, grain, and manufactured goods. At 231 tons, it was a medium-sized schooner, well-suited for bulk cargo transport between Midwest and East Coast ports.
Description & History
Built in 1855 by Merry & Gay in Milan, Ohio, the Uncle Tom was part of the flourishing trade network of the Great Lakes, connecting Toledo, Buffalo, and other key shipping hubs. The vessel had an 18-year service life, undergoing repairs in 1868, likely after sustaining damage from an earlier accident or storm.
In November 1874, the Uncle Tom was caught in a storm on Lake Erie while transporting staves (used for barrel construction). The ship ran aground at “Tifft’s Farm”, an area near Buffalo, New York, known for its shallow waters and hazardous shoreline. The impact left the vessel wrecked beyond recovery, though no lives were lost.
Final Disposition
The Uncle Tom was declared a total loss, and no known salvage efforts were recorded. The wreck was likely broken up by wave action or later removed to prevent navigational hazards.
Located By & Date Found
No confirmed discovery of the wreck has been documented.
Notmars & Advisories
Tifft’s Farm, now Tifft Nature Preserve, has undergone significant land changes, making any remnants of the ship unlikely to exist. No known modern navigational hazards linked to this wreck.
Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Ships Database
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- NOAA Great Lakes Shipwrecks
Conclusion
The Uncle Uncle Tom was a typical Great Lakes schooner, transporting bulk cargo such as wooden staves for barrel production. Its loss near Buffalo in 1874 serves as an example of the frequent shipwrecks caused by Lake Erie storms, particularly in the late fall shipping season. While the vessel was completely wrecked, its story remains part of Great Lakes maritime history.
Keywords & Categories
Keywords: Great Lakes schooners, Buffalo shipwrecks, Lake Erie storms, 19th-century maritime trade, wooden shipwrecks
Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Erie, 19th-century shipwrecks, wooden schooners, storm-related losses
Glossary Terms: Schooner, Shipwreck, Lake Erie Navigation, Great Lakes Trade
uncle-tom-us-25040 1874-11-14 07:55:00