Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Virginia
- Type: Wooden brig, two-masted
- Year Built: 1854
- Builder: G.L. Dickenson, Henderson, New York
- Dimensions: Unknown
- Registered Tonnage: ~170 tons
- Location: Hen & Chickens Reef, west end of Lake Erie
- Coordinates: Not recorded
- Official Number: Not recorded (pre-enrollment era)
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Virginia was a wooden brig of approximately 170 tons, built in 1854 by G.L. Dickenson at Henderson, New York. Typical of Great Lakes brigs of the era, she carried square sails on her foremast and fore-and-aft sails on her mainmast, configured for bulk cargo carriage such as grain. She represented a transitional type between smaller schooners and larger full-rigged vessels, suited for cross-lake freight movement.
Description
The Virginia was a wooden brig of approximately 170 tons, built in 1854 by G.L. Dickenson at Henderson, New York. Typical of Great Lakes brigs of the era, she carried square sails on her foremast and fore-and-aft sails on her mainmast, configured for bulk cargo carriage such as grain. She represented a transitional type between smaller schooners and larger full-rigged vessels, suited for cross-lake freight movement.
History
During her six years of service, Virginia operated between Oswego, Erie, and other Great Lakes ports, primarily in the grain trade. Her final voyage began in Oswego, New York, carrying a cargo of corn downbound for Erie, Pennsylvania. On 31 May 1860, while navigating the west end of Lake Erie, she stranded on Hen & Chickens Reef. Though initially described as “tightly stranded,” attempts at salvage were undertaken.
Significant Incidents
- The brig Virginia, bound down from Oswego with corn, struck Hen and Chickens Reef on May 31, 1860. She was tightly stranded. The tug Red Eric rendered assistance and succeeded in saving a portion of her cargo and rigging, but the vessel ultimately went to pieces under the action of the waves.
Final Disposition
Despite efforts by the tug Red Eric and other salvors, only a portion of her cargo and rigging were recovered. Continued wave action broke up the stranded vessel, rendering her a total constructive loss. By mid-summer 1860, Virginia had been completely destroyed, leaving no recoverable remains.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck was known immediately upon stranding. No modern rediscovery or archaeological survey has been reported. The site has likely been scoured clean by natural forces on the reef.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”virginia-1854″ title=”References & Links”]
Hen & Chickens Reef is a well-charted hazard in western Lake Erie. While no modern advisories specifically reference the Virginia, her loss contributed to historical awareness of navigational dangers in the area.
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 Card (Site Style)
Other Names: None recorded
Official Number: Not recorded (pre-enrollment era)
Registry: United States
Vessel Type: Wooden brig, two-masted
Builder: G.L. Dickenson, Henderson, New York
Year Built: 1854
Dimensions: Unknown
Tonnage: ~170 tons
Cargo on Final Voyage: Corn
Date of Loss: 31 May 1860
Location: Hen & Chickens Reef, west end of Lake Erie
Coordinates: Not recorded
Depth: Stranded on reef (shallow)
Home Port: Oswego, New York (likely)
Owners: Unknown
Crew: Not recorded
Casualties: None reported
Description
The Virginia was a wooden brig of approximately 170 tons, built in 1854 by G.L. Dickenson at Henderson, New York. Typical of Great Lakes brigs of the era, she carried square sails on her foremast and fore-and-aft sails on her mainmast, configured for bulk cargo carriage such as grain. She represented a transitional type between smaller schooners and larger full-rigged vessels, suited for cross-lake freight movement.
History
During her six years of service, Virginia operated between Oswego, Erie, and other Great Lakes ports, primarily in the grain trade. Her final voyage began in Oswego, New York, carrying a cargo of corn downbound for Erie, Pennsylvania. On 31 May 1860, while navigating the west end of Lake Erie, she stranded on Hen & Chickens Reef. Though initially described as “tightly stranded,” attempts at salvage were undertaken.
Final Disposition
Despite efforts by the tug Red Eric and other salvors, only a portion of her cargo and rigging were recovered. Continued wave action broke up the stranded vessel, rendering her a total constructive loss. By mid-summer 1860, Virginia had been completely destroyed, leaving no recoverable remains.
Located By & Date Found
The wreck was known immediately upon stranding. No modern rediscovery or archaeological survey has been reported. The site has likely been scoured clean by natural forces on the reef.
Notmars & Advisories
Hen & Chickens Reef is a well-charted hazard in western Lake Erie. While no modern advisories specifically reference the Virginia, her loss contributed to historical awareness of navigational dangers in the area.
Dive Information
Access: Boat only (if remains exist).
Entry Point: Nearest harbors—Marblehead or Sandusky, Ohio.
Conditions: Strong currents and shallow reef hazards; low visibility typical.
Depth Range: Very shallow (<10 m).
Emergency Contacts: U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit (Lake Erie Western Basin).
Permits: Required for any archaeological excavation under U.S. law.
Dive Support: No known charters servicing Hen & Chickens specifically for archaeology.
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No casualties were reported. Crew identities are not documented in available records. Period newspapers may provide names of master and officers.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“The brig Virginia, bound down from Oswego with corn, struck Hen and Chickens Reef on May 31, 1860. She was tightly stranded. The tug Red Eric rendered assistance and succeeded in saving a portion of her cargo and rigging, but the vessel ultimately went to pieces under the action of the waves.” — Great Lakes Rex Shipwreck Files
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Built in 1854 by G.L. Dickenson of Henderson, New York. No surviving official enrollment or insurance records have yet been located. Likely registry port was Oswego, New York. Further research in U.S. Customs House records (Oswego District) could yield documentation.
Site Documentation & Imaging
No sonar, archaeological imaging, or NOAA virtual survey exists for the Virginia. The wreck was declared destroyed in 1860.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Rex: Virginia entry
- U.S. Customs Service Records (National Archives)
- Chronicling America: Period Newspapers
References
- Great Lakes Rex Shipwreck Files: Virginia (1854–1860) entry
- U.S. Customs House records (Oswego District), archival reference (preliminary)
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: None
Official Number: Not recorded
Coordinates: Not recorded
Depth: Shallow reef (<10 m)
Location Description: Hen & Chickens Reef, western Lake Erie
Vessel Type: Wooden brig
Material: Wood
Dimensions: Approx. 170 tons
Condition: Total loss, wreck destroyed
Cause of Loss: Stranded on reef, wave destruction
Discovery Date: 1860 (loss event)
Discovered By: Contemporary salvors
Method: Observation (stranded on reef)
Legal Notes: Registry not located, insurance unknown
Hazards: Navigational reef hazard (charted)
Permits Required: Yes, if remains exist