Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Wasp
- Type: Small wooden schooner
- Year Built: Operational by 1811
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Unknown
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Likely driven ashore on the shores of Lake Erie
- Number of Masts: Two-masted
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A modest-sized two-masted wooden vessel, typical of early 19th-century schooners used on Lake Erie—for bulk goods, passengers, or general trade. Crew and tonnage details aren’t recorded, but the vessel appears small enough to have been subsequently refloated.
Description
The Wasp was reportedly driven ashore during a November storm on Lake Erie around mid-month. Sources indicate the vessel was bilged—her hull breached on rocks or shoals, causing flooding and initial wrecking. Compared to other incidents, Wasp was eventually recovered (“if she was the vessel shown parenthetically above…she was recovered”), suggesting salvage and perhaps a return to service.
No firsthand newspaper accounts or maritime registry notes have surfaced to confirm precise location, skipper, cargo, or recovery details.
History
The Wasp reflects the everyday workhorse schooners that plied the Great Lakes in the early 1800s. Though damaged in a November storm on Lake Erie, her recovery marks a resilient chapter in maritime salvage history. While archaeology has yet to document her remains, she exemplifies early storm-related losses—and recovery efforts—in a still-developing inland maritime domain.
Significant Incidents
- Driven ashore during a storm in November 1811.
- Reportedly bilged, leading to flooding and wrecking.
- Likely all crew survived, as reports indicate recovery.
Final Disposition
- Outcome: Beached and bilged.
- Possible Recovery: Records suggest that the vessel may have been refloated or salvaged and returned to service.
Current Condition & Accessibility
- No modern archaeological survey or dive records have surfaced.
- Current fate of the wreck (post-recovery) is undocumented.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”wasp-pre-1811″ title=”References & Links”]
The Wasp reflects the everyday workhorse schooners that plied the Great Lakes in the early 1800s. Though damaged in a November storm on Lake Erie, her recovery marks a resilient chapter in maritime salvage history. While archaeology has yet to document her remains, she exemplifies early storm-related losses—and recovery efforts—in a still-developing inland maritime domain.
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: Wasp
- Built & Launched: Known to have been operational by 1811
- Vessel Type: Small wooden schooner (exact dimensions unknown)
- Date Lost: November 1811 (approx. 15 November)
- Final Location: Likely driven ashore and bilged on the shores of Lake Erie
- Cause of Loss: Driven ashore during a storm and bilged
- Crew at Loss: Likely all survived, given reports of recovery
Vessel Type & Description
A modest-sized two-masted wooden vessel, typical of early 19th-century schooners used on Lake Erie—for bulk goods, passengers, or general trade. Crew and tonnage details aren’t recorded, but the vessel appears small enough to have been subsequently refloated.
History & Loss
The Wasp was reportedly driven ashore during a November storm on Lake Erie around mid-month. Sources indicate the vessel was bilged—her hull breached on rocks or shoals, causing flooding and initial wrecking. Compared to other incidents, Wasp was eventually recovered (“if she was the vessel shown parenthetically above…she was recovered”), suggesting salvage and perhaps a return to service.
No firsthand newspaper accounts or maritime registry notes have surfaced to confirm precise location, skipper, cargo, or recovery details.
Final Disposition
- Outcome: Beached and bilged
- Possible Recovery: Records suggest that the vessel may have been refloated or salvaged and returned to service
Located By & Date Found
- No modern archaeological survey or dive records have surfaced
- Current fate of the wreck (post-recovery) is undocumented
Notations & Advisories
- No known navigational hazard markers
- Since she was recovered (likely removed), the site poses no current maritime risk
Conclusion
The Wasp reflects the everyday workhorse schooners that plied the Great Lakes in the early 1800s. Though damaged in a November storm on Lake Erie, her recovery marks a resilient chapter in maritime salvage history. While archaeology has yet to document her remains, she exemplifies early storm-related losses—and recovery efforts—in a still-developing inland maritime domain.
Suggested Keywords: Wasp schooner, Lake Erie storm wrecks, early 19th-century salvage
Categories:
- Early Great Lakes shipwrecks
- Lake Erie marine salvage
- 19th-century schooners
Resources & Links
- Lake Erie Shipwreck Index lists Wasp under “W,” noting she grounded and was bilged in November 1811, with possible recovery (alcheminc.com, en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org)
- Naval History Records (no direct link but indicates multiple civilian schooners named Wasp in early 19th-century journal logs for context)