Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Wellington (1856)

Explore the history of the Wellington, a sidewheel steamer turned tug, lost in the St. Lawrence River around 1875. A dive site rich in maritime heritage.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Wellington
  • Type: Steamer (Sidewheel)
  • Year Built: 1856
  • Builder: Henry Rooney
  • Dimensions: Length: 171.4 ft (52.2 m); Beam: 25.4 ft (7.7 m); Depth of hold: 10.4 ft (3.2 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 400 gross tons
  • Location: Garden Island area
  • Original Owners: Hooker, Jacques & Company; Calvin, et al.
  • Number of Masts: 1

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Wellington was a sidewheel steamer, originally built for general freight and passenger service. It was later repurposed as a tugboat, showcasing the adaptability of vessels in the 19th century.

Description

The Wellington was constructed of wood and featured a single deck and mast. It was powered by sidewheel machinery, repurposed from the earlier steamer Britannia (1833).

History

Launched in 1856 at Garden Island, Ontario, the Wellington was initially owned by Hooker, Jacques & Company. In 1861, it was acquired by Calvin, et al., and adapted for specific commercial purposes. By 1866, it transitioned to tug service, towing barges and vessels on the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario.

Significant Incidents

  • 1861: Ownership transferred to Calvin, et al.
  • 1866: Repurposed as a tugboat.
  • 1875: Approximately when the vessel sank; exact circumstances are unknown.
  • July 7, 1881: Reports indicate the Wellington had been sunk for 5-6 years, with plans to raise the wreck.

Final Disposition

The Wellington likely sank around 1875 in the Garden Island area. By 1881, it was reported to have been submerged for several years, with unclear outcomes regarding recovery efforts.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The current condition of the wreck is unknown, and it remains a site of interest for divers and maritime historians. As always, divers are encouraged to practice no-touch documentation methods and to leave the site better than they found it.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”wellington-1856″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]

The Wellington serves as a testament to the maritime history of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River, illustrating the evolution of shipping practices in the 19th century. Divers visiting the site are reminded to respect the wreck and its surroundings, adhering to ethical diving practices.

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.

Wellington (1856, Steamer) – Comprehensive Historical Overview

Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Wellington
  • Year Built: 1856
  • Vessel Type: Steamer (Sidewheel)
  • Rigging: Sloop-rigged
  • Built At: Garden Island, Ontario
  • Builder: Henry Rooney
  • Original Owners: Hooker, Jacques & Company, Montreal, Quebec
  • Specifications Hull Material: Wood
  • Number of Decks: 1
  • Number of Masts: 1
  • Propulsion: Sidewheel steamer Powered by machinery repurposed from the steamer Britannia (1833).
  • Dimensions: Length: 171.4 feet (52.2 m) Beam: 25.4 feet (7.7 m) Depth: 10.4 feet (3.2 m)
  • Tonnage: Net: 519 tons Reduced to 400 gross tons in later service.

Chronology and Service History

Early Years (1856–1861):

The Wellington was launched in 1856 at Garden Island, Ontario, and was owned by Hooker, Jacques & Company, a Montreal-based firm. Originally, the vessel was a sidewheel steamer, used for general freight and passenger service in the busy St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes shipping routes.

Ownership Change (1861):

By 1861, the vessel was acquired by Calvin, et al., a partnership associated with Dexter D. Calvin and other prominent maritime entrepreneurs from Garden Island. At this point, the Wellington may have been adapted for more specific commercial purposes.

Transition to Tug Service (1866–1869):

  • In 1866, records show the Wellington was repurposed as a tug. The vessel was likely used to tow barges and other sailing vessels on the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario, where timber and bulk cargo transport was in high demand.
  • By 1868, the Wellington was listed as a “river tug,” indicating its specialized role in navigating the challenging currents of the St. Lawrence River. During this time, the vessel underwent repairs to extend its operational life.

Tonnage Revisions:

The vessel’s tonnage was recorded as 512 tons in 1863 but later adjusted to 400 gross tons by 1869. The change likely reflects modifications to the vessel’s structure and use as a tugboat, which reduced its overall cargo capacity.

Final Disposition

  • Date of Sinking: Approximately 1875 (exact circumstances unknown).
  • Location: Likely within the Garden Island area, where it was operating as a river tug.
  • Final Status (1881): On July 7, 1881, reports indicate that the Wellington had been sunk for 5–6 years, with plans to raise the wreck. It is unclear whether these plans were carried out, and there is no further record of the vessel’s recovery.

Significance

The Wellington is a prime example of the adaptability of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River vessels in the 19th century. Initially built as a sidewheel steamer, the vessel’s repurposing as a river tug demonstrates the ingenuity of shipowners like Calvin, who found new uses for aging ships in a changing economic landscape. Its machinery, repurposed from the older Britannia (1833), also highlights the practice of salvaging and reusing key components to save costs and extend service life.

Builder – Henry Rooney

Henry Rooney was a notable shipbuilder based on Garden Island, Ontario, which was a major hub for shipbuilding in the mid-19th century. Rooney collaborated with leading maritime entrepreneurs like Dexter D. Calvin to produce durable vessels for freight, passenger, and towing services.

Legacy and Historical Insights

The Wellington played a vital role in supporting timber, grain, and cargo transport in one of the busiest trade corridors in North America. Its multiple roles—steamer, tugboat, and eventually a river tug—reflect the evolution of shipping needs in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence system during the mid-to-late 19th century.

Resources for Further Research

wellington-1856 1881-07-07 07:54:00