Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Barclay
- Type: Scow Schooner
- Year Built: 1857
- Builder: Disputed — J. McDermot or Sylvester Larned
- Dimensions: 72.7 ft (22.2 m); Beam: 18.8 ft (5.7 m); Depth of hold: 5 ft (1.5 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 69 tons (Old Measurement); 53.23 tons (Gross Tonnage 1866)
- Location: Unknown (assumed lost somewhere on the Great Lakes)
- Official Number: 26834
- Original Owners: J. McAllister, Whitney & Sims, F. Mannel, Nelson Little & William Brown
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Barclay was a wooden scow schooner — a flat-bottomed sailing vessel with squared-off ends, ideally suited for hauling bulk materials in shallow harbours and rivers throughout the Great Lakes. These vessels were integral to local freight trade, particularly in lumber and construction goods.
Description
The Barclay represents the unglamorous but vital merchant vessels that sustained 19th-century lake commerce. With multiple owners and over a decade of service, its disappearance without incident or record exemplifies the quiet losses common in the period. It remains one of many under-documented shipwrecks on the Great Lakes.
History
- 1860: Owned by J. McAllister, Detroit, MI
- 1863: Whitney & Sims, Lakeport, MI
- 1866: F. Mannel, Port Huron, MI
- Oct 26, 1866: Enrolled at Port Huron; owned by Nelson Little & William Brown
Significant Incidents
- Date Lost: February 15, 1868
- Location: Unknown (assumed lost somewhere on the Great Lakes)
- Cause: Unknown — no documented wreck or casualty records
- Document Surrendered: December 17, 1878, at Port Huron, MI, endorsed as “Lost”
Final Disposition
- Not Found — No known location or archaeological recovery of the wreck exists.
Current Condition & Accessibility
- No accessible wreck site or remains are confirmed. Presumed lost in open water or deteriorated beyond recognition.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”william-barclay-us-26834″ title=”References & Links”]
The Barclay represents the unglamorous but vital merchant vessels that sustained 19th-century lake commerce. With multiple owners and over a decade of service, its disappearance without incident or record exemplifies the quiet losses common in the period. It remains one of many under-documented shipwrecks on the Great Lakes.
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: Barclay
- Type: Scow Schooner
- Year Built: 1857
- Builder: Disputed — J. McDermot or Sylvester Larned
- Location Built: Detroit, Michigan
- Official Number: 26834
Vessel Measurements
- Length: 72.7 ft (22.2 m)
- Beam: 18.8 ft (5.7 m)
- Depth: 5 ft (1.5 m)
- Tonnage (Old Measurement): 69 tons
- Gross Tonnage (1866): 53.23 tons
- Decks: 1
- Masts: 2
- Construction: Wood
Vessel Type
The Barclay was a wooden scow schooner — a flat-bottomed sailing vessel with squared-off ends, ideally suited for hauling bulk materials in shallow harbours and rivers throughout the Great Lakes. These vessels were integral to local freight trade, particularly in lumber and construction goods.
Ownership History
- 1860: Owned by J. McAllister, Detroit, MI
- 1863: Whitney & Sims, Lakeport, MI
- 1866: F. Mannel, Port Huron, MI
- Oct 26, 1866: Enrolled at Port Huron; owned by Nelson Little & William Brown
Final Disposition
- Date Lost: February 15, 1868
- Location: Unknown (assumed lost somewhere on the Great Lakes)
- Cause: Unknown — no documented wreck or casualty records
- Document Surrendered: December 17, 1878, at Port Huron, MI, endorsed as “Lost”
Located By & Date Found
- Not Found — No known location or archaeological recovery of the wreck exists.
Notmars & Advisories
- None noted.
Current Condition & Accessibility
- No accessible wreck site or remains are confirmed. Presumed lost in open water or deteriorated beyond recognition.
Conclusion
The Barclay represents the unglamorous but vital merchant vessels that sustained 19th-century lake commerce. With multiple owners and over a decade of service, its disappearance without incident or record exemplifies the quiet losses common in the period. It remains one of many under-documented shipwrecks on the Great Lakes.
Resources & Links
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
Scow schooner, Barclay, Great Lakes shipwreck, Detroit shipbuilding, Port Huron, lost vessel, 1860s shipwreck, Lakeport Michigan, maritime history, shallow draft vessels, bulk cargo schooner.
The Barclay was a scow schooner built in 1857 in Detroit, Michigan. Its official number was 26834. The vessel was constructed by either J. McDermot or Sylvester Larned, according to different sources. It had a wooden hull and a single deck. william-barclay-us-26834 1868-02-15 07:48:00