Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: William Bates (also listed as William N. Bates)
- Type: Scow Schooner
- Year Built: 1866
- Builder: F. Burke
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 54.79 tons
- Location: Foot of Georgia Street, Buffalo, NY
- Official Number: 80052
- Original Owners: Various owners including Elton & McDonald, Preston, Thompson, and R. Stone
- Number of Masts: 1
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type: Scow Schooner
Description
The William Bates was a wooden scow schooner built in 1866, primarily used for transporting bulk cargo such as grain and lumber across the Great Lakes.
History
The William Bates was registered in White Lake, MI in 1870 and changed ownership several times until its loss in 1880. It was owned by various parties including Elton & McDonald, Preston, and R. Stone.
Significant Incidents
- Loss Date: November 7, 1880
- Cause: Blown ashore during severe weather, resulting in the vessel filling with water and being declared a total loss.
- Cargo: Wheat at the time of loss.
- Casualties: None recorded.
Final Disposition
The William Bates is presumed destroyed or dismantled after grounding at the foot of Georgia Street in Buffalo, NY.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site is presumed to be inaccessible due to its condition post-grounding, with no confirmed remains of the vessel.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”william-bates-aka-william-n-bates-us-80052″ title=”References & Links”]
The loss of the William Bates highlights the risks faced by small wooden vessels in the Great Lakes, particularly during severe weather events.
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.
Vessel Identification & Profile
- Name: William Bates (also listed as William N. Bates)
- Official Number: 80052
- Year Built: 1866
- Builder: F. Burke
- Build Location: Trenton, Michigan
- Vessel Type: Scow Schooner
- Hull Material: Wood
- Decks: 1
Dimensions
- Tonnage (Gross): 54.79 tons
Ownership & Service History
- 1870: Registered home port: White Lake, MI
- 1871: Owned by Elton & McDonald, Trenton, MI
- 1874: Ownership transferred to Preston, St. Joseph, MI
- 1876–1879: Owned by Thompson, Holland, MI
- 1880: Owned by R. Stone and partners, Oswego, NY
Final Disposition
- Date of Loss: November 7, 1880
- Location: Foot of Georgia Street, Buffalo, NY (Lake Erie)
- Cause: Blown ashore during severe weather event; vessel filled with water and declared a total loss
- Cargo at Time of Loss: Wheat
- Condition: Presumed destroyed or dismantled after grounding
- Casualties: None recorded
Historical Significance
The William Bates was a typical small scow schooner of the mid-19th century Great Lakes fleet, operating across Michigan and New York for bulk cargo such as grain and lumber. Her grounding in Buffalo during a fall gale was representative of numerous similar losses in the Erie corridor, where wind-driven harbor incidents frequently ended small wooden vessels’ careers.
Research Recommendations
- Examine Buffalo port newspapers from November 1880 for incident details
- Investigate harbor salvage or abandonment records in the Erie County archives
- Review enrollment and customs documents for Oswego, NY from late 1880 for deregistration
Sources & Collections
- C. Patrick Labadie Collection
- Donald V. Baut
- Board of Lake Underwriters Marine Directory
- Peter J. VanderLinden
Keywords and Categories
- Region: Lake Erie, Buffalo
- Vessel Type: Scow Schooner
- Cause of Loss: Gale/grounding
- Cargo: Wheat
- Material: Wood
- Period: 1866–1880
- Final Status: Total loss due to weather
- Hazards: Gale, harbor entrance
The William Bates underscores the vulnerability of lightly built scow schooners to sudden wind events and harbor misfortunes, particularly at heavily trafficked ports like Buffalo.
william-bates-aka-william-n-bates-us-80052 1880-11-07 14:28:00