Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Windsor
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1847
- Builder: Buffalo or Irving, New York
- Dimensions: Length: 115 ft (35.1 m); Beam: 25 ft (7.6 m); Depth of hold: 10 ft (3 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 270 tons
- Location: 5 miles from Louis Island, at the mouth of Green Bay
- Official Number: None
- Original Owners: Tarleton Jones of Chicago
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Windsor was a wooden-hulled schooner, designed for cargo transport, particularly serving the burgeoning industries around the Great Lakes. Schooners of this size and type were commonly used in the mid-19th century for transporting bulk goods, timber, and provisions to growing settlements and industrial centers.
Description
Constructed in 1847, the Windsor was a mid-sized schooner with a cargo capacity of 270 tons. Her dimensions reflect the typical design of schooners used for freight transport, with a broad beam and deep hold, allowing for efficient handling of bulk cargo like lumber and provisions for mills and industrial use. Owned by Tarleton Jones of Chicago, she played a role in supplying the growing lumber trade in the Great Lakes region.
History
The Windsor operated during a period of rapid industrial and economic expansion in the Great Lakes area, particularly supporting the lumber industry and the development of frontier towns and cities like Chicago.
On November 3, 1853, while carrying lumber mill provisions en route to her destination, the Windsor encountered a severe gale near the mouth of Green Bay, a notorious location for sudden and violent storms due to the geographical funneling of winds and waves. The schooner went ashore about 5 miles from Louis Island, a small island near the mouth of the bay.
While details about the specific circumstances are sparse, records indicate that the vessel likely ran aground in heavy weather and sustained significant damage. The schooner was described as “probably” a total loss following the incident, though no definitive salvage or recovery efforts were recorded. The last registration document for the Windsor was filed in October 1852, suggesting she was nearing the end of her documented operational life when the wreck occurred.
Significant Incidents
Loss of Life: There were no reported fatalities associated with the sinking of the Windsor, which suggests that the crew may have managed to escape to nearby land or been rescued by passing vessels or local inhabitants.
Final Disposition
The Windsor was presumed a total loss after going ashore in the November 1853 gale. There are no records indicating that the schooner was salvaged or returned to service, and her wreck likely deteriorated over time due to exposure and the harsh conditions typical of Lake Michigan’s shoreline.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Nil return.
Resources & Links
References are being reviewed for this wreck.
The loss of the Windsor in 1853 reflects the ever-present risks faced by Great Lakes schooners during the mid-19th century, particularly in regions like Green Bay, where sudden storms and shallow waters posed significant threats to navigation. Serving as a cargo vessel for the lumber mill industry, the Windsor played a role in the economic development of the Great Lakes region, supplying materials critical for the growth of frontier towns. While her end was likely quiet and unremarkable in the broader scope of Great Lakes history, the Windsor is a testament to the rugged and often perilous life of working schooners in the age of sail.