Posted by Brendon Baillod on August 22, 19102 at 17:57:44:
In Reply to: shipwreck: Plymouth posted by Bob Wheeler on August 22, 19102 at 14:48:23:
: Looking for owner and captain of the bark, Plymouth, which collided with the prop, Boston, in 1854 at Oak Orchard, Lake Ont., near Rochester.
Hi Bob,
I checked my records for info. on the Plymouth/Boston. The following is what I have:
News accounts:
Cleveland Morning Leader, Tuesday, August 1, 1854
The propeller BOSTON was run into, Saturday night, by the brig PLYMOUTH, off "Devil's Nose," Lake Ontario, and sank in deep water. Fifteen of the crew are known to have been saved, but it is probable some were drowned. The BOSTON was running in Chamberlain, Crawford & Co.'s Line, and was insured for $10,500. She was valued at $12,000. Had a cargo of flour, wheat, wool, and other western produce, value not known; is believed to have been insured.
Buffalo Daily Courier, Thursday, August 3, 1854
The Propeller " BOSTON," was sunk in thirty fathoms of water, by collision with the bark PLYMOUTH, off Devil's Nose, on Lake Ontario, on the night of the 28th. inst., at twelve o'clock. Passengers and crew all saved in the small boats. Insured for $8,500: in the Northwestern $5,000 ; in the Milwaukee Mutual $2,000; Cleveland Commercial Mutual $1,500.
Cleveland Morning Leader, Thursday, August 3, 1854
LOSS OF THE PROPELLER BOSTON. -- We learn from Mr. Armstrong, one of the crew of the propeller BOSTON, that in three minutes after the collision with the PLYMOUTH, she had sunk to her upper decks. Thirteen men got aboard of the yawl, eleven aboard of the life-boat -- of whom four were women -- two escaped in a small yawl, none were lost. The distance to land was thirteen miles. The accident occurred about 11:30 P. M. The night was extremely dark and stormy. The rain poured down in torrents, accompanied with thunder and lightning. The life-boat had but two oars and no rudder. The large yawl leaked considerably and was kept free with difficulty -- the men having nothing but a hat and a bonnet to bail with. The small boat rode the storm better than either of the others. The boats all parted in the dark a few minutes after the accident. The storm blew the boats some miles further out in the lake before it abated. At daylight the American shore was barely visible. At 11 A. M., it was reached at Oak Orchard. The females were in their night cloths, and none of the crew saved a dollar's worth of property. After coming ashore the captain applied at the American Hotel in Charlotte for lodging, but was brutally refused by the landlord. They then found quarters with Major Williams. The BOSTON was struck between the wheelhouse and stern, while she was steering on her course.
Although there were two vessels named Plymouth on the lakes at the time of the accident, I'm pretty sure the Canadian three sticker below was the guilty party. The other vessel, a 197.68 gt. schooner was built 1847 at Huron, Ohio and was last enrolled 1851 at Buffalo. She appears to have been gone before 1854.
Three masted Schooner Plymouth (later Bark) built 1854 at Garden Island, Ontario by D.B. Colby, 327 gt. BOM, laster 354 gt. Later US schooner Mary Elizabeth #90426. She is listed in the 1856 Canadian Vessel List as owned by J. Rae, valued at $15000. In the 1857 list, she is listed as owned by J. Roe and value at $12000. I believe the J. Rae name is correct and stood for John Rae, who was a prominent vessel owner in Hamilton, Ontario. Although an 1854 list exists, she does not appear in it, as she was new that year. By 1866, she had been re-rigged at a bark and was owned by Mrs. E. Rae of Hamilton (probably the wife of the Late John Rae). She was classed B1 and worth only $7500. John Rae was probably the owner of the Plymouth in 1854 and she was probably built for him, but the only way to verify this would be to check the news micros from Hamilton to see if an article about the vessel's launch can be found. I don't think Rae was the master at the time of the accident however, because he owned several vessels and seems to have employed captains to sail them.
I hope the above helps.
Brendon Baillod