Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Crispin
  • Year Built: 1845
  • Built at: Sackett’s Harbor, New York
  • Vessel Type: Brig
  • Hull Material: Wood (typical for the period; assumed)
  • Number of Decks: 1
  • Number of Masts: 2
  • Original Owner: A.G. Peer (by 1850)
  • Official Number: Not applicable (pre-official numbering system)

Hull Dimensions

  • Tonnage (old style): 154 tons (151 62/95 tons recorded in 1849)

Vessel Type

A traditionally-rigged two-masted Brig, Crispin was a wooden sailing cargo vessel typical of mid-19th century Great Lakes commerce.

Description

Brigs like Crispin were widely used for bulk and package freight, being versatile sailing ships capable of handling Great Lakes conditions. She was designed to carry heavy cargoes across the inland seas.

History

Launched in 1845 at Sackett’s Harbor, New York, Crispin quickly joined the wheat and grain trade that boomed on the Great Lakes. In July 1845, she was reported carrying 7,000 bushels of cargo from Buffalo. By September 30, 1848, she was sailing between Buffalo and Detroit loaded with flour, a common trade route.

In 1849, she was measured in the Detroit district at 151 62/95 tons, confirming her active participation in cross-lake commerce.

By 1850, Crispin was owned by A.G. Peer and was operating on Lake Huron.

Final Disposition

On 10 May 1850, while carrying a cargo of building stones, Crispin sank off Pointe aux Barques, Lake Huron. The reported final water depth at the wreck site was about 9 feet (2.7 metres), indicating the vessel was in shallow water. No loss-of-life was noted in sources, though further archival references could confirm details.

  • Final Location: Off Pointe aux Barques, Michigan, Lake Huron
  • Final Cargo: Building stones
  • Cause: Sank (specific weather or damage details not recorded)
  • Final Depth: 9 feet (2.7 metres)

Located By & Date Found

No modern survey or confirmed archaeological documentation of the Crispin wreck has been published.

NOTMARs & Advisories

None noted.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

Crispin was a typical mid-century Brig whose career highlights the vital trade in grain and building materials across the Great Lakes before the age of large steamers. Her final loss off Pointe aux Barques in 1850 closed a relatively short but active career, representative of the hazards faced by sailing vessels on Lake Huron.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

  • Brig
  • Sailing cargo ship
  • Great Lakes
  • Lake Huron
  • Mid-19th century
  • Wooden ship
  • Building stone cargo
  • Shallow water wreck