Identification & Site Information

Incident & Sinking Details

  • On May 26, 1861, amid heavy spring gales, the E. C. Williams attempted to ride out the storm by dropping both anchors.
  • Both cables parted under pressure, allowing the vessel to be driven ashore onto a rocky beach.
  • While heeled over, the crew made their way across the rigging to shore line, escaping without injuries.
  • Over the next days, the Schooner broke apart from wave action and was declared a total wreck (alcheminc.com).

Vessel History & Ownership

  • Initial Owner & Captain: William C. Davison of Buffalo, later joined by brother John Davison (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
  • Served the Buffalo–Erie corridor in light cargo transport, typical of mid-19th-century schooners.

Archival & Research Gaps

  • Builder & Registry Info: Enrollment and tonnage records may be found in the Buffalo Customs House archives.
  • Crew List & Command: Missing—a search in District enrollment documents could reveal master and crew.
  • Weather Conditions: Historical weather data would clarify the severity of the May storm.
  • News Reports: 1861 Erie and Buffalo newspaper coverage could include firsthand accounts and crew statements.
  • Wreck Debris Recovery: Local records may note salvage efforts or artifact recovery on the beach.

Wreck & Exploration Considerations

  • Location: Beachside near Elk Creek, approx. 4 miles east of Erie, Pennsylvania.
  • Remains: Likely broken fragments—Keel, planking, iron fasteners—washed up or buried in shallow sand.
  • Survey Strategy:
    • Shoreline walking surveys and subsurface magnetometer sweeps near Elk Creek.
    • Mapping with historical chart overlays.
    • Possible low-tide dives to uncover timbers or artifacts.

Historical Significance

  • The E. C. Williams exemplifies early fishing- and light-cargo schooners serving smaller Great Lakes ports.
  • The storm loss demonstrates anchor failure under storm conditions and the crew’s resourceful evacuation.
  • Surfacing such a wreck provides tangible evidence of mid-19th-century vessel design and storm-response practices on Lake Erie.

Recommended Next Steps

  • Archive Request: Buffalo Customs enrollment logs (1849–1861) for construction and crew information.
  • Newspaper Retrieval: Erie and Buffalo press from June 1861 for narratives and eyewitness accounts.
  • Field Reconnaissance: On-site magnetometer survey and beach debris identification near Elk Creek.
  • Weather Data Collection: NOAA historical storm archives for May 1861.