Identification & Site Information

Vessel Type

A compact two‑masted wooden Schooner designed for light cargo transport along Lake Michigan’s coast.

Description

Built in 1847 at Madison Dock, the G. R. Roberts measured roughly 79 ft in length on Deck. By 1860, she was valued at US $1,200 (rated B2); her value rose to $2,000 (C1) by 1874 following repairs undertaken in 1868 (wisconsinshipwrecks.org).

History

Through nearly three decades of service, she carried general cargoes along the Lake Michigan shoreline. On 25 September 1876, anchored in Big Sister Bay, she encountered a violent northwest gale. When her anchors failed to maintain position, she was driven ashore and wrecked during the storm—fortunately with no loss of life .

Final Disposition

The Schooner was irretrievably wrecked on shore and deemed a Total Loss. No evidence of salvage or recovery survives in archival records.

Located By & Date Found

No modern rediscovery recorded; the remains were likely on or very near the shoreline, and no formal archaeological documentation has been made.

Notations & Advisories

Given she washed ashore, this site poses no underwater navigational hazards and lacks any formal markers or advisories.

Conclusion

The G. R. Roberts typifies small 19th‑century coastal schooners operating on Lake Michigan—built sturdy but still susceptible to severe weather and anchorage failure. Her wreck in Big Sister Bay during an autumn gale is a testament to the vulnerabilities of such vessels. Though her remains faded into local memory, her story adds to the broader understanding of mid‑1800s Great Lakes navigation and storm risk.

Suggested Keywords & Glossary Terms:

Suggested Categories:
Great Lakes shipwrecks | Lake Michigan schooners | storm‑driven wrecks | small cargo vessels