Identification & Site Information

  • Name(s): Henry A. Kent
  • Official Number: N/A (pre-1867 numbering system)
  • Year Built: 1850
  • Built At: Buffalo, New York
  • Final Location: Gravelly Bay, approx. 15 miles off Port Colborne, Ontario, Lake Erie
  • Date Lost: 19 May 1854
  • Final Depth: 12 fathoms (≈21.9 m / 72 ft)
  • How Lost: Fire at sea

Vessel Type

Wooden propeller-driven freight Steamer, single-Deck, designed for Great Lakes cargo service in the early era of Screw Propulsion technology.

Description

  • Hull Material: Wood
  • Length: 162 ft 5 in (49.5 m)
  • Beam: 25 ft 2 in (7.7 m)
  • Depth: 11 ft 4 in (3.5 m)
  • Tonnage (old style): 442 27/95 tons
  • Propulsion: Single screw (steam engine)
  • Decks: One

History

  • 1850, May: Built by Fredrick N. Jones at Buffalo, NY, for James C. Evans and partners; enrolled May 10 at Buffalo.
  • 1851–1853: Operated on major routes connecting Buffalo, Toledo, Detroit, and Chicago, transporting freight and passengers.
  • 1853, December: Involved in a port collision with a scow in Detroit, though the extent of the damage is unknown.
  • 1854, May 19: While en route from Buffalo to Milwaukee and Chicago with a cargo of miscellaneous merchandise, Henry A. Kent caught fire and burned rapidly on Lake Erie. The fire was uncontrollable and the vessel was Abandoned. The vessel sank in Gravelly Bay, roughly 15 miles off Port Colborne, Ontario.

Final Disposition

Completely destroyed by fire and sank. The wreck rests in approximately 12 fathoms (≈72 feet / 21.9 metres) of water. There are no reports of fatalities. Due to the early date and extensive fire damage, recovery or preservation of the wreck was not undertaken.

Located By & Date Found

No official rediscovery has been confirmed. The wreck is believed to remain unidentified on the lakebed.

NOTMARs & Advisories

None noted.

Resources & Links

  • Steamboat Era in the Muskokas by Richard Tatley
  • Board of Lake Underwriters Marine Directory
  • Historical Collections, Buffalo Marine Enrollments (U.S. National Archives)
  • Buffalo Daily Courier, May 1854 Reports
  • Maritime History of the Great Lakes

Conclusion

Henry A. Kent was among the early generation of propeller-driven freight steamers on the Great Lakes. Her loss in 1854 illustrates the vulnerability of early wooden steamers to fire hazards. Despite her relatively short service life, she played an active role in mid-19th century lake commerce.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

Tags: wooden propeller, Lake Erie, 19th century, fire loss, Buffalo, early Steamship
Glossary:

  • Screw Propeller: A type of propulsion involving a single rotating screw, as opposed to paddlewheels
  • Fathom: Nautical unit of depth; 1 fathom = 6 feet (1.83 m)
  • Enrolled: Official registration for legal operation on U.S. inland waters