Wooden Schooner – Lake Michigan

Identification & Site Information

Vessel Type & Description

The Kitty Grant was a typical mid‑19th‑century wooden Schooner, built for bulk freight trade. At approximately 75 gross tons and 78 feet in length, she was suited for hauling lumber and shingles, key commodities in the expanding Great Lakes trade.

Incident Description

On 8 October 1884, Kitty Grant encountered a severe gale while en route from Pentwater to Chicago. She capsized in open waters, and all four crew members were lost. Her overturned Hull was later recovered but sank during an attempted towing operation, resulting in Total Loss of the vessel. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

History & Operational Chronology

  • Launched in 1853 from Milwaukee, WI, registered at 75 GRT.
  • Operated by owners Captains Dan I. Davis and Copeland Davis of Pentwater—both local shipping entrepreneurs.
  • Served freight routes across Lake Michigan, carrying lumber and shingles to growing Midwest markets including Chicago.
  • Lost on her 31st year of service, a testament to durable design and long-lived operation.

Final Disposition

After capsizing and Hull salvage, Kitty Grant was towed but sank under tow. The vessel was never refloated, and no formal salvage or recovery was documented. Her official registry was closed, with wreck presumed lost in deep water.

Notams & Hazard Advisories

  • None recorded. No known Notices to Mariners or official navigational warnings were issued post-incident.

Gaps & Recommendations for Further Research

  • Crew identities beyond the four lost remain unrecorded; muster or local newspaper obituaries (e.g., Pentwater, Chicago papers) could yield names.
  • Insurance documents or claims could clarify Hull value at loss and any salvage attempt details.
  • Contemporary press coverage might provide weather data and eyewitness testimony from Pentwater port.

Resources & References

  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – WordPress “G‑Section” entry for Kitty Grant: primary registry details, loss data, builder info, cargo, casualty count, and official number (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Wisconsin Genealogy & Maritime Sources (“Kitty Brig/Kitty Schooner”): context on vessel types and regional trade patterns, including mention of similar losses in storms (NOAA Institutional Repository)

Keywords & Categories

Lake Michigan Schooner, storm capsizing, timber trade vessel, Pentwater–Chicago route, 19th century Great Lakes freight, capsized and sank, 1884 gale disaster.

Summary

The Kitty Grant, launched in 1853, served as a small freight Schooner hauling lumber and shingles on Lake Michigan. In a violent gale on 8 October 1884, she capsized approximately 20 miles offshore and was lost with all hands. An attempt to tow her recovered Hull ended when she sank. This tragic incident underscores both the volatile weather of Lake Michigan and the inherent risk faced by modest freight vessels of the era. Historical registry data and modern research confirm her specifications, ownership, and final loss.