Identification & Build
- Built: 1847 at Port Dover, Ontario
- Type: Wooden two‑masted Schooner
- Dimensions: 92 ft × 17 ft × 7 ft; approx. 110 tons
- Rebuilt: Enlarged at Port Burwell in 1852; she had been heavily damaged in 1855 near Avon Point
- Owner: John Jennings, sailmaker, from Port Dover
Final Voyage & Loss – November 17, 1866
- Route: Sailing from Cleveland to her new homeport (likely Port Dover) after being recently purchased for $800
- Incident: Caught in a storm on Lake Erie, at Pigeon Bay
- Outcome: Driven ashore and wrecked; her bottom was torn out
- Casualties: 1 crew member lost during sinking
- Cargo: Light—empty or minimal ballast—a factor that may have affected stability in heavy seas (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Facebook)
Wreck & Condition
- Stood as a wreck near Pigeon Bay; considered a Total Loss with no salvage report
- Nearby, the Schooner William Finch was later lost while attempting to salvage the N.G.; additional wreck remnants may lie in the area (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Remnants may still exist underwater—wooden structure could have washed into deeper areas or be buried in bay sediments
Significance
- Reflects the vulnerability of mid‑19th-century wooden schooners during late-season Lake Erie storms
- The modest sale price of $800 highlights the economic marginalization of aging vessels, even as they remain in service
- The associated salvage attempts—and a secondary wreck (William Finch)—underscore the intertwined risks faced by maritime vessels of the era
Research & Exploration Opportunities
| Focus | Suggested Action |
|---|---|
| Historical Newspapers | Search Erie Gazette, Cleveland Leader, and Port Dover press (Nov 1866) for wreck and salvage reports |
| Registry Records | Obtain 1847 enrollment and 1866 casualty documents for design data and crew manifests |
| Salvage Logs | Investigate records of the William Finch loss—potentially including N.G.’s salvage efforts |
| Remote Wreck Survey | Side-scan sonar and magnetometer mapping in Pigeon Bay could uncover submerged remains |
| Dive Survey | If located, shallow diving might recover timbers, fastenings, or cargo remnants for documentation |
Summary
- Name: “N. G.”
- Built: 1847, Port Dover, Ont.; enlarged 1852
- Lost: Nov 17, 1866 – storm wrecked at Pigeon Bay, Lake Erie
- Crew: 1 death reported
- Cargo: Light/ballast
- Significance: Embodies maritime risks of aging schooners; entangled with secondary wreck (William Finch) during salvage