IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

  • Vessel Name: O.N. Chapin
  • Other Names: None
  • Official Number: None recorded
  • Vessel Type: Wooden propeller steam Tug (also described as paddle Tug)
  • Build Year: 1854
  • Built At: Albany, New York
  • Dimensions: 64 ft × 14 ft × 6 ft (19.5 m × 4.3 m × 1.8 m); approx. 47 tons
  • Registered Tonnage: ~47 tons
  • Owner at Loss: Recently purchased by S.L. Watson of Buffalo
  • Date Lost: October 31, 1856 (storm)
  • Location of Loss: ~4 mi east of Port Stanley, Ontario (Lake Erie)
  • Distance Offshore: Approximately 4 miles E of Port Stanley
  • Depth at Site: Not documented
  • Final Status: Stranded and wrecked—Total Loss; no lives lost reported (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, nysl.nysed.gov)

VESSEL TYPE

A small wooden steam Tug powered by a propeller (or paddle), typical of mid-19th-century harbor and lake service vessels used for towing, logging, or freight transfer.

DESCRIPTION

Built in 1854 at Albany, O.N. Chapin measured 64 × 14 × 6 ft, with 47-ton displacement. After being sold to Buffalo interests—S.L. Watson among them—it entered Lake Erie service. Her wooden Hull and steam-powered propulsion would have made her agile in harbour and nearshore operations.

HISTORY

Purchased by S.L. Watson of Buffalo shortly before October 1856, the Tug operated locally until caught in a strong storm over Lake Erie on October 31. While moving or returning to Port Stanley, she was overpowered by weather and driven ashore. The vessel broke up and was declared a Total Loss, though her crew survived uninjured (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).

INCIDENT & FINAL DISPOSITION

The storm-stranded Tug suffered Hull failure, broke apart in surf, and was Abandoned. No salvage or recovery is recorded, marking her as a Total Loss.

LOCATED BY & DATE FOUND

There are no known documented discoveries or dive findings related to her wreck. The site remains unconfirmed and uninvestigated.

NOTICES TO MARINERS & ADVISORIES

No Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) were issued, likely because the wreck posed no known navigational threat at the time. Mariners should be aware of potential shallow debris zones approximately 4 miles east of Port Stanley, especially in low water conditions.

RESOURCES & LINKS

  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files: Primary source detailing build specs, ownership, incident, and loss description (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
  • Local Maritime Museum & Archive (e.g., Port Stanley Museum): Potential sources for primary newspapers or eyewitness accounts
  • Regional Weather Data (Oct 31, 1856): Could further document storm conditions around Lake Erie

Conclusion

O.N. Chapin epitomizes the mid‑19th‑century steam Tug—small, service‑driven, and vulnerable to Lake Erie’s autumn storms. Built in 1854 and newly owned by Buffalo’s S.L. Watson, she succumbed to a gale on October 31, 1856, stranding off Port Stanley and breaking up in surf. While no lives were lost, her remains lie uncharted and her site undocumented—a compelling underwater research opportunity.

Suggested Keywords: O.N. Chapin, S.L. Watson, Port Stanley Tug, 1856 Lake Erie storm, 19th‑century steam tugwreck, Ontario maritime wrecks.