(built 1868 – lost 4 June 1884)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: Prince Edward
• Official Registry Number: C71095
• Build Year & Shipyard: 1868 by M. Simpson, St. Catharines, Ontario—wooden sidewheel Steamer, passenger & package freight vessel (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
• Dimensions/Tonnage: 81 ft × 36 ft; approximately 97 tons (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
• Home Port: Operated in Lake Ontario, based out of Belleville, Ontario (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Vessel Type

• Wooden sidewheel passenger and package freight Steamer used as a Ferry service during the 1870s through early 1880s (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Operational History & Incidents

• Routinely employed on Ferry and passenger Packet routes during the 1870s and early 1880s (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
• Possible earlier stranding: Likely the same vessel reported wrecked near Cove Island, Lake Huron during a storm on 21 November 1870, although accounts vary and naming may have overlapped (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Final Voyage & Loss

• Date of Loss: 4 June 1884
• Loss Location: Belleville, Ontario, Lake Ontario
• Cause of Loss: Caught fire and burned to a Total Loss while at Belleville—no loss of life reported, and no cargo at time of burning besides “light” package freight (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Casualties

• None reported. All aboard evacuated safely during the fire (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Disposition

• Vessel was destroyed by fire; Hull burned to the waterline and rendered unsalvageable
• Registry entry closed and vessel removed following the incident in June 1884

Summary Table

Historical Significance & Context

• As a sidewheel Steamer of modest dimensions, Prince Edward was a regional Ferry vessel connecting Belleville and surrounding communities on Lake Ontario during the late 19th century.
• The vessel was Rebuilt in 1878, suggesting either renovation or structural update before her eventual loss in 1884 (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
• The possible earlier grounding near Cove Island in November 1870 may refer to the same vessel, though reporting inconsistencies suggest the need for careful cross-checking of registry filings and local storm logs (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).

Research Gaps & Suggested Archival Follow-up

To deepen investigation into Prince Edward, consider pursuing:

• Local newspaper archives (e.g. Belleville Intelligencer, Kingston Whig‑Standard) around June 1884 to uncover eyewitness descriptions of the fire, crew rescue, and impact on Ferry service.
• HCGL vessel enrollment and incident records—for master/captain identity, ownership (likely Belleville Ferry company), and insurance claim amounts from loss in 1884.
• Maritime board or port authority ledgers for Ferry services operating Belleville–Mid‑Ontario ports in the 1870s–80s.
• Cross-referencing Cove Island wreck reports (Nov 1870) to ascertain if they match Prince Edward in tonnage or description, confirming whether both incidents involved the same Hull.

Conclusion

Prince Edward was a wooden sidewheel Steamer built in 1868, serving as a regional Ferry and passenger Packet vessel. She burned to a Total Loss on 4 June 1884 in Belleville, Ontario, with no recorded fatalities. There was an earlier possible incident—grounding near Cove Island in November 1870—that may involve this same vessel. The lack of modern archaeological documentation suggests she remains unlocated, with remains likely dispersed by fire and lake activity.

Let me know if you’d like help accessing regional archives, insurance ledgers, or local maritime records to further secure master’s name, ownership details, or cross-confirm the Cove Island event.