Shipwreck Report: Theodore W. Maurice

Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Theodore W. Maurice
  • Former Classification: Occasionally listed as a Brig
  • Official Number: None assigned
  • Date Built: 1837
  • Builder: Fairport, Ohio
  • Construction: Wooden, two-masted Schooner
  • Length: 52 ft (15.8 m)
  • Beam: 18 ft (5.5 m)
  • Depth: 5 ft (1.5 m)
  • Gross Tonnage: 46 tons
  • Registry Port: Unknown

Vessel Type

Wooden Schooner, two-masted (also referenced as a Brig in early reports)

Description

The Theodore W. Maurice was a small but active cargo Schooner operating on Lake Michigan and other Great Lakes routes during the mid-19th century. Built in 1837 at Fairport, Ohio, she was designed for short-haul bulk cargoes and shallow port access, typical of early Great Lakes schooners.

History

Primarily used in the grain and timber trade, Theodore W. Maurice served routes between midwestern ports and the lower lakes. She was referenced in Great Lakes cargo records, including a note in 1874 for having transported what was considered the smallest grain cargo ever shipped eastward from Lake Michigan, indicating her occasional use in niche, low-volume trade operations.

Final Disposition

On September 2, 1850, the Theodore W. Maurice was caught in a severe storm on Lake Michigan while transporting a cargo of oak planks. She passed Milwaukee in a waterlogged and out-of-control condition and ultimately went on the rocks near Wind Point, Wisconsin. Despite the damage and loss of control, there were no casualties. The vessel was presumed a Total Loss.

Her final disposition remains undocumented, with no confirmed salvage, recovery, or wreck site discovered to date.

Located By & Date Found

Unlocated – as of current maritime archaeological databases and sonar mapping, no identification of this wreck has been made.

NOTMARs & Advisories

There are no currently active Notices to Mariners related to this wreck.

Resources & Links

Keywords & Categories

  • Keywords: Theodore W. Maurice, Lake Michigan shipwreck, 1850 Schooner sinking, Wind Point wreck
  • Categories: 19th Century Maritime History, Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Lake Michigan Disasters

Glossary Terms

  • Schooner: Sailing vessel with two or more masts used widely on the Great Lakes in the 19th century.
  • Brig: A two-masted vessel rigged square on both masts, occasionally used interchangeably in records for schooners.
  • Waterlogged: So saturated with water that buoyancy and handling are severely compromised.