W.G. BUCKNER (built 1837 – lost 28 September 1849)

Identification & Site Information

  • Name: W.G. Buckner (also reported as W.G. Bucknor)
  • Year Built: 1837 by Gershom Thayer, Irving, NY
  • Vessel Type: Wooden Schooner
  • Dimensions: approximately 75 ft (23 m) × 21 ft (6.4 m) × 7 ft (2.1 m); 107 tons (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Final Location: Approximately 6 miles off Ozaukee, Wisconsin, Lake Michigan (near Racine Reef/Milwaukee area)
  • Date Lost: 28 September 1849
  • Cause: Storm-induced leak and capsizing
  • Casualties: At least five fatalities; entire family aboard (wife + five children); survivors clung to wreck for over 24 hours (flybridge.proboards.com, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Vessel Type

A small to mid-sized wooden Schooner used primarily in the lumber trade—designed for coastal freight service on the Great Lakes.

Description

Built with a single Deck and two-mast sail rigging. She measured around 75 feet in length, with a beam of 21 feet and a depth of 7 feet, and registered at approximately 107 tons.

History

  • 1837: Constructed at Irving, NY for lumber transport operations.
  • Pre-1849: Active in Lake Michigan freight trade, including hauling lumber.
  • September 1849: Caught in a violent gale off the Wisconsin coast. She sprang a leak before ultimately capsizing, breaking apart, and sinking. Five individuals perished (paper unclear, at least that many), including the owner’s wife and three of their children. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, flybridge.proboards.com)

Final Disposition

After capsizing, survivors remained aboard the partially submerged wreck for over 24 hours before rescue. The family of the owner was largely lost. The vessel itself sank and was lost.

Located By & Date Found

No formal archaeological survey of the wreck site is recorded. It remains uncharted, though debris washed ashore following the wrecking.

NOTMARs & Advisories

None exist, as the wreck occurred before navigational advisory systems were established.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The tragic wreck of the W.G. Buckner in September 1849 serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers faced by small sailing schooners during Great Lakes storms. The capsizing, high personal toll, and lengthy ordeal for survivors underscore both the unpredictable nature of autumn gales and the vulnerability of timber-built vessels. Though never located, her story contributes significantly to local maritime history.

Keywords

  • Wooden Schooner, lumber transport
  • 1849 Lake Michigan storm
  • Racine Reef wreck
  • Maritime disaster, capsizing
  • Great Lakes 19th-century shipping
  • Family tragedy at sea