Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Barclay
  • Type: Scow Schooner
  • Year Built: 1857
  • Builder: Disputed — J. McDermot or Sylvester Larned
  • Location Built: Detroit, Michigan
  • Official Number: 26834

Vessel Measurements

  • Length: 72.7 ft (22.2 m)
  • Beam: 18.8 ft (5.7 m)
  • Depth: 5 ft (1.5 m)
  • Tonnage (Old Measurement): 69 tons
  • Gross Tonnage (1866): 53.23 tons
  • Decks: 1
  • Masts: 2
  • Construction: Wood

Vessel Type

The Barclay was a wooden scow Schooner — a flat-bottomed sailing vessel with squared-off ends, ideally suited for hauling bulk materials in shallow harbours and rivers throughout the Great Lakes. These vessels were integral to local freight trade, particularly in lumber and construction goods.

Ownership History

  • 1860: Owned by J. McAllister, Detroit, MI
  • 1863: Whitney & Sims, Lakeport, MI
  • 1866: F. Mannel, Port Huron, MI
  • Oct 26, 1866: Enrolled at Port Huron; owned by Nelson Little & William Brown

Final Disposition

  • Date Lost: February 15, 1868
  • Location: Unknown (assumed lost somewhere on the Great Lakes)
  • Cause: Unknown — no documented wreck or casualty records
  • Document Surrendered: December 17, 1878, at Port Huron, MI, endorsed as “Lost”

Located By & Date Found

  • Not Found — No known location or archaeological recovery of the wreck exists.

NOTMARs & Advisories

  • None noted.

Current Condition & Accessibility

  • No accessible wreck site or remains are confirmed. Presumed lost in open water or deteriorated beyond recognition.

Conclusion

The Barclay represents the unglamorous but vital merchant vessels that sustained 19th-century lake commerce. With multiple owners and over a decade of service, its disappearance without incident or record exemplifies the quiet losses common in the period. It remains one of many under-documented shipwrecks on the Great Lakes.

Resources & Links

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

Scow Schooner, Barclay, Great Lakes shipwreck, Detroit shipbuilding, Port Huron, lost vessel, 1860s shipwreck, Lakeport Michigan, maritime history, shallow Draft vessels, bulk cargo Schooner.