Identification & Site Information

Vessel Name: Wm. LEWIS (also “Lewis, William”)
Year Built: 1855
Official Number: 26245
Built At: Oswego, NY (by G. R. Rogers)
Original Owners: William Lewis & Charles Parker, Oswego, NY (ead.ohiolink.edu)

Vessel Type

Two‑masted Brigantine, later re‑rigged as a Schooner in 1870 (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, JC National Archives)

Dimensions & Tonnage

Reported at 238 gross tons after enrollment at Port Huron in 1882; earlier listing tonnage ~315 (old style) capacity ~15,000 bushels (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Enrolled dimensions (1882): 128.7 × 25.4 × 9.9 ft (LOA × beam × depth) (KehilaLinks, JC National Archives)

Construction & Configuration

All‑wood construction, single Deck vessel, adapted to both bow‑Centerboard design and later Schooner rig (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

History

Operational Chronology:

Home Ports: Detroit in the 1860s, Buffalo during the late‑1870s into 1880s; enrolled at Port Huron, MI in 1882 (KehilaLinks, JC National Archives)

Final Disposition & Sinking

In July 1878, while moored in Buffalo’s Blackwell Canal, the Wm. Lewis was scuttled to avoid constant pumping. She slipped into deeper water during the night, dragging along and smashing the jibboom of the neighboring Schooner Sasco. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, KehilaLinks)

No record of salvage or re‑entry exists; she disappears from formal vessel lists after approximately 1883 (KehilaLinks, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).

Crew and Casualties

No documented loss of life is associated with this scuttling event. No crew manifest or fatality records have been found.

Wreck & Dive Information

Wreck Location: Reportedly lies toward deeper portion of Blackwell Canal (Buffalo, NY); not confirmed as a maritime hazard or marked in later Notitia to Mariners publications. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, KehilaLinks)

Site Condition: Likely collapsed wooden Hull fragments, jibboom debris—but not formally surveyed or explored by archaeologists.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No official hazard bulletins or maritime advisories recorded—incident appears to have been local and non-navigational impact only.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

Wm. Lewis (built 1855) exemplifies a mid‑19th‑century Great Lakes Brigantine/Schooner that remained in trade for over two decades, undergoing multiple repairs, re‑rigging, and ownership transfers. Her intentional sinking in 1878 appears procedural rather than catastrophe-driven. The absence of fatalities or insurance/legal records suggests a controlled decommission. From an archaeological standpoint, her remains—if located—could yield insights into mid‑19th‑century canal mooring practices and vessel abandonment.

Research Gaps & Next Steps

  • Full crew and command roster remains undocumented; search in local port registers (Detroit, Buffalo) advised.
  • No known physical dive or sonar survey confirms location. A targeted ROV or sonar scan of the Blackwell Canal could clarify presence and preservation.
  • Check National Archives or Buffalo public records for canal authority logs or insurance registers.
  • Local newspapers post‑1878 may include salvage notices, legal disputes, or insurance claims.