1842 — Nov 15-18 Great Lakes Storm, maritime losses, especially Lake Erie — >65

–100 Mansfield 1899, Vol. 1, Chapter XXXVI [36], 1841-1850.
— 65 Maritime History of the Great Lakes.
— 8 “Brandywine (Schooner), aground, 15 Nov 1842.” At Dunkirk, NY.
— 6 “Caroline (Schooner), sunk?, 18 Nov 1842.”
— 6 “Detroit (Schooner), aground, 15 Nov 1842.” Lake Erie off Ontario Province, Can.
— 1 “Edwin Jenny (Schooner), aground, 15 Nov 1842.” Lake Erie, Canadian shore.
— 8 “Emily (Schooner), lost, 18 Nov 1842.” Capsized off Long Point, Can., Lake Erie.
— 9 “Jefferson (Schooner), aground, 18 Nov 1842.” Grounded, Buffalo, NY, Lake Erie.
— 2 Jena (Schooner). Out of Detroit, lost two men off Grand River, Lake Michigan.
— 6 “Liguire (Schooner), aground, 15 Nov 1842.” Point Abino, Canada side, Lake Erie.
— 2 “Merchant (Schooner), rudder damaged, 15 Nov 1842.” Fairport Hbr., NY, Lake Erie.
–10 “Milwaukie (Ship), aground, 18 Nov 1842.” Near Kalamazoo Riv., mouth, Lake MI.
— 7 “N. Hubbard (Schooner), aground, 15 Nov 1842.” Off Conneaut OH, Lake Erie.
— 63 Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, NY. “Losses By The November Gale.” 1-18-1843, p. 3.
— 8 Schooner Brandywine, ashore in Buffalo Bay, Lake Erie.
— 6 Schooner Caroline, missing on Lake Huron.
— 6 Schooner Detroit (missing).
— 1 Schooner E. Jenney, ashore near Point Abino, Ontario, Lake Erie.
— 8 Schooner Emily, British (missing).
— 9 Schooner Jefferson, ashore in Buffalo Bay, Lake Erie.
— 1 Schooner Juna (lost).
— 6 Schooner Ligure, ashore near Point Abino, Ontario, Lake Erie.
— 1 Schooner Merchant.
–10 Ship Milwaukie, ashore near Kalamazoo, MI, Lake Michigan.
— 7 Schooner N. Hubbard, near Conneaut, OH, Lake Erie.
— 4 Unnamed scow out of Port Byron, Lake Huron. (Not heard from by date of report.)

Narrative Information

Mansfield: “The Storm of November 18. The wind, which had been blowing from the west, turned to the southeast November 15, from which quarter it blew until November 17. At 7 P. M., November 17, the wind veered again to the west and began to blow with great force. At Buffalo the gale was accompanied by snow, which fell to the depth of 12 inches. The loss of property and life was great. The number of persons killed was estimated at 100, while about 50 wrecks were scattered over the Great Lakes. Eighteen vessels were driven ashore on the Canadian side of Lake Erie, and many more on the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Ontario. Many of the boats were total losses, with their cargoes, while some sustained only a partial loss or serious injury.” (Mansfield 1899, Vol. 1, Chapter XXXVI)

Newspapers

Nov 27: “Lake Erie. – The Sheriff yesterday went up on the beach, and took possession of the property wrecked. In the cabin of the schooner Brandywine was found the body of a passenger; the name on his linen is Otis Burton, Medina….Buffalo Courier.” (New York Herald. “Lake Erie.” 11-27-1842, p. 1, col. 5.)

Nov 28: “We gather the following additional particulars of the gale on Lake Erie from the Buffalo Morning Gazette of Monday [Nov 21 or 28].

“Friday last [Nov 18] was a most dismal day for the seamen on the Lakes. A severe snow storm, accompanied by a very heavy west wind, rendered it impossible for them to see more than the length of their vessels, and dangerous for them to venture on deck, without being lashed to the rigging.

“The steamboats Chautauque and Gen. Harrison entered our harbor between 2 and 3 o’clock on Sunday afternoon. Although the wind blew violently and the weather was extremely cold, a crowd of people collected on the wharf to see them round the lighthouse point. The Chautauque entered first, and although she had to labor hard against a heavy sea, she came in with no other damage than a few duckings [sic]. She had however been badly bruised and otherwise injured on her passage down. When she had fairly passed the point, and escaped all danger of the landing a shout of joy rose spontaneously from the assembled multitude.

“A letter from Dunkirk states that the schooner Brandywine entered that port on Thursday night [17th] and on Saturday morning she was missing. A large quantity of flour has come ashore at that place, and it is feared she is lost. The writer entertains a hope that she may have reached this port in safety. It is more than probable that she has become a prey to the contending elements. – A schooner (supposed to be the Barcelona), passed Dunkirk on Friday afternoon bound down. There was a report in town yesterday that the Barcelona was among the number wrecked on the Canadian shore, and that she lays about twenty miles up the lake.

“We fear that the worst of the tale is not yet told. The storm still continues (Sunday night) [Nov 20] with unabated fury. Of the number of lives which are lost, and the amount of property destroyed on the lakes, Heaven only knows. Let us hope for the best….” (Newburyport Herald, MA. “Disasters on Lake Erie.” 11-29-1842, p. 1, col. 5.)

Sources

Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, NY. “Losses By The November Gale.” 1-18-1843, p. 3. Accessed 12-2-2020 at: https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/details.asp?ID=46759

Mansfield, John Brandts (Ed. and Compiler). History of the Great Lakes (Vol. 1). Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co., 1899. Google digitized and accessed 12-2-2020 at: http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/documents/hgl/default.asp?ID=s036

Maritime History of the Great Lakes. “Brandywine (Schooner), aground, 15 Nov 1842.” Accessed 12-2-2020 at: https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/details.asp?ID=46762

Maritime History of the Great Lakes. “Caroline (Schooner), sunk?, 18 Nov 1842.” Accessed 12-2-2020 at: https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/52225/data?n=1

Maritime History of the Great Lakes. “Detroit (Schooner), aground, 15 Nov 1842.” Accessed 12-2-2020 at: https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/49158/data?n=15

Maritime History of the Great Lakes. “Edwin Jenny (Schooner), aground, 15 Nov 1842.” Accessed 12-2-2020 at: https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/49159/data?n=1

Maritime History of the Great Lakes. “Emily (Schooner), lost, 18 Nov 1842.” Accessed 12-2-2020 at: https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/46768/data?n=1

Maritime History of the Great Lakes. “Jefferson (Schooner), aground, 18 Nov 1842.” Accessed 12-2-2020 at: https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/46759/data?n=9

Maritime History of the Great Lakes. [Jena (Schooner).] Transcription from Buffalo Commercial of 11-25-1842. Accessed 12-2-2020 at: https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/21744/data?n=2

Maritime History of the Great Lakes. “Liguire (Schooner), aground, 15 Nov 1842.” Accessed 12-2-2020 at: https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/49144/data?n=1

Maritime History of the Great Lakes. “Merchant (Schooner), rudder damaged, 15 Nov 1842.” Accessed 12-2-2020 at: https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/49164/data?n=4

Maritime History of the Great Lakes. “Milwaukie (Ship), aground, 18 Nov 1842.” Accessed 12-2-2020 at: https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/49143/data?n=7

Maritime History of the Great Lakes. “N. Hubbard (Schooner), aground, 15 Nov 1842.” Accessed 12-2-2020 at: https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/49141/data?n=1

Milwaukee Sentinel, WI. “Terrible Gale.” 12-7-1842, p. 2, col. 2-3. Accessed 12-2-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/milwaukie-sentinel-dec-07-1842-p-2/

New York Herald. “Lake Erie.” 11-27-1842, p. 1, col. 5. Accessed 12-2-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-york-herald-nov-27-1842-p-1/

Newburyport Herald, MA. “Disasters on Lake Erie.” 11-29-1842, p. 1, col. 5. Accessed 12-2-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/newburyport-herald-nov-29-1842-p-1/