Early American Vessels on Lake Ontario

 Oswego Commercial Times

February 11, 1859

Early Navigation on Lake Ontario

At the conclusion of the war of 1812, the numerous sail craft constructed for naval purposes were converted into a commercial marine, and immediately after the application of steam to navigation, which had already assumed importance on the Hudson, began to be applied to the lakes. In the fall of 1815, a grant was obtained from the executors of Robert Fulton and others, who held the right of steamboat navigation in the State by act of the Legislature, by parties for the privileges to navigate Lake Ontario by steam. It was stipulated that but one boa should be employed at a time on any one route, without the consent of the granters, and until the net proceeds of the one boat should exceed 20 per cent per annum. The granters paid $10 on the execution of the agreement and covenanted to pay annually—deducting $1500 from the gross receipts each year, and the expenses of the boat—one half received where it per cent on the investment. The $1500 was to constitute a sinking fund for rebuilding the boat.

In 1817, the new steamer, called the “Ontario,” was completed and performed her first trip, being everywhere greeted with the most lively demonstrations of joy. On her first arrival in Oswego, the “handful” of inhabitants then residing here, turned out en masse, and the occasion was honored with a general jubilee. On the whole route bonfires, illuminations, and mutual congratulations of friends bespoke the satisfaction with which this achievement was regarded and the event was hailed as a new era in the commerce of the lakes. Weekly trips from Ogdensburgh to Lewiston were first attempted but on the first of July, the owners advertised, that finding the trip of about 600 miles, too extensive to be performed within that time, it would be altered to ten days. The fare through was fixed at $15. Capt. Francis Mallaby, U.S. N. was her first mate. The “Ontario” continued to run, seldom exceeding five miles an hour, until 1832, when she was broken up at Oswego

The “Ontario” was not only the first steamer on the lakes, but the first built on water subject to a swell, and determined the interesting problem that steamboats were adapted to the navigation of open seas, as well as the rivers. The “Frontenac” was built soon after, at Kingston [sic], and the next season the first steamer appeared on Lake Erie.

The “Martha Ogden” was built in 1819, at Sackets Harbor, and continued in use until 1832, when she went ashore and was lost. She was commanded by Capt. Wm. Vaughan.

The “Sophia,” “Robins,” “Black Hawk,” (afterward the “Dolphin”), “Brownville” (afterwards the “Wm. Avery,”) “Charles Carroll,” (afterwards the “Amelia” [sic: America]) and “Paul Pry,” were steamers on the lake, built at an early period, and previous to 1834.

On the 28th of January, 1831, the old Ontario and St. Lawrence Steamboat Company was incorporated by the Legislature, with a capital of $100,000. The Company built the steamer “United States,” which for size and accommodations far surpassed any boat that had been previously run. She was launched at Ogdensburgh in November, 1831, and came out the following season under command of Capt. Elias Trowbridge.—Her dimensions were 142 feet long, 24 feet beam, and 10 feet depth of hold. Her engines were low pressure, with a 40 inch cylinder and 8 foot stroke. She continued running till 1843, when she was broken up at Oswego and her engines transferred to the “Rochester.” She did not venture down the St. Lawrence after 1838, having become obnoxious to the Canadians from the part she took in the Patriot War.

In 1833 the “Oswego” was built, in this city. Tonnage 265 tons. After running six years her engines were transferred to the “St. Lawrence.”

“Jack Downing,” built at Carthage in 1834, and drawn on wheels to Sackets Harbor—very small.

“Oneida,” of 227 tons, built at Oswego in 1836. She was owned by Henry Fitzburgh, of this city, and parties in Ogdensburgh. In 1840 she was fitted up as a sail vessel, and lost on Lake Erie.

“Telegraph,” 196 tons built at Dexter in 1836. She was afterwards changed to a sail vessel and burnt on Lake St. Clair.

“Express,” built at Pultneyville in 1839; H. N. Trhroop master and part owner. Laid up in 1850.

“St. Lawrence,” 402 tons, enrolled at Oswego in1839; rebuilt in 1844, and increased to 434 tons; cost $90,000. Laid up at Clayton in 1850. Length 180 feet, beam 23 feet, hold 11 feet.

“George Clinton,” small boat, built at Oswego about 1842; wrecked some four or five years since. She ran for several seasons between Oswego and Port Ontario, under command of Capt. Chapman.

“President,” was built from a small canal boat about the year 1842, and hailed, we believe from Texas. She was commanded by Capt. Irons.

“John Marshall” a small steamer, wrecked off Sandy Creek, October 18th, 1844. Several other boats of minor class, have at various times run upon the lake.

About 1842 a stock company was formed at Oswego, and the same year built the “Lady of the Lake,” of 423 tons, which was run on the line until 1852, when she was sold as a ferry between Cape Vincent and Kingston. She was the first boat on the lakes with state rooms on the upper deck.

The “Rochester” was built at Oswego, by the same company, in 1843, 354 tons, and run on the line till 1848.

The “Niagara,” of 433 tons, built at French Creek, by the present Ontario Steamboat Company.

The “Cataract,” built at Clayton, 577 tons, came out in 1847, under command of Capt. Van Cleve.

The “Ontario,” 900 tons, was built at Clayton in 1847, at a cost of $80,000. The “Bay State” 935 tons, was built at Clayton, and came out in June, 1849.

The “Northerner”, 965 tons, was built in this city, and came out in May, 1850.

The “New York,” 994 tons, was built at Clayton, and came out in 1852.

In the meantime the steam tonnage of the screw wheel system has become of immense magnitude. The propeller “Vandalia” Capt. Rufus Hawkins, built by Sylvester Doolittle and partners, about the year 1841, at Oswego, was the pioneer of this useful and now important branch of our lake marine. This was the first screw wheel steamer ever built upon fresh water, and her success was equal to the expectations of her owners. The “Vandalia” run between this port and Chicago, and did a large and successful business in carrying passengers and freight. She was finally sold to parties in Canada, and was lost by collision with a vessel.

The “Oswego,” built by the same parties, came out in the following spring, with such improvement was were suggested by experience. About the year 1853 she was rebuilt into a schooner called the Roman, which was lost last fall on Lake Erie.

The “Chicago” came out soon afterwards, and in ’45 was sold and went on to Lake Superior.

The “Racine” and “New York” were the next propellers of this line. They were run upon the lakes for number of years, and finally transferred to Lake Champlain.

An early history of sail vessels, could it be traced, would be fully an interesting as that of our steam marine. Before the construction of the Welland Canal, our vessels were of small tonnage, and of course traded exclusively on Lake Ontario and the Upper St. Lawrence. The following is a list of the American Fleet on Lake Ontario in 1818, forty one years ago:

Steamboat	Ontario	Sackets Harbor	244 tons
"	Sophia	"	50 "
Schooner	Eckford	"	130 "
"	Ontario	"	87 "
"	Sachem	"	85 "
"	Julia	"	63 "
"	Lady Washington	"	49 "
"	Woolsey	"	40 "
"	Comet	"	30 "
"	Appalona	"	35 "
"	Farmer's Daughter	"	35 "
"	Munroe	"	28 "
"	Triumph	"	28 "
"	Phoenix	"	22 "
"	Kingston Packet	"	25 "
"	Northern Trader	"	25 "
Sloop	Acadia	"	43 "
Schooner	Swallow	Henderson	30 "
"	Bethia	"	27 "
"	Plough Boy	Salmon River	35 "
"	Independence	"	40 "
"	President	"	25 "
"	Bull Dog	"	25 "
"	Oswegatchie	Ogdensburgh	55 "
"	Genesee Packet	"	60 "
"	Charles and Ann	Oswego	110 "
"	Mary	"	80 "
"	Betsey	"	65 "
"	"	"	62 "
"	Niagara	"	62 "
"	Minerva	"	62 "
"	Julia	"	50 "
"	New Haven	"	42 "
"	Henrietta	"	35 "
"	Morning Star	"	35 "
"	" Trader	"	30 "
"	Sally Ann	"	29 "
"	Black Bear	"	26 "
Sloop	Geneva	"	35 "
Schooner	General Brown	Sodus	80 "
"	Olive Branch	"	35 "
"	Java	"	32 "
"	Nancy	Pultneyville	35 "
"	Laura	"	40 "
"	Mary	Genesee River	55 "
"	Clarissa	"	35 "
"	Mulany	"	31 "
"	Levantha	"	31 "
"	Crazy Jane	Niagara	25 "

Total 40 vessels, 2443 tons

During the war of 1812, the “Eckford,” in the above list, was one of the Government vessels, and carried about six guns. She was subsequently cut down, and employed in the commercial marine. At this early period, Sackets harbor was one of the most important ports on the American shore of Lake Ontario, and it will be see that her lake tonnage exceeded that of Oswego.