Captain William Wickham wrote a weekly column in the Geneva Gazette in 1816 and 1817. In Wickam’s Marine List, he tracked ships coming into and leaving Troupville (later to be renamed Sodus Point). In his write up, he identified the type of vessel (usually a schooner), its name, its Captain’s name, its cargo and where it was heading.
Here is a column from 1816:
We have ten of these columns from April – July 1817. The May 17th column is of significant nautical historic value because it shows that the first steamboat in regular service on the Great Lakes, stopped in Troupville on its maiden voyage. As an historian, I was surprised at the amount of boat traffic coming into Troupville less than 4 years after our village had been burned during the War of 1812. A special Thanks to Richard Palmer for sharing several of these publications.
Publication:
Geneva Gazette (Geneva, NY), 23 Apr 1817
Wickham’s
Marine List
PORT OF TROUPVILLE
ARRIVED – April 15 – Boat, Capt. Hubbard, with passengers, bound to Genesee River for freight.
Schooner Henrietta, Morgan, from Oswego, in freight.
CLEARED – Minerva, Snow, for Oswego, in ballast.
Publication:
Geneva Gazette (Geneva, NY), 30 Apr 1817
Wickham’s
Marine List.
Port Of Troupville
ARRIVED – April 20 — Schooner Julia, Capt. Whitney, from Oswego, in ballast.
21- Schooner Dove, Brockway, 3 hours from Pulteney-Ville, with Flour, Potatoes, Oats, &c. for Kingston.–Schr’ Lady Washington, Katen, ballast, from Gravel Point, bound to Genesee river.
23 – Schooner Minerva, Snow, from Oswego, bound to Genesee river, in the Offing, with salt.–Capt. Snow landed passengers at this place. Capt. Hasten left Sackett’s Harbor the 20th inst. and reports the Ice was still in the bay.
CLEARED–April 19–Schooner Henrietta, Kent for Kingston, with Flour. Schooner ——, from Genesee River, bound to Prescott; put in for a harbor.
22–Schooner Julia, Whitney, for Kingston, with Flour an
Publication:
Geneva Gazette (Geneva, NY), 14 May 1817
WICKHAM’S
Marine List
PORT OF TROUPVILLE
ARRIVED – May 1 – Schooner Julia, Whitney, from Kingston, in ballast.
2- Schr. Teazer, Reed, from Genesee river, in ballast.
3- Durham Boat, Lawrence, towed in, bound westward. Schr. Lark, M’Kie, from Sandy Creek, via Oswego, 5 days, with passengers.
4-Schr. Eunice, Capen, from Genesee river, with Flour for Prescott, put in for want of wind.
5-New Schr. Eunice, in ballast, from Oswego.
6- Schr. Geneva, May, 2 days from Niagara, in ballast. Schr. Olive Branch, Johnson, 3 days from Little York, in ballast.
CLEARED – May 1 – Schr. Laura, Fish, came down the Bay and went out.
2- Schr. Julia, Whitney, for Kingston, with Flour and Pork.
3-Schr. Oswegatchie, Holmes, with Flour and Pork for Kingston.
5- Schr. Bull-Dog, Hollister, for Kingston and Prescott, with Pork and Flour. Schr. Lark, M’Kie, with Flour, Pork and Cider, bound down the lake.
From Wikipedia:
Sources disagree as to which was the first steamboat on the Great Lakes. Some say it was the Canadian built Frontenac (170 feet), launched on September 7, 1816, at Ernestown, Ontario (about 18 miles from Kingston). Others say it was the U.S. built Ontario (110 feet), launched in the spring of 1817 at Sacketts Harbor, New York. It appears that while the Frontenac was launched first, the Ontario began active service first. The Ontario began its regular service in April, 1817, and the Frontenac made its first trip to the head of the lake on June 5.[1]
Based on the info above and below, it appears that the first steamboat in regular service on the Great Lakes stopped in Sodus Point on its maiden voyage on April 25, 1817 by Captain Malaby.
Publication:
Geneva Gazette (Geneva, NY), 17 May 1817
Wickham’s
Marine List
PORT OF TROUPVILLE.
ARRIVED – April 24 – Sloop Geneva, May, from Kingston, 2 days, with passengers. Schr. Sachem, Masters, 24 hours from Sacket’s Harbor, bound up the bay. Capt. Masters reports that the Ice left Sacket’s Harbor yesterday.
25 – Schooner Julia, Whitney, 1 day from Kingston, in ballast. The elegant new Steam Boat Ontario, Malaby, with 8 or 10 passengers, arrived at the wharf at 11 o.clock A.M. Left Sacket’s Harbor yesterday at 6 o’clock A.M. but did not clear the ice until 9 A.M. Arrived at Oswego at 3 P.M. Left Oswego early this morning. The Steam Boat will proceed to Genesee river this evening.
27 – New schooner Woolsey, Rounds, 1 day from Sacket’s Harbor, in ballast. Schooner Olive Branch, Johnson, from Kingston, bound to Yorkwith 56 passengers, which are part of a large number from New-York, who are proceeding to settle in Upper Canada, in consequence of grants of land from the British Government .
28 – Schr. Oswegatchie, Holmes, from Genesee river, in ballast. Capt. H.. reports the Steam Boat carried away one of her water wheels and put into Genesee river. Schooner Laura, Fish, from Niagara, bound up the bay.
29 – Schooner Bull-Dog, Hollister, 12 hours from Sandy Creek, ballast.
CLEARED – April 26 – Schr. Julia, Whitney, for Kingston, cargo Flour and Pork.
Publication:
Geneva Gazette (Geneva, NY), 21 May 1817
WICKHAM’S
Marine List
PORT OF TROUPVILLE
ARRIVED –May 9- Schr. Sachem, Masters, 4 days from Kingston, touched at the wharf, bound to Niagara. Capt. Masters reports the tonnage duty was taken off American vessels in the Upper province. The Sachem was surrounded by new ice in the Lake this morning. Several vessels in the offing.
10 – Schr. Farmer’s Daughter, Ingalls, fromSacket’s Harbor, 3 days with 12 passengers. Schr.Julia, Whitney, from Kingston, in ballast. Schr. —, from Sandy Creek, 3 days, for Genesee river, with lumber. Schr. Appalonia, Allen, fromHenderson’s harbor, 1 day, in ballast. Schr.Minerva, Snow, from Ogdensburg, in ballast. Schr. Northern Trader, Burr, from Sacket’s Harbor. Two British 8 oar’d Barges arrived last evening, engaged in a survey of the Coast. After taking the bearings and distances in the Bay, they proceeded up the Lake.
11 – Sloop Geneva, May, from Oswego, in ballast. Schr. Laura, Fish, from PulteneyVille, in ballast. Schr. Lady Washington, Katen, 7 days fromPrescott, in ballast. Schr. Sarah-Ann, Rogers, 2 days from Oswego. The Capt. of the Sarah-Ann has brought a copy of an official decree of the Court of of King’s Bench, dated Montreal, 19th April – wherein it is adjudged, that American property coming through the Upper province is not liable to seizure. The prospect for markets at Montreal was flattering, but the navigation had not opened. Schr. Olive Branch, Johnson, from Kingston, in ballast.
List of Vessels in Port, Monday, May 12
| Schr. Laura — | Fish. |
| Northern Trader, | Burr. |
| Woolsey, | Rounds. |
| Appalonia, | Allen. |
| Olive Branch, | Johnson. |
| Minerva, | Snow. |
| Julia, | Whitney. |
| Sachem, | Masters. |
| Union, | Inno. |
| Sarah-Ann, | Rogers. |
| Lady Washington, | Katen. |
| Sloop Geneva, | May. |
12 – Schrs. Levantia and Nancy put in last night, and went out this morning.
CLEARED – May 8- Schr. Olive Branch, Johnson, for Kingston, with flour.
10- Schr. Farmer’s Daughter, Ingalls, for Kingston, with flour.
13 – Lady Washington, Katen, for Genesee river. Schr. Olive Branch, Johnson, for Genesee river. Schr.Sachem, Masters, for Niagara.
Publication:
Geneva Gazette (Geneva, NY), 23 May 1817
WICKHAM’S
Marine List
PORT OF TROUPVILLE
ARRIVED – May 14 – Schr. President, larabee, from Genesee river, bound to Ogdensburg, with flour. The President last night in a gale threw over her deck load consisting of 105 barrels of flour. – Schr. Ontario, Hugunin, from Sacket’s Harbor, in ballast, bound to Pulteney-Ville. – Schr. Laura, Fish, from Pulteney Ville, for Ogdensburg, with flour – put in on account of the gale. – Schr. Mary, Trowbridge, from Oswego, has lumber and salt, bound to York. The Mary has 60 passengers from New-York bound to York in Upper Canada.
16 – Schr. Farmer’s Daughter, Ingalls, 3 days from Kingston, with passengers.
17 – Schr. Oswegatchie, Holmes, from Sacket’s Harbor, in ballast. – Schr. Nancy, Fairbanks, 5 days from Kingston, via Sacket’s Harbor.
18 – Steam Boat Ontario, Malaby, from Sacket’s Harbor, has about 25 passengers landed 6 or 8 at Oswego.
20 – Schr. Julia, Whitney, from Ogdensburg, in ballast.
CLEARED – May 11 – Schr. Laura, Fish, for Pulteney-Ville, ballast. – Schr. Minerva, Snow, for Ogdensburg, flour. – Schr. Julia, Whitney, for Ogdensburg, flour.
12 – Schr. Sarah-Ann, Rogers, for Genesee river, ballast.
13 – Schr. Bull-Dog, Hollister, for Ogdensburg, flour. – Schr. Northern Trader, Bunill, for Sacket’s Harbor, flour and meal.
14 – Schr. Ontario, Hugunin, for Pultney-Ville, ballast.
18 – Schr. Farmer’s Daughter, Ingalls, for Prescott, with flour.
19 – Steam Boat Ontario, left the wharf this morning for Genesee river. – Schr. Woolsey, Rounds, for Genesee river, ballast.
Publication:
Geneva Gazette (Geneva, NY), 4 Jun 1817
Wickham’s
Marine List.
Port Of Troupville
ARRIVED–May 21–Schr. Teazer, Reed 2 days from Prescott, in ballast.–Schr. Traveller, Gates, 2 days from Ogdensburgh, via Oswego, in ballast.
22–Steam Boat Ontario, Malaby, form Niagara, left that place on Tuesday evening, arrived at Genesee river on Wednesday 10 o’clock. P.M.–has freight and about 15 passengers.
23–Schr. Morning Star, Bush, 12 hours from Oswego, with 30 passengers, from New-York, bound to York in Upper Canada–cargo salt.
26–Schr. Henrietta, Kent, from Niagara for Oswego–put in in search of freight.
27–Schr. Sachem, Masters–came in and went up the bay.
CLEARED–May 21–Schr. Julia, Whitney, for Kingston, with Flour.
22–Schr. Appolonia, Allen, for Ogdensburgh, with Flour.
24–Schr. Morning Star, Bush, for York
Publication:
Geneva Gazette (Geneva, NY), 11 Jun 1817