Henry Newton Quiner, 2nd Mate of Schooner 'Ocean'

Father of Caroline Quiner Ingalls, grandfather of Laura Ingalls Wilder

I have record of the loss of the schooner OCEAN, November 10, 1845 (note date) off St. Joseph, Mich. All hands were lost, but only some names were given: Master: Capt. McGregor [1st name not given], married with one child, lived in Milwaukee. 1st mate: Russell [1st name not given], lived in Milwaukee, married with one child 2nd mate: Quiner [1st name not given], lived in Milwaukee, married with 5 or 6 children 2 sailors, names not given cabin boy (Irish), name not given, sole support of his mother in Milwaukee The presence of a cabin boy was unusual on a Great Lakes ship, especially on so small a vessel.

The schooner was a small two-master registered out of Mackinac Island, Michigan and owned by G. D. Dousman, Milwaukee. She was found on the date above 6 miles north of St. Joseph, Michigan and two miles offshore by the steamer CHAMPION, apparently having been wrecked by capsizing and then righting again. Her lifeboat and gear were gone and the ship was a complete wreck, though she did not sink because of her lumber cargo.

I have a few small news clippings originating in Milwaukee, Detroit and Buffalo regarding the loss and will send you copies or transcriptions if you wish. Since the owner and at least some of the crew were from Milwaukee, Milwaukee newspapers may also have something.

The schooner was built in 1836 at Swan Creek, Michigan, and was 42.66 register tons, making her rather small for her era. She was a two-master 55 ft., 5 inches length of keel; 17 ft 4 inches beam and 5 ft, 7 inches depth of hold. There is no official record of what happened to her after the accident, as she drops off the ship registry. She was probably a total loss.

Detroit Advertiser November 10, 1845

Capt. Ward of the CHAMPION, sends the following memorandum of disasters on Lake Michigan: The sloop JAMES K. POLK, with 7 persons on board, left St. Joseph on Sunday morning last, for Chicago, with a load of lumber. She has not been heard from since, and is supposed to be lost with all on board. The schooner OCEAN, of Mackinac, was visited this morning by the steamer CHAMPION, about 6 miles north of St. Joseph, and 2 miles from shore. She is a complete wreck having lost her boat and davits, carried away her mainmast, her sails torn into rags, hatches off, and lumber in the hold. There were no persons on board, and it is supposed that the crew were all lost. She had the appearance of having been capsized and righted again.

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Daily National Pilot, Buffalo November 22, 1845

In the loss of the Schooner OCEAN, four of our citizens have passed from time to eternity. Just before the OCEAN sailed from this port, Capt. McGregor came to our office, subscribed for our paper, and with boyancy of health and spirits good humeredly contrasted the varied and exciting life of a sailor with the monotony of a printer's existence, and his hearty laugh and jovial voice still ring in our ears. He has left a wife and 1 child. The Mate, Mr. Russel, has also left a wife and child. The second mate, Quiner, has left a wife and 5 or 6 children to mourn his loss. The cabin boy, an Irish lad, has left a mouther who was partially dependent upon him for support. We hope the tears of widows and orphans will incite goverment to some action in favor of our Lake harbors. - Milwaukee Gazette.

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Daily National Pilot, Buffalo July 7, 1845

THE MILWAUKEE FLEET What may be the above vessel is taken from a "List Of Vessels Engaged Directly In The Trade Of Milwaukee," in all 26 sail vessels: " Schooner OCEAN, 60 tons, owned by G.D. Dousman."

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Buffalo Republic Wednesday, February 9, 1848

VESSELS WRECKED ON LAKE MICHIGAN. The Chicago Journal gives the following statement, showing the number of vessels lost on Lake Michigan; their value, and the value of their cargoes when known; and the number of lives lost, from 1824 to 1847. Schooner LAWRENCE, 1824. $3,000 Schooner RED JACKET, 1826. 2,000 (here follows an interval of 7 years during which vessels must have been lost; but the record is not found.) Schooner ERIE PACKET, Dec. 1833 1,500 Schooner PRINCE EUGENE, Oct. 1834 27,000 Steamboat NEWBURYPORT, Oct. 1834 15,000 Steamboat PIONEER, Aug. 1834 10,000 Schooner name forgotten, 1835 2,000 Green Bay. Schooner UTICA, 1835 7,000 Schooner CHANCE, Nov. 1835 7 lives 2,000 Schooner BRIDGET, Nov. 1835 16 lives 5,000 Schooner SLOAN, Nov. 1835 6 lives 3,000 Steamboat DELAWARE, Apr. 1835 20,000 Sloop CLARISSA, Nov. 1836 1,500 Schooner CHICAGO, Oct. 1836 8,000 Schooner AUSTERLITZ, Oct. 1836 12,000 vessel and goods Schooner OHIO, Oct. 1837 6,000 Schooner LaPORTE, Oct. 1838 3,000 Schooner THOS. RICHMOND, Oct. 1838 6,000 Schooner LaFAYETTE, Oct. 1838 3,000 Schooner WHITE PIGEON, Nov. 1839 3,000 Brig JOHN KENZIE, Nov. 1839 3,000 Steamboat DETROIT, Aug. 1839 20,000 Schooner VIRGINIA, Nov. 1839 7,000 wheat Steamboat TAYLOR, Oct. 1840 8,000 Steamboat CHAMPLAIN, May 1840 10,000 Schooner NEPTUNE, Nov. 1840 24 lives 15,000 goods Schooner CINCINNATI Oct. 1840 1,500 Schooner JEFFERSON Apr. 1840 1,800 Schooner HURON Oct. 1840 2,000 Schooner POST BOY Oct. 1841 13 lives 1,000 goods Sloop SPITFIRE Oct. 1841 500 Schooner ONEIDA Nov. 1841 20,000 wheat Schooner BANCROFT Nov. 1842 4,000 Ship MILWAUKEE Nov. 1842 9 lives 10,000 Ship FLORIDA, Nov. 1842 4,000 Brig COLUMBUS, Nov. 1842 12,000 wheat Brig HUMMINGBIRD. May 1843 6 lives 1,000 Schooner HARRIET, May 1843 8 lives 2,500 Schooner MINERVA SMITH, May 1844 1,000 Schooner WAVE, March 1844 5 lives 1,000 Schooner VICTORY, March 1844 7 lives 2,000 Schooner WHITNEY, Aug. 1844 6 lives 2,000 Ship SUPERIOR, Sept. 1845 5,000 Schooner JACOB BARKER, Nov. 1845 2,000 Brig OLIVER, Nov. 1845 2,000 Schooner OCEAN, Apr. 1845 6 lives 1,000 Schooner SAVANNAH, Apr. 1845 5,000 Schooner JEFFERSON, Apr. 1845 4,500 Brig INDIANA, Oct. 1845 4,000 Schooner SWIFT, Oct. 1845 600 Brig ROSA, Oct. 1845 8,000 Schooner MARGARET HELM Nov. 1845 1,500 Steamboat BOSTON, Nov. 1846 70,000 Sloop JAMES K. POLK Nov. 1846 1,000 Schooner