1881 Georgian Bay Shipwreck Found with Corpses

On November 25, 1881 the ship "Jane Miller" was reported missing on a passage between Collingwood Ontario and Manitoulin Island. The wreck of that ship has just been found - mostly intact - and with human remains.

Here is one of several newspaper announcements at the time

 

Markdale Standard (Markdale, Ont.1880 ), 9 Dec 1881, p. 2

Names from the newspaper article: 

Crew: A. Port, R. Port, F. Port, J. Christian, Alex. Seales, Gilbert Corbet + 3 deckhands

Passengers: J. B. Hallock, S. Thompson, J. Walker, Mr. Jestin, L. Vader, J. Gillespie, Capt. Malcolm McLeod, M. Hill, L. Butchart and wife + 10 labourers

Another newspaper account provides these names of the lost:

A Port, owner, R. D. Port, captain,.F. Port purser, all of Wiarton. J. Christison engineer, Red Bay; Alex. Scales, wheelsman, Keppel; Gilbert Corbet, fireman, Owen Sound; four deck hands, names unknown, J. Jestin, Port Elgin; J. Holeek, S. Thompson, of Meaford, I Hutshart and wife, Tobermorry; R. Gillespie; Jas. Hope, Sydenham; Capt. McLeod, Goderich; Mr. Hill, Collingwood Township. 

The names of the others are not known but they were a number of labourers engaged in work at Watt's mill, Lion's Head and McLandress shanty Tobennorry.  [Source: http://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/59542/data]

Continue reading the full story on The National Post's story: Georgian Bay shipwreck from 1881 found mostly intact with possible human remains on board

Rescued Funeral Card Louis Burmister age 22

Original Funeral Card owned by Lorine McGinnis Schulze

This is another rescued Funeral Card. Louis Burmister was a young man with his whole life ahead of him when he died in 1886.

His Funeral Card reads:

Died at Collingwood on Monday June 21st, 1886, Louis Burmister, aged 22 years and 9 months.

Funeral will leave the family residence, Cedar Street on Thursday June 24th at 1:30 p.m for the Dunkerd Cemetery.

After rescuing this card from a flea market I wanted to give Louis a voice. I began my search at Ancestry. 9 year old Lewis (sic) is found in the 1871 census for Puslinch Township Wellington County Ontario with his rather large family of parents Ludwig (54) and Fredericka (33) and his 5 siblings ages 2 to 13.

Anyone interested in having this Funeral Card can contact me by leaving a comment on this blog post. Be sure to provide your email address.