1829.

First Passage Through the Welland Canal. -- A notable event took place late in the year 1829, that of communication between the upper and lower lakes, by the passage of an American and British vessel from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie. These were the Jane and Ann, British, and the R. H. Boughton, American. The Welland canal at this period was completed as far as Port Robinson on the Chippewa river, through which they passed to the Niagara river, and were thence towed by horses to Lake Erie. A party of gentlemen were on either vessel with music and artillery to celebrate the event. They arrived at Black Rock December 2.

Other Events of 1829. -- There was built at Bath, on the Bay of Quinte, the steamer Sir James Kempt, which attained a speed of about 12 miles per hour. March 28: Ice thickest at Buffalo since 1806. April 23: Ice leaves the lake at Erie. May 14: Navigation opened at Buffalo by the steamboat Pioneer, cleared for Dunkirk: 20, steamboat Wm. Peacock, in command of Captain Hanson, arrives at Buffalo on her maiden trip: 24, steamboat Pioneer disabled on Lake Erie. June 1: Steamboat Winnebago Chief launched at Green Bay. October 4: Steamboat Pioneer in command of Capt. J. Naper, sunk at Black Rock, by collision with an icebreaker. November 23: Schooner Dunkirk, in command of Capt. G. Patterson, wrecked above Cattaraugus creek; vessel and cargo a total loss; packet Conneaught, Captain Appleby, ashore above Erie; Schooner Fair Play, Captain Fitch, totally wrecked near Cattaraugus creek; schooner Young Lion, Captain Burnet, ashore at Portland: schooner Morning Star, Captain Tubbs, wrecked on Lake Erie: 23, schooner Gueriere, Captain Wadsworth, sustained injuries near Port Albino: schooner Detroit, damaged during a storm on Lake Huron: schooner Liberty, Captain Macaby, ashore at point on Plait island, finally drifted and sank: schooner Maria Antoinette, aground near Sandusky, losing greater part of cargo: steamboat Wm. Penn, disabled, and taken to Fairport: schooner Macedonian, Captain Foster, wrecked at East Sister island: crew rescued by the schooner Minerva, and brought to Cleveland. November 12: Lighthouse pier at Buffalo destroyed by a severe storm; 31, eighteen hundred arrivals and departures at Buffalo during the season.

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Volume II

Some of the transcription work was also done by Brendon Baillod, who maintains an excellent guide to Great Lakes Shipwreck Research.