HMS General Hunter Project -- Southampton
HMS General Hunter's hull as excavated in 2004.
GPS: N 44° 29' 42" W 81° 22' 40"
Civic Address: 51-99 Huron Street, Saugeen Shores, Ontario N0H 2L0 (approx)
Website: www.generalhunter.ca
Directions: From the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre; turn Left (southwest) on Victoria Street N; turn Right (west) on High St; take the 3rd Left onto Huron St S; destination on the Right.
Description: The HMS General Hunter was a 10-gun brig of the Royal Navy. Her crew complement was 45 and her armament was four 6-pounder long guns; two 4-pounder long guns; two 2-pounder long guns; and two 12-pounder carronades. She was launched at Amherstburg in 1807 and served on the Upper Lakes. In 1813 she took part in the Battle of Lake Erie and was captured along with the rest of the squadron.
After the war her name was shortened to Hunter, and she was purchased by the US Army as a transport vessel. On August 19, 1816 a major Lake Huron storm pushed the Hunter ashore and wrecked it on a remote Canadian beach. The crew of eight and two young passengers survived and rowed/sailed the ship's boat down the lake to Detroit.
Civic Address: 51-99 Huron Street, Saugeen Shores, Ontario N0H 2L0 (approx)
Website: www.generalhunter.ca
Directions: From the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre; turn Left (southwest) on Victoria Street N; turn Right (west) on High St; take the 3rd Left onto Huron St S; destination on the Right.
Description: The HMS General Hunter was a 10-gun brig of the Royal Navy. Her crew complement was 45 and her armament was four 6-pounder long guns; two 4-pounder long guns; two 2-pounder long guns; and two 12-pounder carronades. She was launched at Amherstburg in 1807 and served on the Upper Lakes. In 1813 she took part in the Battle of Lake Erie and was captured along with the rest of the squadron.
After the war her name was shortened to Hunter, and she was purchased by the US Army as a transport vessel. On August 19, 1816 a major Lake Huron storm pushed the Hunter ashore and wrecked it on a remote Canadian beach. The crew of eight and two young passengers survived and rowed/sailed the ship's boat down the lake to Detroit.
US Brig Niagara
Similar in design to the Hunter
The Hunter lay buried under the beach sand before it's timbers were discovered pushing up through the sand. The ship was fully excavated in 2004, all artifacts removed and then the hull was reburied to protect the timbers. Some of the artifacts, including a unique swivel cannon found on the wreck, can be seen in an exhibit at the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre in Southampton with the remainder undergoing conservation treatment ultimately to return to join the exhibition.
In 2006 low water levels again threatened to uncover the timbers and a breakwater was built to protect the ships remains from water damage until a full hull excavation can be undertaken.
In 2006 low water levels again threatened to uncover the timbers and a breakwater was built to protect the ships remains from water damage until a full hull excavation can be undertaken.
