Built in 1842 as a wooden side-wheel steamboat by the Niagara Dock Company, Niagara for H. Richardson and others.
10 Sept. 1842 launched under the name CHIEF JUSTICE ROBINSON, named after Sir John Beverley Robinson (1791-1863), who became a Chief Justice and Speaker of the Canadian Legislative Council in 1829.
Tonnage 315 tons, dim.167 x 23 ft. (approx.), also given as 147 x 20 x 11ft.
Walking beam engine, ?.
Steam navigation came early to the Great Lakes. But the only obstacle was the short season, and from the beginning ships and ice were in conflict.
The CHIEF JUSTICE ROBINSON was a very early and reasonable successful vessel; she was designed with an ingenious form of hull, characterized by a plough-shaped ram, when sailing in ice would give the ice an upward thrust, then throw it outward on each side of the ram. She was not an icebreaker in modern terms. She was an very comfortable passenger vessel, used in a six-day service between Toronto and Niagara, spending a night at each end in turn. She tried to run all year. When not possible due to ice, her passengers were embarked/disembarked on the ice, and had to walk or were brought to the shore by horse cart.
1844 She was put on the Kingston-Oswego-Niagara service, but by strong competition Richardson was forced in bankruptcy.
1845 She was sold to A.Heron.
19 Nov. 1849 illegally confiscated re-alleged smuggling Lewiston, New York. The Captain himself had to travel to Washington to obtain withdrawal of charges, termed “frivolous”.
06 Feb. 1855 run ashore during fog on Long Branch, was refloated a few days later by WELLAND and ZIMMERMAN, but had to winter over nearby.
Feb. 1856 due to heavy ice was stuck in Toronto Bay most of the month.
1856 Sold to W.M.Browne & Co.
She was last used in 1856, then converted in a scow by Shickluna at St Catharines and renamed GLOBE.
Canada 1978 14c sg931, scott?
Source: http://www.hhpl.on.ca/GreatLakes/Docume ... sp?ID=c009
http://www.explorenorth.com/library/wee ... 52600a.htm
http://www.marmus. Mills Record. Ships of Canada by Thomas Appleton.