The Identity and Construction of Wreck Baker: A War of 1812 Era Royal Navy Frigate
Daniel Robert Walker
Thesis: December 2006
Chair: Crisman
Nautical Archaeology Program
The aim of this thesis is
to determine the identity of a wooden warship from the War of 1812
located at the bottom of a shallow bay near Kingston, Ontario. An
archaeological survey of the wreck, designated 'Wreck Baker' was
undertaken by the author in 2000. Using the archaeological
information gathered in conjunction with historical research at the
National Archives of Canada and in secondary sources, Wreck Baker will
be identified as Priness Charlotte.
On Christmast Day 1814 the frigate HMS Psyche
splashed into the ice cold waters of Lake Ontario to take part in a war
that had ended one day earlier with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent.
The Psyche's launch was the fourh of the year, following the frigates HMS Princess Charlotte, HMS Prince Regent, launched together April 14, and the First Rate HMS St. Lawrence
launched on September 10th. Three of the four ships launched
during 1814 now rest at the bottom of Lake Ontario. Two of the
wrecks have been identified as St. Lawrence and Prince Regent,
the largest ships built by the Royal Navy at Kingston. The size
and construction of the third wreck provide important clues to its
identity. This wreck, called both Wreck Baker and Deadman Bay II
by previous investigators, is located, along with Prince Regent
(Wreck Able, Deadman Bay I) on the bottom of Deadman Bay at the
north-east corner of Lake Ontario, near Kingston, Ontario.
In the summer of 2000 an archaeological survey was undertaken with the
aim of recording and understanding the unique construction of Wreck
Baker in order to conclusively identify it. Understanding the
construction of Wreck baker required dives into both Lake Ontario and
the National Archives of Canada. The work in Lake Ontario
provided insight into how th ship was built and the archival work
provided the historical context that explains the ship's novel
construction. Together the archaeological and historical records
allowed Wreck Baker to be conclusively identified as Princess Charlotte.