A powerful Nor'easter battering the Massachusetts coast has uncovered wooden shipwreck fragments on Nantucket’s south shore, likely linked to the 1884 sinking of the Warren Sawyer, a three-masted schooner. The discovery follows earlier finds in 2022 and early 2023, which researchers previously identified as most likely belonging to the same vessel.
Core developments:
- Newly exposed wreckage emerged on Point of Breakers beach after the storm, matching the location of fragments found in December 2022.
- Experts confirm the Warren Sawyer as the most probable source of the wreckage, though further investigation is required for definitive identification.
Immediate Impact and Discovery
On Saturday, Jason Graziadei, editor-in-chief of the Nantucket Current, documented the newly visible wooden timbers jutting from the sand near Point of Breakers. Graziadei, who was covering the storm, received a tip from island resident David DeHart, who had initially spotted the wreckage in 2022. The exposed hull-like structure aligns with the location of prior discoveries, according to Graziadei.
In February 2023, additional wreckage was found approximately half a mile west of the initial site, further supporting the hypothesis that the remains belong to the Warren Sawyer. The schooner sank on December 22, 1884, while en route from New Orleans to Boston, carrying 1,115 bales of cotton and 28 tons of scrap metal.
Expert Confirmation and Ongoing Research
Researchers from the Massachusetts Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources, the Egan Maritime Institute, and the Nantucket Historical Association conducted a joint investigation in 2022–2023. Their analysis of archival records, photographs, and archaeological evidence concluded that the wreckage was “most likely” from the Warren Sawyer.
David Robinson, director and chief archaeologist for the Massachusetts Board, stated in a 2023 report that the team assembled historical, photographic, and archaeological data to determine the wreck’s origin. The Warren Sawyer’s cargo manifest and wreck location matched the recovered fragments, though Robinson noted that historical research often involves inherent uncertainties.
Jascin N. Leonardo Finger, deputy director of the Maria Mitchell Association, emphasized in an email that while the newly exposed remnants may belong to the Warren Sawyer, additional investigation is necessary to confirm their origin. The Massachusetts Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources did not respond to requests for comment on Sunday.
Historical Context of the Warren Sawyer
The Warren Sawyer was a three-masted wooden schooner that wrecked during a storm on the night of December 22, 1884. According to local newspaper The Inquirer and Mirror, the crew and captain were rescued within hours, and much of the cargo was salvaged by islanders in the days following the disaster. The ship’s cargo—cotton and scrap metal—was valued at the time, reflecting the commercial trade routes of the era.
The wreck’s rediscovery in 2022 and 2023, followed by the latest exposure, has provided researchers with opportunities to study 19th-century maritime construction techniques and the environmental impact of storms on coastal archaeological sites. The periodic reemergence of the wreckage highlights the dynamic nature of Nantucket’s shoreline, shaped by erosion and severe weather events.