Description
The sinking of HMS Speedy in 1804 off Presqu'ile Point was more than a tragic loss of the twenty souls on board-it had shocking and far-reaching repercussions for the young colony of Upper Canada.
At the centre of it all is Ogetonicut, a Mississauga First Nations man charged with murdering John Sharp, a white trader. As Ogetonicut's trial drew near, it was moved east to Newcastle for fear of angering the indigenous community that was gathering at York. With the shipping season coming to a close, the HMS Speedy set sail with the accused and the legal elite of the young colony on board. But on the night of October 8, the Speedy was lost in a violent storm; there were no survivors and the ship could not be found.
The mystery surrounding the ill-fated vessel has continued for more than two centuries, despite the efforts of commercial diver Ed Burtt, who began a search for the Speedy in the early 1990s. Were the remains he located at the bottom of Lake Ontario from the lost ship? Were valuable copies of the Statutes of Upper Canada on board? What evidence lay in the untouched artifacts Burtt found?
Based on unparalleled access to archival documents and to all Ed Burtt's unpublished research and records, this is a meticulously researched look at a fascinating episode in Canadian history-the story of the ship and those who sailed her, the modern-day search for the wreck, a First Nations protagonist and perspective, the legal personalities and colonial government of the time-and a unique social history of early Canada.
About the author
Dan Buchanan, a genealogist and historian, is well known as "The History Guy" for his passionate involvement in many organizations and projects related to Ontario's history and heritage. He has written two books: Murder in the Family: The Dr. King Story and 38 Hours to Montreal: William Weller and the Governor General's Race of 1840. Dan is an engaging storyteller as a guest speaker for clubs and groups across Ontario. He is also the host of history videos and creator of a massive genealogy web site, www.treesbydan.com, which is used by researchers all over the world to make connections and gather information about the family tree they are pursuing. He lives in Brighton, Ontario, focusing on research into local and Ontario history, and finding imaginative ways to bring our past to life. See also www.danbuchananhistoryguy.com.