AH-WR-1539

Isaac Allerton

Full-Rigged Ship · United States · Lost 1856 · The Florida Keys

A New York cargo ship wrecked off Key West in 1856, the richest salvage of the wrecking era.

Become Captain of Record

Artistic recreation based on recorded historical documents. See the documented evidence.

Interpretive Reconstruction, drawn to convey the vessel's era, type and general form. See the documented evidence.

The Vessel and Her Loss

Isaac Allerton was a wooden full-rigged ship carrying general cargo from New York to New Orleans. In August 1856 a hurricane drove her onto Washerwoman Shoal near Key West. Key West wreckers recovered much of her cargo, reported as the most valuable salvage in the town's wrecking era. Her remains were later studied by archaeologists.

Vessel

Built: 1838
Builder: Not established
Yard: Not established
Material: Wood
Length: Not established
Beam: Not established
Tonnage: Not established
Propulsion: Sail
Owners: Not established

Loss

Date: August 28, 1856
Cause: Grounding
Location: Washerwoman Shoal, off Key West
Water: Gulf of Mexico
Voyage: Not established
Cargo: Not established
Aboard: Not established
Lives lost: 0
Master: Not established

The Wreck Today

Depth: Not established
Condition: Not established
Orientation: Not established
Discovered: Not established
Protection: Not established

Position

Coordinates: Not established
Accuracy: Position not established
Nearest: Key West, Florida
Region: The Florida Keys

Pin marks the named place of loss; no published position used.

Evidence

Overall confidence: Partially documented (65/100)

Build year and crew figures are not well established.

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
Loss date, place and circumstances.
Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research, Underwater Archaeological Preserves
Loss date, place and circumstances.