AH-WR-0567

San Bernard

Schooner · Republic of Texas · Lost Driven ashore at Galveston after 1841 service and not repaired; formally decommissioned May 11, 1846. · Texas & the Western Gulf

A Texas Navy schooner that served against Mexican Centralist forces in the Yucatan before being driven ashore at Galveston and left to deteriorate.

Artistic recreation based on recorded historical documents.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

Historically Reconstructed. Drawn from partial documentation of this vessel together with her known class and configuration. See the documented evidence.

The Vessel and Her Loss

Built in 1836 at Baltimore as the schooner Scorpion, the vessel was renamed San Bernard upon joining the Second Texas Navy in 1839. She patrolled the Gulf and supported Yucatan Federalist rebels against Mexican Centralist forces, capturing several prizes. Returning to Galveston, she was driven ashore and not repaired. Upon Texas's 1846 annexation she was transferred to the United States Navy and sold for a nominal sum.

Vessel

Built: 1836
Builder: Schott and Whitney
Yard: Baltimore, Maryland
Material: Wood
Length: 66 ft
Beam: 21.5 ft
Tonnage: 170
Propulsion: Sail
Owners: Navy of the Republic of Texas

Loss

Date: Driven ashore at Galveston after 1841 service and not repaired; formally decommissioned May 11, 1846.
Cause: Grounding
Location: Galveston, Texas
Water: Galveston Bay
Voyage: Not established
Cargo: Not established
Aboard: Not established
Lives lost: Not established
Master: Lt. Downing H. Crisp

The Wreck Today

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

Position

Coordinates: 29.30° N 94.80° W
Accuracy: General area only
Nearest: Galveston, Texas
Region: Texas & the Western Gulf

General area only: coordinate of Galveston, the named place of loss recorded for this vessel, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, not a surveyed wreck position.

Evidence

Overall confidence: Documented (75/100)

No wreck site or precise location for the vessel's final resting place has been documented in the sources reviewed.

Texas State Historical Association Handbook of Texas, San Bernard
Build history, Texas Navy service, commanders, and disposition.
Wikipedia, Texan schooner San Bernard
Corroborating build and service summary.
USGS Geographic Names Information System — Galveston
coordinate of the named place of loss