William H. Aspinwall
Pilot Boat · United States · Lost 1880 · Long Island & the New York Approaches
A veteran Sandy Hook pilot schooner that had guided ships into New York Harbor for two decades was lost in fog on the Long Island bar.
Become Captain of Record
The Vessel and Her Loss
William H. Aspinwall was a Sandy Hook pilot schooner launched in 1861, serving New York's harbor pilots for nearly two decades under Captain Walter Brewer. On 20 April 1880 she went ashore in thick fog on the Long Island bar and was declared a total loss. She was replaced in pilot service by the schooner America.
Vessel
- 1861
- Pilot boat No. 21
- J.B. Van Deusen Bros.
- East River, New York
- Wood
- Not established
- Not established
- 46
- Sail
- New York Sandy Hook Pilots
Loss
- April 20, 1880
- Grounding
- Long Island bar, New York
- Atlantic Ocean
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- Walter Brewer
The Wreck Today
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
Position
- Not established
- Position withheld to protect the site
- Long Island, New York
Wikipedia and the Long Island Maritime Museum confirm the pilot boat went ashore 'at the Long Island bar' in fog on April 20, 1880, but no source found publishes a numeric position.
Evidence
Overall confidence: Partially documented (70/100)
Exact wreck location and casualty details are not established in the sources reviewed.
Date of loss.
