William & John, aground, 6 Nov 1854

We learn from the Brighton Sentinel that on Monday last, five vessels went ashore in the gale, to the east, and in sight of Presque Isle Harbor. The EDITH of Hamilton, laden with 4,000 bushels of wheat, sunk, her deck under two feet of water. The FOREST QUEEN, of Oakville, from Lake Erie, laden with staves, her rudder and stern post gone. The WILLIAM AND JOHN, laden with plaster, aground. The PARAGON, of Toronto, aground with two feet water in her hold. The SARAH FRANCES, of St. Catharines, rudder and foremast gone. There is little doubt others met with the same fate farther east.
      The Democracy, Buffalo
      Tuesday, November 14, 1854

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The EDITH was "got off" together with the other four vessels.
      The Globe, Toronto
      Wed. November 22. 1854

      . . . . .
      Disasters On Lake Ontario. - Five vessels went ashore in a gale on Monday, to the east in sight of Presqu'Isle Harbour. The EDITH, of Hamilton, laden with 4,000 bushels of wheat, sunk, her deck two feet under water. The FOREST QUEEN, of Oakville, from Lake Erie, laden with staves, her rudder and stern post gone. The WILLIAM & JOHN, laden with plaster, aground. The PARAGON, of Toronto, aground with two feet of water in her hold. The SARAH FRANCIS, of St. Catharines, rudder and foremast gone.
There is little doubt others met with the same fate further east. It is a fact worthy of notice that three fourths of the marine disasters which annually occur on the north shore of Lake Ontario happen at east of Presqu'Isle harbour and might nearly all be avoided by opening the Murray canal and properly marking the entrance to Presqu'Isle Bay. Every autumn furnishes fresh proofs by the wrecking of many fine vessels, in the sufferings and not unfrequently in the loss of life of many a fine and stalwart mariner, and loud are the calls on Government at this season of the year for the speedy construction of the canal, which are all silenced on the recurrence of delightful spring navigation. The Government is not slow to protect the life and property of its subjects engaged in other interests. Is the mariner less deserving than any other portion of Her Majesty's lieges? ----- Brighton Sentinel.
      United Empire (Toronto).
      Friday, November 24, 1854

NOTE:--the WILLIAM & JOHN is a bit of a mystery, and may have been a barge or
Canal boat, a Durham Boat called that name was active in 1820.