Mary Merritt (Schooner), aground, 1 Sep 1881

A dispatch announces that the Canadian schooner MARY MERRITT is ashore thirty miles east of Marquette, loaded with timber. She is owned by Murray of St. Catharines, and insured in the Phoenix. Captain John Rice of this city is going to her assistance.
      Cleveland Herald
      Monday, September 12, 1881
     
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The bark MARY MERRITT, which was ashore on Lake Superior, has been released by the tug WINSLOW.
      Cleveland Herald
      Friday, September 23, 1881

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Detroit. Sept. 23. -- Tug WINSLOW, with the schooner MARY MERRITT, arrived here today.
      Cleveland Herald
      Saturday, September 24, 1881

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      THE ORPHAN ADOPTED
A short time ago notice was made of the schooner Mary Merritt's orphaned condition, her name having been stricken from the Canadian register. Since that time more efforts have been made to obtain for her an American register, and a few days ago those efforts were crowned with success. Heretofore a foreign vessel could only become and American bottom after being "wrecked on the coast of the Untied States, and purchased and repaired to the extent of three-fourths of its value when repaired by a citizen thereof." The Merritt was so wrecked and repaired, but her repairs did not amount to three-fourths of her value, and in accordance with the above law she was not entitled to American papers. A decision was, however, made by which the wrecking bill was included in the bill for repairs. This brought the bill substantially above the required figure and the schooner was accordingly declared an American vessel. She will now receive a new name and be entitled to all the rights of a natural born citizen.
      Detroit Post and Tribune
      September 14, 1882

NOTE: The Shickluna-built MERRITT had gone ashore near Grand Marais, Mich., Lake Superior, in 1881. On Sep 15, 1882, she became the American schooner DOT (US#157078), and was wrecked on the beach approximately 6 miles from the site of her previous stranding, on Aug. 25, 1883, a total loss.

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The schooner MARY MERRITT has been transferred to American registry and renamed DOT
      Port Huron Dailty Times
      Tuesday, September 26, 1882