The wooden two masted schooner Liberty was built at Avon Point, Ohio on Lake Erie by Hawley Reed in 1835. The official registry number was 14805. At the time of loss, the ship was valued at $2,300.00 with insurance on the vessel at $800.00 and no insurance on the cargo.

It is reported that the ill-fated schooner Liberty, was built at Avon Point, Lake Erie, thirty nine years ago, making her the oldest schooner on the lakes. In the winter of 1844 and '45 she was owned by Captain William and James Porter of this city, who had rebuilt her at the foot of Johnson Street. Since then she was again rebuilt at Sheboygan and finally passed into the hands of Capt. Gunderson, her commander up to the hour of the disaster." Milwaukee Sentinel 4/16/1872

Last Document Of Enrollment Surrendered: Milwaukee: 4/20/1872: "Total Loss".
April 14, 1872: "The schooner Liberty, in harbor at Milwaukee, while attempting to make the point, instead ran into the pier and was wrecked."

"The remains of the schooner Liberty, wrecked over a quarter of a century ago just north of the harbor piers, at Milwaukee, which were washed upon the beach in last Thursday night's northeaster, are rapidly being converted into firewood by the residents nearby. On Saturday the crew of one of the tugboats lying at the pier washed the sand out of the old hulk with a hose and recovered some chain, a compass, broadaxe, hammer, and some caulking tools." Door County Advocate 10/22/1898.

"LIBERTY WRECK WASHES ASHORE Schooner Had Been at Bottom of Lake Michigan Since 1872. The schooner Liberty, which since April 1872, has been at the bottom of Lake Michigan near the lighthouse pier, was washed ashore yesterday. Only her bottom is left and that lies at the south end of the pier. Two timbers from the center board box are still in position. Last winter the ice moved her about 100 yards southward from the lighthouse where she was wrecked and the heavy wind from yesterday morning washed her ashore. Between the stanchions were numerous tools, chains, and cooking utensils in fairly good condition. At the time the schooner was wrecked, the cook, a brother-in-law of Capt. Gunderson, a part owner of the Liberty, was drowned." Milwaukee Sentinel 10/15/1898.