The wooden two masted schooner Seaman was built by Johnson & Tisdale in 1848 at Cleveland, Ohio. She was of 181 gross tons burden, and was owned by M.O. Parker of Milwaukee at the time of her loss. Her official registry number was 23466 and in 1874 she was valued at $3,500 and rated B3 by the Board of Lake Underwriters.

April 1848: Wrecked near Calumet, two lost.

First enrollment issued at Cleveland, OH, April 19,1848.

December 1855: Ashore at Copper Harbor, released in May of 1856.

October 1856: Collided with damage.

November 1865: Readmeasured

October 1867: Rebuilt at Algonac, Michigan.

1875: New deck.

October 1877: Ashore at Grosse Isle, Detroit River.

October 1878: Aground in Saint Clair River.

May 1879: Aground Presque Isle Beach, Lake Erie.

August 1883: Rebuilt at Dunford & Alverson's Shipyard.

March 1889: Remeasured.

September 1896: Broke moorings and damaged several vessels.

Last Document Surrendered 11/28/09, Milwaukee: Vessel Lost
"The old schooner Seaman which stranded on outer shoal south of Pilot Island on Saturday, the 14th, is a total loss, both vessel and cargo. The latter consisted of 3,000 bushels of potatoes and a deck-load of slabs, owned by the Michigan Lumber Co. This was the maiden trip of the master, Capt. Gunder Hansen, this year, who had sailed with his brother on the Louise A. Burton during the season. The crew was rescued by the Plum Island life-saving crew. The Seaman was one of the oldest vessels on the chain of lakes." Door County Advocate 11/26/1908

November 15, 1908: Schooner Seaman "Stranded 8 miles SSW of Plum Island, Wis. station in fresh SW wind and high surf. Discovered by patrol. The life-savers went aboard, but found that nothing could be done for the schooner on account of the high sea. The crew of 6 men were taken to the station for the night...The vessel was nearly a total loss." Annual report of the US Life-saving Service 1909.