The John Minturn Shipwreck
New York and New Jersey's (Wreck Valley)
Historical and current New York and New Jersey Shipwreck Information and images for scuba
divers and fisherman.
JOHN MINTURN
DIRECTIONS: (Mantoloking, Ocean County)
Take the Garden State Parkway to Exit 98, Rt 34 South. Stay on Rt 34
straight through two traffic circles. After the second circle take
Rt 35. After two lane highway reduces to a single lane turn right on
Princeton Ave. Wreck is off Princeton Ave. Please note that there is
no close parking available.
CONDITIONS:
The sailing vessel John Minturn, under the command of Captain
Starke, ran aground at 8:00 AM during a fierce gale on February 14,
1856. This storm became known as the "Great Northeast Snowstorm of
1846" and was responsible for the loss of at least ten vessels and
60 lives. The beaches of Monmouth County were strewn with ships'
cargo and human bodies for days. Unfortunately for those aboard the
John Minturn, they had suffered the greatest loss of life. Due to
the turbulent sea, nothing could be done to rescue the 51 passengers
and crew trapped on the doomed ship. Finally, at 10:00 PM, after a
gruelling day the John Minturn broke apart. Passengers' cries could
be heard as the vessel dumped them into the freezing sea. Only a
handful of survivors were picked out of the ocean and brought to
safety. According to the book "PERILS OF THE PORT OF NEW YORK" by
Jeannette Rattray "A New York pilot, Thomas Freeborne, was on
board. Freeborne gave his coat to the captain's wife, who was on
board with her children." He then froze to death. "A monument was
erected in Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn, as a testimonial to Thomas
Freeborne's self-sacrifice." In all, 42 passengers and crew members
died, and although Mr. Freeborne's actions were heroic, Captain
Stark, his wife and children were included in the fatalities.
Today, the unidentified wreck known as John Minturn lies just beyond
the surf off Mantoloking, New Jersey. The wood wreck sits in 20 feet
of water.
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