I have family history about Captain Judah Welles RANSOM [1784-1840] who "was a captain and one of the pioneer navigators on the lakes, being the first to sail the upper lakes and return." Captain Judah "retired in 1836, but in 1840 was induced to take command of the Helen Marx", which set sail from Sandusky for Buffalo on 2 October 1840. The ship encountered a violent storm and sank near Point Albino, twenty miles out from Buffalo, and all hands perished on 3 November 1840. Also on board were two cousins, Joseph RANSOM and John RANSOM. Captain Judah previously mastered the schooner Huron, of Sandusky. He also held land in Oakland Co Michigan, and had 7 children [3 lived beyond infancy]. I can find no information about the Helen Marx, nor about the shipwreck. I also cannot account for the 32 days between leaving Sandusky and sinking at Point Albino. Where should I look? What resources for shipwreck news exist? I searched the archives of some shipwreck sites, especially at http://www.alcheminc.com/shipwrck.html and http://www.wrecks.net/ and found no mention of the Helen Marx. I did find 17 entries for Judah W RANSOM as master or owner of various ships from 1820-1847 at http://www.hhpl.on.ca/GreatLakes/ ; (the entries after 1840 are partners re-registering an older ship.) (Judah Welles RANSOM is descended from Amasa5, James, Robert, Joshua, Robert1) Mike RANSOM - mransom@peak.org - Albany Oregon