We remember the life of Lewis Cheshire, a 23- year-old man whose name may not be widely known, but whose story serves as a poignant reminder of the countless lives affected by the unforgiving tides of history.
Lewis’s life sadly came to an untimely end aboard the Emily Morgan. This was just one of the many whaling vessels that journeyed on ferocious waters for the sake of wealth and prosperity. Lewis had found himself on such a ship after hearing the reputations of whalers and fishermen, however he was unaware of the dangers that accompanied such perilous vocations.
It was in April of 1840 that the young man had allegedly grown rather ill, his fellow crewmen noticed his decline and grew worried of his health. With each day passing, Lewis’s strength escaped him and he eventually was bedridden for the foreseeable future. The ship had little hope for Lewis and unfortunately on April 17th, that hope was extinguished. The crew had discovered Lewis had passed away throughout the night and decided it was best to bury the brave man out at sea. Though heartbroken, those aboard the Emily Morgan never forgot Lewis Cheshire or his irreplaceable contributions to the ship and nearby communities. It was due to his own reputation that a cenotaph was erected for Lewis in the Whaleman’s Chapel where it still stands to this day.