Pocket Watch from Deadly Shipwreck Returns Home 165 Years Later: ‘Truly a Once-in-a-Lifetime Discovery’

**Pocket Watch Returns Home After 165 Years**

A historic pocket watch from the deadly Lady Elgin shipwreck has finally returned home after being lost for 165 years. This captivating discovery belongs to the late British journalist and politician Herbert Ingram. The precious item is now on display at the Boston Guildhall museum in the UK, where it rightfully belongs.

The pocket watch had sunk to the depths of Lake Michigan in 1860 along with the Lady Elgin. Luke Skerritt, from the Boston Guildhall museum, expressed his awe at the find, describing it as a “truly once-in-a-lifetime discovery.” The shipwreck occurred when the Lady Elgin collided with a schooner during a stormy night, tragically taking the lives of Ingram and his son.

Following the retrieval of the watch from Lake Michigan in 1992, it was recently transported to the Boston Guildhall museum near the Ingram family’s residence. The timepiece is made of 16-carat gold and remarkably remained well-preserved due to the cold, low-oxygen environment of the lake, preventing significant corrosion.

Archaeologist Valerie van Heest was instrumental in bringing the watch back to its rightful home. Van Heest, who acquired and donated the watch to the museum, emphasized the significance of displaying it in Boston, Lincolnshire, where Ingram was from and where a statue in his honor stands. The return of the watch has sparked curiosity and interest in the community about the man behind the timepiece.

Van Heest remarked on the profound impact of the watch’s return, highlighting its historical importance in commemorating the lives lost during the tragic Lady Elgin shipwreck. The Boston Guildhall museum, now planning a Lady Elgin exhibit, will feature the long-lost pocket watch as a poignant reminder of this devastating maritime event.

Luke Skerritt, the arts and heritage manager at Boston Guildhall, expressed his astonishment at the discovery, stating that such finds are usually reserved for textbooks rather than real-life scenarios. The return of Herbert Ingram’s pocket watch has not only shed light on a bygone era but also serves as a poignant symbol of remembrance for those lost at sea.

The compelling story of the pocket watch’s homecoming serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of Herbert Ingram and the tragic events surrounding the Lady Elgin shipwreck. The watch’s journey from the depths of Lake Michigan back to its place of origin is a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the enduring significance of historical artifacts.