The above picture shows the graveyard at All Saint's Church, Wyke Regis (Weymouth). Both the grave stone of William Lewis (in the foreground), and the story of his demise, inspired Meade Falkner in his story about smuggling. It is also historically fascinating because it shows the sympathy the local community (who frequently benefitted from smuggling) had for a smuggler who was shot by excise men.

The picture at the top of the stone shows Lewis's vessel being pursued by the Pigmy schooner.

The inscription below reads "Sacred to the memory of William Lewis who was killed by a shot from the Pigmy Schooner 21st April 1822 aged 33 years." Beneath this is a poem: -

Of life bereft (by fell design)
I mingle with my fellow clay.
On God’s protection I recline
To save me on the Judgement Day:
There shall each blood stain'd soul appear,
Repent, ah! Ere it be too late,
Or else a dreadful doom you’ll hear,
For God will sure avenge my fate.

Meade Falker actually quoted this poem in his story (almost exactly, but slightly simplified) when describing the grave of David Block, who also met his end in an encounter with the excise men. He even wrote the following about the grave stone in his story : -

... you may see it for yourself in Moonfleet churchyard to this day, and read the inscription too, though it is yellow with lichen, and not so plain as it was that night.

Although the stone is actually to be found in Wyke churchyard, he was right - much of it is illegible now. I am therefore indebted to Weymouth - an Illustrated History for the above transcription.