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30 COROMANDEL LIFE LATE SUMMER / EASTER 2017
NOTE: There is much discussion about the
spelling of the unfortunate sailor’s name. We
spelt it as it is written in Laslett’s journal; it
appeared on the old tombstone at the gravesite
as ‘Simpson’; the Heritage Group used ‘Samson’
in their brochure. We may never know for sure.
I n March 1842 the English naval ship HMS
Tortoise arrived to pick up spars from Te
Karo Bay (location of Sailors Grave) that
had been left by the HMS Buffalo, which was
shipwrecked in Mercury Bay during the storm
of 1840. Former captain of the HMS Buffalo,
James Wood, was the Master Commander;
William Jeffrey was the Master and the
Manager ashore; and Thomas Laslett was the
Purveyor of Timber.
Some of the ship’s crew were left on land to fell
more kauri – which took about a year – so the
Tortoise could return to England fully loaded
with the tall straight spars which were highly
valued for ships’ masts.
In May, a jolly boat – sent ashore from
the Tortoise with provisions for the men –
overturned. The sailors were thrown into the
surf, and all were rescued except Able Bodied
Seaman William Sampson, who was presumed
drowned. Two days later, Sampson’s body was
found, washed up on the rocks.
Sampson was buried at Te Karo Bay
overlooking the spot where he drowned with
Jeffrey officiating at the burial service. After the
Tortoise sailed back to England in 1843, local
families tended Sampson’s grave, which was
eventually protected by a white picket fence.
The Navy has now taken responsibility for the
upkeep of the grave site.
SailorS Grave
175th Commemoration
sEt FOR MAy
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