Up until the 18th century, Sunderland Point was the main port
serving Lancashire. Trade was undertaken with the West Indies
involving cotton, rum, sugar and to a lesser degree, slaves.
Sambo, it is thought, was a young slave, possibly bought at
auction, and taken into service by either a sea captain or a
merchant with the idea of using him as a personal attendant. How
old he was, how long he served and the manner of his death are all
unknown today, but there are two theories as to what happened.
One states that he was the sole survivor of a shipwreck,
perishing shortly after being washed ashore. This would appear to
be a verbal tradition, not appearing in print until fairly recent
times
A more traditional version tells us that Sambo's master, having
being called away unexpectedly on urgent business, left his charge
to wait for him in or around Sunderland. The lad then either
perished through the cold, or more romantically, fearing that he
had been abandoned forever on an alien shore, died of a broken
heart.
Sambo was buried in an isolated field close to the sea shore,
his grave being initially marked by a plain wooden cross. It's
splendid isolation however, combined with its associated legends
started to draw a large number of curious visitors. One, the
Reverend James Watson, a retired headmaster from Lancaster, visited
the site in 1795. He was so moved by the story and the aura of the
area that he collected a shilling (now 5p) from any visitor willing
to donate. With this money he has a proper memorial stone carved
complemented by a brass plaque bearing the following
inscription
Here lies Poor Sambo A Faithful Negro who (Attending his master
from the Weft Indies) DIED on his arrival at SUNDERLAND
Full sixty years the angry Winter's wave
Has thundering dafhed this bleak and barren shore
Since SAMBO's Head laid in this lonely grave
Lies still and ne'er will hear their turmoil more
Full many a sandbird chirps upon the sod
And many a moonlight elfin round him trips
Full many a summer's sunbeam warms the clod
And many a teeming cloud upon him drips
But still he sleeps-till the awakening sounds
Of the Archangels Trump new life imparts
Then the GREAT JUDGE his approbation founds
Not on man's color but his worth of heart
James Watson Scr. H. Bell. del 1796
The verse suggests a date for Sambo's death of around 1736,
although another version of the story dates it at around 1720.
Repeatedly vandalised by total morons (thankfully not in recent
times), the grave now bears a plea for respect.
The cache is a small oblong tupperware container.
Err..umm.. obviously it is not hidden amongst the tributes laid
on the grave so please do not disturb these!
IMPORTANT - The road leading to the area is tidal so don't
attempt to travel near high tide - unless you have a boat that
is!
Check the tides for Heysham at easytide.ukho.gov.uk.