In 1810 an Italian Thomas Curry (Tomasso Corri), an American Jonathan Lambert and Williams, also known as Andrew Millet, arrived at Tristan to settle. They renamed the Tristan Islands ‘Islands of Refreshments’ and were interested in starting up a trading station with passing ships. However, when the British Garrison arrived in 1816 to take possession of the island, there was only Thomas left on the island with another companion Bastino Commilla. He informed the Garrison that Lambert and Williams were drowned in a boat accident. Thomas Curry was fond of his drink and, when in his drunken stupor, often boasted of his hidden treasure. He promised the soldiers that before his death he would reveal, to whomever was kindest to him, where the treasure was hidden. Unfortunately he died a few months after the Garrison’s arrival without revealing where his treasure was hidden. After much searching, the treasure was never found. To this day, if any of the community are digging on the island of Tristan and uncover a box or pot of some sort, they will always say “I wonder if that’s Thomas Curry’s Kettle full of treasure”.
Here lie the remains of the founder of our community. After the Garrison left the island in 1817 William Glass and his family, along with two stonemasons, opted to stay. Sadly, after building up our small community, William died in 1853 from skin cancer. It is said that the cancer ate the side of his face away and he lived for three days without food or water. After his death, his wife and all his children left the island for America. This marble Headstone was sent to the island sometime later and erected on his grave site.