The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-09-27
MEMOIR OF RHODE-IsLAND.
COPY OF A DEED
OF THE TREE OF LIBERTY,
And OF the Land on which it stands.

To all People to whom these Pres
ents shall come, Greeting IL WILLIAM
READ, of Newport, in the County of New
port, in the English Colony of Rhode-Is-
land and Providence Plantations, in New
England, in America, Merchant, for and in
consideration of the love of my country,
and an ardent desire to perpetuate to the
latest posterity the liberties and privileges
handed down by my glorious ancestors, and
also for the further consideration of Five
ShillIngs, lawful money, to me in hand paid
by William ELery, John Collins, Robert
Crooke, and Samuel Fopler, Merchants,
and all of said Newport the receipt where
of do hereby acknowledge, that this Deed
may be held good and sufficient in all con-
structions of law, have given, granted, sold
and conveyed and do hereby give, grant,
bargain, sell and convey to them the said
William ENery, John Collins, Robert
Crooke, and Samuel Fowler, and to such
other person or persons as shall or may be
chosen by the survivors of them, upon the
decease of either of them, forever in such
succession, certain large Buttonwood
TREE, standing at the North end of Thames
Street, in Newport aforesaid, and at the
north end of my lot of Land there, being
with the land on which it stands, bounded
as follows :-Easserly on FareweII-s,reet a.
bout 26 feet, southerly by my said lot Of
land about feet, and westerly on Thames
street making point to the North, and ly-
ing in the form of triangle, with the ap-
purtenances. have and to hold the
same to them, the. said William ElIery,
John Collins, Robert Crooke, and Samuel
Fowler, and their successors as aforesaid,
to and for the uses in,ents and designs fol-
lowing, viz THAT the said Tree forever
hereafter be known by the name of the
TREE OF LIBERTY, and be set apart
to and for the use of the sons of Liberty,
and that the same stand as monument of
the spirited and noble opposition made to
the Stamp Act, in the year l765, by the
Sons of Liberty in Newport, Rhode-Island,
and throughout the Continent of North
America, and be considered as emblem ati-
cal of Public Liberty of her taking deep
root in English America ;-of her strength
and spreading protection; by her benign in
fuences refreshing her Sons in all their
just struggles against the attempts of tyran-
ny and oppression.-And furthermore, the
said Tree of Liberty is destined and set a
part for exposing to public ignominy and
reproach, all offenders against the Liberties
OF their Country, and abettors and approv-
ers of such as would ensave her.-And |
that the same may be repaired to upon all
rcjolcings on account of the rescue and de-
liverance of Liberty, from any danger she
may have been in, of being subyerted and
furthermore, that the said
Tree of Liberty stand as memorial of the
firm and mistaken loyalty of the American
Sons Of Liberty, to his Majesty King George
the third, and of their inviolable attachment
to the happy establishment of the Protes-
tant succession in the illustrious house of
Hanover. And in general, said Tree is
hereby conveyed to and set apart for such
other uses, as the true born Sons of Liberty,
shall, from time to time, from age to age, and
IN all times and all ages, forever hereafter,
Judge and resolve may subserve
the glorious cause of public liberty.-And I.
the said WILLIAM READ, do hereby cove
nant, 10 and with the said William Elery.
John Collins, Robert Crooke, aud Samuel
Fowler and their successors rs aforesaid.
that am the true and lawful owner of said
bargaincd premises, that have good au-
,hority aud full power to dispose, grant, sell
and convey the same as aforesaid.-And
that will warrant and defend the same To
them, the said William Ellery, John Collins,
Robert Crooke aud Samuel Fowler, and
their Successors rs aforesaid, against the
lawful claims and demands Of all persons,
forever bereafter.--in Witness whereof, !,
the said William Read, have hereanio set
my hand and seal, this I4h dsy of April,
in The 6ihyear Of his Majesty : reign George