The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-14
SITE OF THE CHARTER OAK.

north OF the latter. which leads up the
Side OF "a small rise. From Main street
The rising ground is plainly visible. and
amy memorial structure erected upon IL
viii bee seen for some distance.
The small slab OF marble that has been
the lau-hiug-st0ck OF tourists since 1856
does not in reality mark the exact spot
where the Charter oak tree stood. 1t is
90 tle southwest of it, the tree having
stood in what SIS now the middle OF the
road. leading around the hill. The me-
mortal 90 Doe erected VIII be within a few
feet of the road, and will be suitably
inscribed. The surroundings will De- 80
arranged with seats and other COME
niences that visitors may sit down md
rest.
Few pages in history are dearcr 10
the school-boys heart than that telling
the story Of how the charter was hidden
in the hole of the old oak tree whom Sir
Edmond Andres came to Connecticut in
1866 hy order of King James H.. end
usLrped the authority of the colonial
Government. The incident unlike that
of Putnam and the wolf. rests on such
historic foundation that its actually has
never been questioned. The name OF
Joseph Nadsworth. the hero Of the sto-
~. IS q household word, and the fame
'of the old tree in which he I'M the chlr-
grimarcs TO the spot where II 7:)o1
DR. Trumhulls' version Of the proceed
ings when Sir Edmond An1ros came to
take the Government ont of the hands
of the people is given in tho lrst volume
% the History Of Connecticut An
dros Dee says. demanded the charter
and declared the Government under 1t
dissolved Dr. Trumbull reports the con-
ference between the royal and colonial
Governor as follows:
"The charter was brought I'm and laid
upou the table where the Assembly vas
sitting. The lights were instantly
distinguished. and one Capt (JOseph),
Wa1swOrih. OF Hartford, I'm the most ST.
lent and socret manner carried OF the
charter and socreted IL iu a hollow
tree fronting the house Of the Hon. sam
ucl Wyllys then one of the magistrates
of the colony. The people appeared all
peooeable and orderly. The candles Wee
ofnc.0usly rclighted. but the patent was
gone. and no discovery could be made
of DO or Of the person who had convey
cd 30 away Sir Edmond assumed the
Government. ana the records OF the colo
ny were closed
The charter IS thus described in the
Memorial History of Hartford County:
"Tlo territory over which jurisdiction
was conferred hy tAe charter was bound
cd roithcrly by Massachusetts. eastcrly
hv 'Narr0gancctt river sOutherly by the
se9.' and westerly by the south sea.
This aforementioned limit was. in later
times. construed by Connecticut to be
the Pacific ocean, but 10 is probable that
the Crown had no idea Of the vastneSs
of The extent westerly The tenure was
Yn free and common socagc. which prac-
ideally was as good as fee simple. The
instrument was written upon three skins
or pieces Of parchment. az the beginning
of ihe first OF which ia "a finely eNecut-
90 drawing Of the head OF Charles J.
There was orieinally suspended from the
foot of the document an immense waNeh
a cal but &c long ago crumbed 70 pieces.
The charter for years was encased IN
"a Scotch DIR box. which IS now In the pos
session of The Connecticut Historical So
Ciety. Tho charter itself as I'm the Office OF
Che Secretary OF The state In the Capitol.
in "a carved frame. part OF which Is OF
wood from Tire old tree it,elf The tree
stood on the homestead OF the celebrat-
ed Wyllys family until 1874 when the
place was sold 90 Stephen Hulkeley. In
1880 tho homestead became the property
OF Catherine, The wife OF the Hon. Isaac
Stuart AIR. Stuart took great pride In
the historic oak and the soping hillside
whore 20 stood was the Mecca Of visitors
from this and foreign countries. The tree
fen during a hiah wind on August q.
1895. A mon who was a boy ten years old
az that time in recalling the incident re-
members that ne climbed Up into the
bougho Of the PROSTATE tree and picked
an acorn. The bells IN all the city
churches were tollcd as ~ for some one
dead.
Mr.. Stuart took charge OF the fallen
tree. and preserved It from the most
ruthless relic hunters The wood was ia
great demand and thousands of small
ar-ic'cs were made from H. including
'.nftmc~1." The two largest remaining
relies Of the. tree are the finely carved
chair for the presiding oficer In the Sem
ate chamber. and piano called the ~.
y. Most" piano. whose parts are Of gen