The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-04-21
HISTORIC TREES.


Young Charter oaks--Noble Chestnuts In
Greater New York.
The famous old charter oak, Of which
Connecticut is so proud, seems destined
to be kept in remembrance not only by
the pages of history, but through its de-
scendants. A few children and many
grandchildren of the original trees
are now growing in this and other
states. AS is quite fitting, Hartford pos
gesses upon Bushnell park what is be-
lieved to be the largest and most thrifty
Seeding of the charter oak that has
been placed upon public ground.
Aside from its associations and SIM
ply as a handsome specimen Of the
Quercus alba, or white oak, famed in
all ages for its strength and durability,
the tree is worthy of attention. The
tree has just completed so years of
growth and gives promise Of continuing
several hundred years. 1t now measures
over 40 feet in height, 30 inches IN
largest diameter at the surface of the
ground and IS inches through the trunk
at a point three feet from the ground,
while the branches, measured from the
trunk, extend over radius of from is to
"a feet. True to its nature as white
oak, many Of the leaves hang on through
the winter until loosened by the swell
ing buds of spring.
The authenticity of the tree as true
descendant of the charter oak is be-
yond question, and all facts connected
with it can be easily verified by any
one interested. Its history is as follows:
In October, lS47, Samuel Whitman,
well known citizen of West Hartford,
when young man fresh from Yale and
having a fondness for botany, walked
to the south part of the city in search OF
specimens of fringed gentian. Coming
back, hes turned aside at the WHY'S
place and picked up several acorns un-
der the charter oak.
These were planted in howerpot
Two coming up in November OF the
same year were carefully tended during
the winter and later were set out IN
small nursery near Mr.. Whitman S
home in West Hartford Although now
blind, Mr.. Whitman has a clear mem
ory, and the date is established in con-
nection with a visit in Virginia, which
he began in December. 1847.
In 1866 one of the trees, which had
developed very finely, was offered by
Mr.. Whitman to the park board and
gladly accepted. Late in that year, not
far from Dec. 81, the tree was carefully
prepared and moved to its present place
After the retreat of the American
army into Westchester county, the COM
mander in chief spent most of his time III
the saddle, riding from point to point,
experimenting the construction OF re-
doubts and earthworks and locating
camps for the different divisions of his
army. But as he had not yet removed
his headquarters from the Roger Morris
house on Harlem heights it frequently
happened that he was overtaken by
night when far from home On one OF
these occasions he bivouacked under the
chestnut tree that now bears his name.
The great chestnut, however, stands
in no need of such traditions to bolster
up it's fame. 1t has an authentic history
of sufficient interest TO render 1t worthy
of preservation. There is excellent au-
thority for the belief that under its
spreading branches the chief men of tho
Manhattan and Wickquaskeck tribes Of
Indians met in frequent council at an
early period in colonial history. Ii 1t
possessed the power of speech, it could
tell many thrilling tale of savage
cruelty and savage fortitude. for to it
the red men brought their captives to
put them to the torture. 1t is recorded
that they tied them to its trunk with
their faces fixed toward the setting sur,
and then piled the fagots around them.
Another great chestnut in the vicin-
ity that is worthy of a visit stands on
the grounds of the Leake and Watts Or
phan asylum. 1t is possibly second only
to the Washington chestnut in age and
size of all the trees in Westchester
county, for it is said TO be nearly 400
years old, and its circumference near
the base Of the trunk measures is feet
8 inches. In laying out their grounds
the managers of the institution wisely
decided to preserve it ON account of its
antiquity, and il now stands like giant
sentinel in the middle of the lawn that
slopes from the asylum building to the
public highway.