Norwich bulletin., 1921-07-30
oDD INCIDENTS IN AMERICAS
 HISTORY
HE TRADITIONAL CHARTER OAK.

THE TRADITIONAL CHARTER OAK. 1
 It is rather vague in the mind of the majority of readers as to whether or not the story Of the Charter Oak, of Con- necticut is authentic, or whether it is merely one of the imaginative stories concocted by enthusiasts.
 At any event, there is foundation for
 the story Connecticut history has gen.
 erally given it credence and in 1909 the
 Society of Colonial Wars, of Connecti-
 cut, marked the spot where the oak Is
 supposed to have stood with a monu-
 ment, on which is inscribed: Near this
 spot stood the Charter Oak, memorable
 in the history of the Colony of Connec-
 ticut, as the hiding place of the char
 ter, October 31 s1S7 The tree fell August 21, 1s56."
 When in 1ss6 Sir Edmund Andros ar rived in Boston, commissioned as gov ernor of all New England, he was bent on abrogating the charter Scarcely g letter to the government and company of Connecticut acquainting them with his appointment and informing them that he was commissioned by the king to receive their charter.
 On the receipt of the commission from Andros, the general court was at once convened, and by it's direction a letter
 was addressed to the English secretary
 of state. earnestly pleading for the pres ervation of the privileges that had been granted to them. For the first time they admitted that their petition might be 1 denied. and in that case requested to | be united to Massachusetts.
 1 This was construed by Sir Edmund as a virtual surrender, but as the days 1 went by and he saw that he had mis- taken the spirit and purpose of the col ony, Andres finally decided to go in person 10 Connecticut He arrived at Hartford the last day of October, at tended by retinue of sixty officers and
 soldiers. The assembly. then in ses-
 sion, received him with every mark of l respect
 After the formal exchange of courtes- ies, Sir Edmund publicly demanded the charter and declared the colonial gov that Governor Treat, in calm but ear nest words, remonstrated against this action. The debate was continued until the shadows of the early autumn even- ing had fallen. After candles were lighted the governor and his council
 seemed to yield, and the box supposed to
 contain the charter was brought into the : room and placed upon the table. Suddenly the lights were extinguish. 1 ed. Quiet reigned in the room and ir the dense crowd outside the building ! The candles were soon re-lighted, but the charter had disappeared, and after the most dfligent search could not bt found,
 The common tradition has been tha the charter was taken under the eovel of darkness by Capt Joseph Wadsworth ; and hidden by him in the hollow trunl of a venerable and noble oak standin,
 near the entrance gate of Governo WyfIys' mansion. The charter taken b, Capt wadsworth was probably the du l piicate and remained safely in his pos ? session for several years.
 There is reason to believe that som : time before the coming of Andros t. | Hartford the original charter had beel l. carefully secreted, and the tradition o n later times makes it probable that, whil : the duplicate charter that was take 6 from the table was hidden elsewhere z. the original charter found a safe rest r ing place in the heart of the tree tha : will always be remembered as 'Th, 6 Charter Oak"
 n This tree Is said to have been pre- 6 served by the early settlers at the re o quest of the Indians. Tt has been tn o they said. "as to the time of plantin e our corn. When the leaves are the sig s of a nouse-s ears then is the time t t put 1t into the ground"
 ,- The record of the court briefly state r that Andros. having been conducted t l. the governors seat by the governc # himself, declared that he had been con tt rnissioned by his Majesty to take on hil L- the government of SSSnnecticut Tn Q commission having been ready, he sal F. that 1t was his majesty's pleasure | d make the late governor and Capt. Joh ,r Allyn members of his council. But Al t dros soon disclosed hand of steel b,
 meath the velvet glove of plausible wort l. and fair promises.
 s-I The oak tree was several centurit el old and had reached diameter of seve It feet when r was blown down by stor- ,e in 1856. The monument that marks i S spot is a granite obelisk encircled | a- oak leaves and resting upon glob ,e which in turn rests upon four dolphin E. ClGouday- -1he WeAster- -Hayne Debate