Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-08-22
Charter Oak to
| Live in Seeding
Original Tree Enacted an
Historical Role Before
The Revolution.

E1Ah1E OhD, OONN. - k1lStO1y
books alone will not perpetuate the
memory of a famous tree that
changed the course Of American his
tory.
A scion of the mighty oak will
endure for generations to come
material monument recalling the
early struggles of the colonists to
break English domination in the
New World.
This living memory is seeding
of the great Charter Oak tree-now
growing at Thompsonville, and
planted by the Daughters Of the
American Revolution.
| The Charter Oak, a sturdy mon
arch which enjoyed its prime be-
fore the discovery of the North
American continent, was felled dur
ing a violent storm "a years ago.
The part it played in history was
more widely heralded than famous
battles that gained eventual liberty
during the momentous years of the
colonial uprising.
The great spreading tree enacted
its historical role as protector Of
the Connecticut charter on October
81, 1887.
Granted by Charles ii.
The charter, which gave the col
ony self-rule, was granted by King
Charles II in 1862. 1t later was to
form the basis of the Connecticut
constitution, establishing the world S
first democracy. The Connecticut
constitution in turn was the inspira-
ton for the Constitution of the Unit
ed States.
Envious of this document of par
tial independence was Sir Edmond
Andres, an appointee OF the duke
of York as governor of New York
and regions between the Connec-
ticut and Delaware rivers"
Andres had several controversies
with colonial authorities before the
Charter Oak episode. He repeated
ly had been denied recognition as
governor of Connecticut But, in
1885, he obtained an appointment
from the king as governor Of New
England and Immediately demand
ed the Connecticut charter. Gov.
Robert Treat and the legislature re-
fused to relinquish it.
On the eventful day on October
the following year, Andres, his coun-
Gil and so soldiers appeared at the
general assembly meeting place.
Dusk was falling as he stormed into
the room and served two writs of
quo warranto on the governor and
insisted the charter be produced.
Some Trickery.
Governor Treat and the legisla-
tors were greatly disturbed. They
stalled for time but Andres was i'm
patient as the precious charter
appeared within his grasp. Finally
it was brought out and laid on
table. Andres eyed it greedily as
the governor made a final plea for
its preservation.
Suddenly the candles were extin-
guished and the room plunged into
darkness. There was a commotion
in the hall and Andres furiously de-
manded the tapers be relighted.
When they were, after a cautious
delay, the charter had disappeared.
Andres was explosive in his de-
nunciation Of the colonists. Defeat
ed, however, he marched away
without the charter.
What he did not know was that
when the lights went out Capt.
Joseph Wadsworth whisked the doc
ument from the table and fled the
meeting house. Captain Wadsworth,
pressed for time, recalled a hollow
oak tree on the farm of former Gov.
George WHY'S, near by. He stuffed
the charter into the opening and
hurried back to the meeting house
before the candles were relighted.
The charter remained in the oak
until Andres left the colony and all
danger Of its loss had passed.
From that day on the tree became
known as the Charter Oak Tree and
it was carefully preserved until it
was destroyed early in the morning
of August FL, 1855.