THE HISTORIC TREES OF MASSACHUSETTS 



entertainment before 1760, which later was 

 renewed to his son Aaron, in 1761. This son, 

 as Captain, served in the Revolutionary War 

 and afterward rose to the rank of major. 

 He kept the tavern during his lifetime. 1 



"The elm took its name from the tradition, 

 apparently well attested, that General Wash- 

 ington, accompanied by his Staff, General 

 Lee and the deputation sent from Cambridge 

 to Springfield to meet and escort him to 

 headquarters, halted with his party under 

 the shade of this tree to rest and lunch about 

 noon, June 30, 1775. Very naturally the 

 party ordered milk and other necessaries 

 from Captain Graves's tavern." 1 



There is a granite monument a few feet 

 from the base of the tree which bears the 

 following inscription: 



UNDER THIS ELM 



WASHINGTON 



PASSED JUNE 3O, 1775 



AND AGAIN OCT. 22, 1789. 



ON THE FIRST DATE TRADITION SAYS 



HE ADDRESSED THE CITIZENS OF 



PALMER. 



ERECTED BY THE 



PALMER .HISTORICAL SOCIETY 



JUNE 3O, 1906 



1 Temple, " History of Palmer." 



