THE HISTORIC TREES OF MASSACHUSETTS 



kept it until the following morning, and 

 planted it in a suitable spot in his yard. 



The parsonage was a favorite rendezvous 

 for the Patriots of this locality, and Mr. 

 Roby was a well-known personage among 

 those with whom he labored for more than 

 half a century. He was evidently one of 

 those ministers who believed it his duty 

 to fight as well as to preach, and had the 

 honor of being presented to Washington at 

 Newhall Tavern in East Saugus, where the 

 General stopped on his way towards Boston 

 along the Newbury turnpike road. 



Parson Roby died in the eighty-third year 

 of his age, and the fifty-third of his ministry 

 here, in 1803. He was stricken while preach- 

 ing to his people. 



As a matter of passing interest it may be 

 said that in this old town there is a beautiful 

 specimen of the black walnut, an older tree, 

 supposedly, than the Roby Elm, concerning 

 which the author of "Our Trees" (of Essex 

 County)^ says, "It is quite among the possi- 

 bilities that Cotton Mather could have 



' John Robinson. 



n583 



