friend, Dr. Halley, the astronomer, christened a constellation in the 

 heavens, "Robur Caroli" (Charles' Oak), in memory of the event. 



Shortly after his demand for the charter, Governor Andros was 

 recalled, and English courts having decided that, as Hartford had 

 never relinquished its charter, it was still in force, the precious parch- 

 ment was brought to light again, and the colonial government was 

 continued under its provisions. 



Through another century and a half the Charter Oak remained, 

 loved and venerated by many admirers, and when in 1856, a heavy 

 storm laid it low, "the bells of the city were tolled, and a band of 

 music played funeral dirges over its ruins." 



The Pelham Oak 



In 1654, Thomas Pell, of Fairfield, Conn., bought property north 

 of the Harlem River, "embracing all that tract of land called West- 

 chester," in what is now New York State. Beneath the shade of a 

 large white oak, which has ever since been called by his name, the deed 

 was signed by the Indian Chiefs Manninepol, Annhook, and five other 

 Sachems from whom he purchased the land for "two guns, two kettles, 

 two coats, two adzes, 2 shirts, one barrel of cider and 6 bits of money" ; 

 the value of the payment is estimated to have amounted to eight 

 poxmds, four shillings and six pence. 



Nine days before the transaction, a meeting of the Director Gen- 

 eral and Council of New Netherlands had taken place, and it had 

 been resolved to forbid the English settling on any soil which, the 

 Government claimed had been "long before bought and paid for," 

 and to order them "to proceed no farther, but to abandon that spot." 



Pell, being one of the chief offenders, it was reported by the 

 attorney of the New Netherlands, that he had "dared against the 

 rights and usages of Christian countries to pretend that he bought 

 these lands of the natives," and that he was making a settlement there. 

 He continued to hold the land, however, ignoring all objections, and 

 when at length the Dutch surrendered, in .1664, became its undis- 

 puted owner. In 1666, Governor NichoUs, of New York, confirmed a 

 large part of Pell's grant, and "erected a township or manor; the 

 proprietor rendering and paying in fealty therefor yearly, unto his 

 Royal Highness, James, Duke of York, or to such governor as should, 

 from time to time be by him appointed, as an acknowledgment, one 

 lamb upon the first day of May, (the feast of S. S. Philip and 

 James)." 



For more than two hundred and fifty years, the old oak had been 

 famed as the landmark where the beginnings of historic Pelham 

 Manor were made. It is said to have stood on the Post Road, between 

 Pelham Bridge and the entrance to the Bartow place. About one 

 hundred and seventy-five feet south of the bridge, is an oak stimip, 

 surrounded by an iron railing, believed by many to be the remains 

 of the treaty tree. According to the report of the American Scienic 



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