FAMOUS TREES 



35 



Witenagemot Oak, Schagticoke. This oak was planted to mark the 

 signing of a treaty of pence with the Indians in 1676, by Sir Edmund 

 Andros, colonial governor of the Province of New York and Indian 

 commissioner. 



War Scythe Tree, balm-of-Gilead (balsam poplar), near Waterloo. 

 In October 1861 a farmer named Johnson hung his scythe in the 

 crotch of this tree and went off with a New York regiment to the Civil 

 War, telling his wife: "Don't touch the scythe until I come back." 

 He never returned, and the tree has grown around the blade, the han- 

 dle having been removed. Two others now keep the first scythe com- 

 pany. When the United States entered the World War, two sons of 

 the present owner of the farm hung their scythes in the tree, one to 

 enter the Army and the other the Navy. 



Hendrick Hudson's Tuliptree, the Inwood tuliptree (Liriodendron 

 tulipifera L.), Inwood Park, northern end of Manhattan Island, at 

 the mouth of the Harlem River, New York City. Hudson entered 

 this inlet in 1609 and may have met the Indians here. The tree is 

 the only living thing on the island which was there during Hudson's 

 time (fig. 18). The city's park department has preserved this an- 

 cient tree. On the surface of one of the cement fillings is the follow- 

 ing inscription in gold letters : 



Tuliptree, Liriodendron Tulipifera. Henry Hudson entered this inlet in 1609 

 and may have met the Indians here who used the place for a camp, as shown 

 by the quantity of old broken oyster shells around this tree and nearby. (17, v. 

 33, p. 545; 71, pp. 63-64). 



Torture Tree (species not given), 1 mile east of Cuylerville, in Liv- 

 ingston County. Lt. Thomas Boyd and Sgt. Michael Parker, of Sulli- 

 van's Expedition, 1779, were captured by the Iroquois Indians, most 

 severely tortured, and eventually killed near this tree, September 11, 

 1779. 



Lombardy Poplar (fig. 19), planted over 200 years ago at Fort 

 Niagara by the French occupants. It is the sole survivor of a group 

 of these trees planted at the time. This is the only United States 

 Army post flying three flags — the French, British, and United States. 

 When the colors are lowered, the French flag comes down first, fol- 

 lowed by the British, then Old Glory. 



NORTH CAROLINA 



Cypress of New Bern, at New Bern. This was the council tree 

 of patriot leaders. 



Battleground Oak, also known as Cornwallis Oak and Liberty 

 Oak, stands but a few hundred yards from where the Battle of Guil- 

 ford Courthouse was fought in 1781. Tradition has it that during 

 the battle General Greene tied his horse to this tree. 



Revolutionary or New Garden Oak. (See Trees associated with 

 religion, p. 53.) 



Henry Clay Oak (white oak), Wake County. Henry Clay is said 

 to have sat under this oak while writing his memorable letter oppos- 

 ing the annexation of Texas. 



Tory Oak, Wilkesboro, Wilkes County, on which four Tories are 

 said to have been hanged by the Revolutionists. 



Eagle's Nest Longleaf Pine, Dare County, on the edge of Fort 

 Raleigh, Roanoke Island. The tree bears the letter C 5 which, it is 



