The Queen of England visits U.S almost after 15 years to mark the 400th anniversary of the settlement of Jamestown, and to remind us subtly of our colonial past. The Queen is a historical figure, and musing upon her makes me think of the first European settlers on this land. Her visit brings to mind the stories of the early days of our nation. The tales of great explorers like John Cabot mariner extraordinary, lost at sea and from memory, but remembered hundred years after his death.

John Cabot, remembered mercifully for the fact that he had reached this continent under a charter from the English crown, and that strengthened the claims of the English to this continent. Her visit made me think about the ways of life irretrievably lost, and cultures and people wiped off the face of North America in the wake of the European settlement of this land. Her visit made me think of the first ships that arrived at Jamestown carrying slaves out of Africa. Her visit led me to read about the founding of our democracy, and the American Revolution that was not about changing our society, but about ridding these shores of British authority. And her visit made me think of the precious charters issued by the crown of England for men to govern the colonies.

My trip down the alleys of history led my thoughts to Virginia and Maryland,
both states named after past queens of England. Virginia named after Queen Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen, and Maryland, named after Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I. Thinking of Virginia made me recall the Wye Oak, and thinking of the Wye Oak I started thinking of white oaks. Ultimately, the history of Connecticut connected my thoughts. British rule, white oaks, crown charters, and the movement for independence, all came together in the story of the great white oak of Connecticut, the Charter Oak of Hartford. A story you have heard but I’d like to tell again.

The ancient white oak tree was already old when Columbus came to America. Generations of Indian people held it in veneration and called their councils beneath its great boughs. In his voyage up the Connecticut River in 1614, the Dutch explorer Adrian Block mentioned the tree in his log. In the 1630’s when the English arrived, the old tree became part of the estate of Samuel Wyllys. When Wyllys set to clear his land, a delegation of Indians approached him and requested him to save and protect the tree. Wyllys granted their request.

In 1660, when the English monarchy was restored by setting Charles II upon the throne, the English settlers of Hartford sent a petition to the Crown praying for a charter of liberties for the colony.  The charter, signed and sealed by Charles I on April 26, 1662, was so liberal that it granted Connecticut rights akin to independence. As soon as James II succeeded Charles II to the throne, he decided to scrap the charter and enforce a more stringent rule. The King sent arrogant Andros, the governor of New York to get the charter from Connecticut. But, the settlers refused to give up their rights so easily.

When the deputies of Sir Edmund Andros arrived, Governor Treat sent them back as they had come.  The deputies returned soon with a threat from Andros that Connecticut would be razed if the Charter was not immediately handed over. The Connecticut officials, in their characteristic obstinate manner, and being unmindful of royal etiquette (just like our present president who winked at the Queen and got a frosty glare in return) again refused to bow to royal will and hand over the Charter. Andros marched into Hartford on October 26, 1687 leading a column of seventy soldiers in scarlet coats, and with lances, and burnished guns. He faced the members of the colonial Assembly at Butler’s Tavern and told them that they were committing treason by not surrendering the document.

Agitated with the turn of events, Governor Treat sent Captain Joseph Wadsworth to bring the Charter from the Wyllys home where it was kept. When Wadsworth returned with the Charter, Andrew Leete started a heated debate, and in the process managed to turn over both the candelabra leaving the room in darkness.  Taking the opportunity, Assemblyman Nathaniel Stanley, (another American who never understood the prerogatives of royalty) grabbed the Charter and turned it over to Captain Wadsworth, who was by chance standing in the shadows outside the window. Wadsworth ran back to Wyllys’ house, but deciding that the British troops would surely search the house, Ruth Wyllys told him to hide the Charter inside the bole of the great white oak.

Edmund Andros turned Hartford inside out searching for the Charter but failed to find it. Then he took over the colony with his soldiers, and as long as James II ruled, the people of Connecticut suffered heavily. But on Wyllys Hill, the Charter Oak, hiding the charter in its bosom started sprouting new shoots. It kept the Charter safe from the tyrant till the throne changed hands in England. Finally, on August 21, 1856, the Charter Oak was destroyed by a storm. The entire state of Connecticut mourned in its passing.

Now what was that all about?  Just blogging.