08/31/2022
Person to Know Thursday ⸻ Job Williams, the Tory ringleader, who lead the charge to cut down the Liberty Tree in Boston. On September 1, 1775, enemies of American Liberty cut down the Boston Liberty Tree, but its spirit was felt all through the Colonies afterward. Williams is known all through history for one thing, destroying the Liberty Tree, but he could not destroy what it stood for.
September 1, 1775 —The enemies to liberty and America, headed by Tom Gage, lately gave a notable specimen of their hatred to the very name of liberty. A party of them, of whom Job Williams was the ringleader, a few days since repaired to a tree at the south end of Boston, known by the name of Liberty Tree, and armed with axes, &c., made a furious attack upon it. After a long spell of laughing, and grinning, sweating, swearing, and foaming with malice diabolical, they cut down a tree, because it bore the name of liberty. Be it known to this infamous band of traitors, that the Grand American Tree of Liberty, planted in the centre of the united colonies of North America, now flourishes with unrivalled, increasing beauty; and bids fair in a short time to afford under its wide-spreading branches, a safe and happy retreat for all the sons of liberty, however numerous and dispersed.
Constitutional Gazette, September 9. (1)
It was on the 14th of August, 1765, that this tree was devoted by the "Sons of Liberty," to expose on it the effigies of the men who had rendered themselves odious by their agency in procuring or favouring the passage of the Stamp Act: And on the 11th of Sept. following they fixed a copper plate, 2 ft. and a half, by 3 ft. and a half in dimensions upon it, bearing the description, in gold letters, The Tree of Liberty, Aug. 14, 1765. Ever after, most of the popular meetings of the "Sons of Liberty" were held in the square round this tree (called Hanover square,, probably in honor of the Royal family) until they were obliged to leave the town in the time of the siege.
The British made it an object of ridicule. The soldiers made poor Ditson, whom they tarred and feathered, parade in front of this tree before they would let him go, and one of their greatest exploits during the siege was the felling this famous eye-sore. This was effected about the last week in August, 1775. One Job Williams was the leader of the party that accomplished the feat, leaving nothing but the stump above ground; the root they could not touch. One of their comrades lost his life by accident on the occasion. This tree bad been planted 119 years, viz. (say the Pemberton MSS.) 'in 1646, and bore the first fruits of liberty in America!
We are informed by an old and reputable inhabitant who was present at the time, that the tree, when cut, made fourteen cords of wood, For a long time after the revolution the place was designated by the name of “Liberty Stump,” and is now marked by a post bearing a sign with the representation of the Tree, to inform the public that a house of entertainment is kept in the ancient dwelling by Mr. J. Clark. (2)
(1) Diary of the American Revolution. From newspapers ... v.1. Frank Moore, 1860.
(2) The City Record and Boston News-Letter, Vol. 1, December 31, 1825.
Image: Liberty Tree, Boston. “The world should never forget the spot where once stood the Liberty Tree, so famous in your annals.” LaFayette in Boston.
© 2022 Clifford Olsen/250YearsofLiberty
