Armed with axes – the British soldiers made a furious attack upon it...foaming with malice diabolical, they cut down a tree because it bore the name of Liberty.”
– Essex Gazette, 1775, after British evacuation of Boston
”For Samuel Adams August 14, 1765 was a day to be remembered and celebrated. It began with an episode of street theater.
- Marchand Archive
Birth of the Liberty Tree
At Boston Neck, the one road into town, visitors were stopped in a playful manner to check for stamps. Soon an eff gy of stamp agent Andrew Oliver was hung from the branches of the Elm tree near Chase and Speakman’s Distillery. Decorations included a large boot with a devil peeking out, a reference to Lord Bute one of the King’s ministers.
Later in the evening a rougher crowd gathered, cut down the effigies and paraded them past the Town House. Th ey beheaded the effigy of Andrew Oliver, demolished a building thought to be the potential stamp office, and vandalized Oliver’s home. Oliver resigned as stamp agent the next morning.
This announcement by the Sons of Liberty summoned Andrew Oliver to appear before the Liberty Tree to resign a second time as stamp agent.
Massachusetts Historical Society.
- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Sons of Liberty
In the British Parliament, Isaac Barre opposed the Stamp
Act. A veteran of the French and Indian War he was sympathetic to Americans. Although he did not originate the
phrase, Barre called American dissidents “Sons of Liberty.”
As their support grew, the Loyall Nine began issuing statements under that name. Barre Massachusetts is named for
Isaac Barre.
Isaac Barre.
- Brooklyn Museum
“A number of Spirited papers I have of Edes and Gill to stir up the S...of L...and procure an election next May.” This letter to Thomas Hutchinson from Judge John Cushing uses an abbreviation for the phrase “Sons of Liberty.” Perhaps it was not politically correct to spell out the name. February 2, 1766.
- Massachusetts Archives
Where was the liberty tree?
Officially named the “Tree of Liberty” the old Elm was located at the corner of today’s Boylston and Washington Streets in downtown Boston. It was the site of many demonstrations until chopped down by British soldiers before evacuating Boston.
